Council Community Programs.

The start of the Fraternal Year is a good time to assess what community programs you can participate in.  You build long-lasting friendships with fellow knights while getting a warm glow associated with doing some good for the community at large, regardless of religious affiliation, if any. Your family members are often welcome and needed.

We have a real crunch of projects mid April to mid May; so pencil in some weekends then for us.  In the meantime, the next two months of September and October afford some good starter projects.

*          Route 123 Cleanup is first up. Our council has adopted a 2 mile stretch of Ox Road from Fairfax Station Road south to Chapel Road. David Evans leads this effort.  Many hands make light work; and the job is done under two hours with a dozen knights working.  The next cleanup is Saturday, September 29^th.  All knights with last names beginning with the letters A through H are asked to meet at the parking lot of the Historic St. Mary of Sorrows Church at 8 AM for coffee, donuts, safety vests, spiked poles and marching orders.  Contact Dave at devans1957@verizon.net or 703-425-7246 to let him know you are coming (or risk a phone call from the phone tree!).

*          NVTC (Northern Virginia Training Center) is an assisted living facility for severely handicapped Fairfax residents.  We sponsor an annual Oktoberfest and provide volunteers to escort residents at several events during the year that provide diversions for residents who cannot even express their deeply felt gratitude for our attentions. Gerard Durback leads these efforts.  Great event for all family members over 12 years of age. Contact him at gwdweb@yahoo.com or 703-278-8767 if you are available any Friday evenings this October to help out for two hours on the Oktoberfest and get the exact date and to let him know you are coming (or risk a phone call from the phone tree!).

*          We also have need for knights with email access and a telephone to help program leaders roust up the membership for these activities. As a member of the phone tree, you spend less than two hours spread over two weeks for each of four or five events a year (a total commitment of under 10 hours a year).  You call twenty knights on a list emailed to you for each event.  And the best part -- you don’t get called for the event you are calling about!  Great duty for knights who can’t make the heavier lifting events.  Contact Gene Molinelli at e.molinelli@att.net or 703-250-3927 to join the phone tree.

Find out more about our more-than-a-dozen ongoing activities at the council website or by contacting the individual program leaders, whom we list here, or Gene Molinelli. Without these knights leading these efforts, we’d have to scale back our community involvement considerably.

*          April Improve-A-Home project led by Brother Tim Shea and now active year round with a recent project at the home of Peter Drake by Brother Knight Dan Turgeon.  If you know of a home in the parish or geographic area that needs a lift, contact Tim.  If you would like to lead a team at a house or a wrangle a whole house, contact Tim. Otherwise pencil in the last Saturday in April or second Saturday in May to bring your tools and any know-how (none required).  Look for announcements in April.

*          Celebrate Fairfax led by Brother Mike Burbach, just completed a record fund raiser this past June.  Mike will need you help next June, but is looking for a co-captain any time.

*          Lenten Soup Suppers and Fall Clothing Drive led by Brother Pete Garry.

*          Thanksgiving and Christmas Food Baskets collection and delivery led by Brother Mark Haaland. Look for help requests in upcoming Mariners.

*          Food for Others in which surplus food from area groceries are distributed to whomever shows up at two collection sites in burke.  The Monday teams are led by Brother Mike Perri and his wife & Kris; and the Wednesday teams are led by Brother Pete Garry.  There is a periodic need for monthly volunteers and alternates.  You may get a call in the months ahead.

*          KOVAR (Knights of Virginia to assist the mentally handicapped) is a statewide funding board for which all councils raise funds while distributing tootsie rolls in April.  Our council’s major annual effort is led by Brother Scott Leitch.

*          Lamb Center is a Christian assistance program for the homeless in Fairfax County.  Our council’s liaison is Charlie Hoover.  There are ongoing opportunities here.  Check with Charlie.

*          Marian Home is group home for disabled women run as a separate organization but heavily funded by our council. Mark Roddy is chairman of Marian Homes activities.

*          NVTC (Northern Virginia Training Center) led by Brother Gerard Durback (see above).

*          Point of Hope bereavement camp provides an escape to families who have lost a loved one to cancer or other tragedies.  Our council, led by Worthy Past Grand Knight Jerry Hovan host a Bar-B-Que dinner (see separate article).

*          Route 123 cleanup led by Brother David Evans (see above).

*          Special Olympics led by Brother Roger Wesley.  We help stage track and field events for the handicapped the first Saturday in May.  Contact Roger to get on the planning team.

*          Arthritis Walk led by Brother Gene Molinelli to raise money or awareness or both for this pervasive disease.  We bring a team to a walk at Robinson High School in May each year. Brothers Steve Smith and Dave Sharp are involved at the national and regional level.

*          Wounded Vets project provides resources for veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan recuperating at local military hospitals.  We raise funds to buy needed personal goods or facilities upgrades and deliver them to the Red Cross for this particular purpose.  This effort is led by Worthy Past Grand Knight Tony Vanderbeek; contact him to offer help.