Letter to the Editor: Knights of Columbus thanks the community of the Manchester area

October 19, 2023

This month, the Knights of Columbus held their 48th annual Mentally Impaired (Tootsie Roll) Drive. Members from Manchester Council 4354 hit the streets at local area businesses and asked people to make a donation to support people with intellectual disabilities and receive a Tootsie Roll. The proceeds from this year’s drive benefits the St. Louis Center (http://www.stlouiscenter.org/index.html) in Chelsea.

The St. Louis Center is a residential family living and learning environment providing for the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The center was originally built by the Archdiocese of Detroit in 1960 and is administered by the Servants of Charity congregation of catholic missionary priests and brothers who have dedicated their lives to caring for the “poorest of the poor” of the world, especially persons with developmental disabilities. See more of their history here: http://www.stlouiscenter.org/history.html.

The Manchester Knights of Columbus wish to thank the area residents and participants who made this drive successful. Thank you to the businesses of the Manchester area, who so graciously allowed the Knights of Columbus to hold the “M.I. Tootsie Roll Drive” for children and adults with developmental disabilities on their property, and also to the many Knights who sacrificed their time to make this event a great success.

Once again our most sincerest thanks and gratitude to all of you.

The generosity of the people of Manchester and the surrounding area continues to benefit the lives of others. I am so proud to be a part of this community.

Mark Fernandez
Deputy Grand Knight — Council 4354
Chairman of the 2023 MI Drive

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by Sara Swanson

Sara Swanson is an editor, writer and founder of the Manchester Mirror.