Knights of Columbus to Help Puerto Rico & Mexico in Wake of Natural Disasters

K of C raises $2.8M in disaster relief

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Sep 26, 2017, 14:12 ET

NEW HAVEN, Conn., Sept. 26, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- With gifts of aid to Puerto Rico and Mexico, the Knights of Columbus has expanded its outreach in the wake of recent natural disasters that have plagued the southern U.S., Mexico and the Caribbean.

The K of C has raised more than $2.8 million as part of an ongoing national appeal that builds on the donations and relief work of Knights themselves. The effort began after Hurricane Harvey made landfall in Houston on Aug. 25.

Earlier in the month, members of the Knights of Columbus in Coatzacoalcos, Mexico drove supplies to the town of Unión Hidalgo in Oaxaca, which was affected by the earthquake that preceded the one that struck Mexico City on Sept. 19.

In the most recent actions, the Knights has donated $100,000 to Puerto Rico to aid victims of Hurricane Maria and an additional $100,000 to Mexico in the wake of the earthquake that struck Mexico City a week ago.

In addition to financial support, many Knights have helped to rescue stranded neighbors and provide assistance, which has included the distribution of more than $720,000 in food, water and other necessities.

"Charity has always been the defining characteristic of the Knights of Columbus, and people – both those in distress and those who want to help – have placed a great deal of trust in us," said Knights' CEO Carl Anderson. "The outpouring of generosity to our appeal by our members and others has been greatly appreciated."

Donations by check or money order can be sent to: Knights of Columbus Charities, P.O. Box 1966, New Haven, CT 06509-1966 with "United Disaster Relief" in the memo portion of the check. To send aid specifically for the Mexican earthquake, write "International Disaster" in the memo portion.

Gifts can also be made or by calling 1-800-694-5713 or online at kofc.org/flood. Click on "United States Disaster Relief" or, for Mexico, click on "See More Charities" and select the "International Disaster" donate option.

Knights of Columbus Charities Inc. is recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a charitable organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, and donations are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.

The K of C was founded in 1882 by Venerable Father Michael McGivney, a parish priest, in New Haven, Connecticut. The organization was formed to provide charitable outreach and care for the financial well-being of Catholic families. It has grown to include more than 1.9 million members worldwide.

The Knights set a new all-time record for charitable donations in 2016, with more than $177.5 million in donations and more than 75 million hours of service valued at $1.8 billion.

SOURCE Knights of Columbus