Knights of Columbus Helps New Orleans Rebound from Tornadoes

Organization's efforts part of longstanding commitment to disaster relief

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Mar 01, 2017, 11:49 ET

NEW HAVEN, Conn., March 1, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Knights of Columbus has taken a hands-on role in assisting those affected by the tornadoes that devastated a portion of New Orleans on Feb. 7.

The federal government has declared the region a disaster area.

Grand Knight Tom Berner (left) and Phil Zima (right) of Our Lady of the Lake Council 9240 in Mandeville, La., serve jambalaya meals to volunteers and victims of the August flooding. Knights are performing similar actions in the wake of the recent tornadoes in the New Orleans area.

The tornadoes follow last summer's historic flooding in the Baton Rouge area. Knights actively assisted with that disaster as well.

The Knights of Columbus was founded on the principle of charity and has been serving those in need in Louisiana since 1902. After the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, the Knights of Columbus launched its robust disaster response program, and we have assisted our neighbors in Louisiana — and worldwide — many times since.

The Knights put more than $10 million and countless man hours into the region in the wake of Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

The aid the Knights are now providing is concentrated on feeding the thousands affected by the recent twisters, including at Resurrection of the Lord Church, located in one of the hardest hit areas in New Orleans East.

In addition to its charitable giving, the Knights of Columbus is known for its top-rated life insurance products, available only to K of C members. No insurer in North America is more highly rated.

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, focusing on the protection of widows and orphans, and on strengthening the faith of its members. It has grown to include more than 1.9 million members worldwide.

The Knights set a new all-time record for charitable donations in 2015 with more than $175 million in donations and more than 73.5 million hours of service valued at $1.7 billion.

SOURCE Knights of Columbus