Members of the Knights of Columbus help out during their annual highway cleanup day in April.
By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette
On the morning of Saturday, May 24, members of the St. Cecelia Knights of Columbus will be at the intersection of Highway 44 and Highway 4 in Panora (Casey’s corner) accepting monetary donations to their annual Tootsie Roll Drive. Those who give to the cause receive Tootsie Rolls as a small “thanks” for their generosity.
According to Knights of Columbus Trustee (and former Grand Knight) Lynn Weisz, the event will run from about 7:30 to 11 a.m. on Saturday.
“Every year on the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend, we stand on the corner of (Highways) 44 and 4. It’s called the CPID Drive (Campaign for People with Intellectual Disabilities),” Weisz said. “We collect money, and then 10% of it goes to the Special Olympics in Iowa, and the rest of it gets distributed by the Knights of Columbus. We donate that to a local facility for those with physical or intellectual disabilities. Last year, we gave to Timber Creek and Valley View Estates.”
Another annual event of the Knights was completed last month.
“In April of every year, we do a highway cleanup on Highway 44 two miles out to Yellow Avenue. It’s amazing how much garbage we find after one year,” Weisz said. “All kinds of beverage containers and whatever people toss out their windows.”
The Knights of Columbus is a global Catholic fraternal service order with membership limited to practicing Catholic men. As of 2024, the Knights reported having more than 2.1 million members around the world.