Knights of Columbus Donates 168 Winter Coats to Stillwater Schools

Knights of Columbus Council 5266 delivered 168 winter coats valued at $3,300 to Stillwater Public Schools' Pioneer Pantry, providing cold-weather gear for local students in need.

The donation is part of the Knights of Columbus' national Coats for Kids program, which has provided warmth to more than one million children nationwide since 2009. Council Grand Knight Devin Mages and fellow council members presented the coats to Stillwater High School Principal Walter Howell, who is also a Knights member.

"Council 5266 has been a constant supporter of Pioneer Pantry and our community," Howell said during the coat delivery.

The coats come in various sizes to accommodate students across all grade levels and will be distributed through Stillwater Public Schools. Following the presentation, Howell provided council members with a tour of the Pioneer Pantry facilities.

This marks the second significant contribution from Council 5266 to the Pioneer Pantry this year. In August, the council presented a $2,500 check to support the pantry's mission, with funds raised through various community activities hosted by the council throughout the year.

Council 5266 in Stillwater is one of 17,000 Knights of Columbus councils worldwide. The organization, founded in 1882 to assist working-class and immigrant Catholics in the United States, today has approximately two million members who support charitable causes locally, nationally and internationally.

The Stillwater council has served St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church Parish and the Stillwater community since 1962, supporting a range of charitable initiatives through both financial contributions and hands-on service.