Knights of Columbus

Good Evening Leaders & Brothers of the Archdiocese!

Galveston-Houston Knights are officially off and running with boots on the ground serving in rescue missions, shelters, meal preparations, donation deliveries, prayer warriors, and home cleanup duties. On behalf of the Galveston-Houston Chapter, Diocesan Deputy Bill Moeller, Master of Disaster Coordinators Larry Pellerito/Bob Sumicek, we cannot thank you all enough times for all that you have done, all that you are doing and all that you will continue to do in the future for the lives of those impacted by the perils of Harvey. For those not affected by this terrible disaster, it would have been much easier to take another path and not help. However, you as Knights, in the name of charity, are answering the call of our Lord to serve others. It is our attempt in this email to share with you aspects of facets in which the Knights of Galveston Houston are involved. These include, but are not limited to: KCGH POD system, Donations (In-Kind/Monetary Donations), Expenditures/Reimbursements, volunteering (Home Restoration), Volunteering Catholic Charities/SVDP, and Website Communications & Photos.

KCGH POD System: God Bless the following councils/halls and their leaders that have offered their halls to serve as a KCGH "Point of Distribution":(PODS):

Council 3077 (Bishop Byrne) Main/Central POD • Council 5155Angelton • Council 8960 (Fr. Eugene Heyck) Pearland

Council 2801 (Ft. Bend) • Council 6456 (Conroe) • Council 3793 (Fr. Nemec) Wallis • Council 4577 (Regina Coeli) • Council 10393 (Our Lady of Lourdes) Hitchcock • Council 6403  Alvin • Council 3700 (Msgr.A.L.O’Connell) Pasadena                                                           

As soon as the final details of this system are developed, these wonderful councils will serve as "Points of Distribution" for supplies and materials that are needed for the communities in which they are located. Each POD is able to receive donations (non-clothing) for distribution purposes. beginning next week. Distribution times and schedules will be published as soon as development of plan is completed. Note: Council 3077, home of the Chapter Meeting Location is being utlized as the main POD for the Archdiocese. Donations arriving from out of state will be dropped at this location.This Main POD at Council 3077 will be operational seven days a week until deemed otherwise to accept and distribute supplies. Councils that are near these KC PODS are invited to participate in the distribution of items in collaboration with host council by contacting the POD contact listed in the PDF attached regarding KCPODS. More information will follow regarding KCPOD guidelines within the next 48 hrs.

DONATIONS (IN-KIND/MONETARY) : We have received many calls from many parts of the state and country wishing to donate specifically to the Greater Houston Area. If an individual, council or assembly wish to donate funds for local Galveston Houston causes, please have them do so via PayPal located on our Chapter Website: www.ghknights.org, They may also write a check payable to::Galveston-Houston Chapter of Knights of Columbus, 420 Telephone Rd, Houston, Texas, 77023. If a major in kind donation is to be made, it can delivered to: Main KCPOD, 420 Telephone Rd.. Houston, Texas, 77023. Please call at least 24 hours before delivery is made.                                                  

EXPENDITURES/REIMBURSEMENTS : Please remember the guidelines regarding reimbursements for food and/.or supplies purchases for the benefit of Harvey purposes. A receipt and photos of your council's participation should be included with any request for reimbursement. Diocesan Deputy has already covered this rules in detail. Expenditures for food include those for soup kitchen, shelters, community cookouts, and the like.

VOLUNTEERING : Both Diocesan Deputy, Bill Moeller and Master of Disaster, Larry Pellerito, have given us information regarding safety and preparedness with house cleaning and SVDP/Catholic Charities Volunteer Opportunities, respectively. Please be safe when entering homes of those damaged.by Harvey. Please make yourself available, if possible, for volunteering with SVDP and Catholic Charities. Involve your Assemblies, Council Members and Families, and fellow parishioners.Thanks to the many hundreds of you that are teaming up with so many churches, kitchens, and shelters, preparing for those first responders, victims and volunteers. Also, please continue to send us information when help is needed with clean up with a Brother Knight's home. We will get this information out to everyone as soon as possible.

WEBSITE COMMUNICATION/PHOTOS : Please send all photos of our wonderful works of charity to our Chapter Webmaster & PR Chair, JD Gutierrez. We are making the website more appealing by showing all that is being done in our archdiocese as it relates to Harvey recovery. You may email your jpeg photos to him to the following email address: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  We really want to show the world the wonderful difference you are all making in the lives of others!

Again, we will follow up with more information relating to KCPODS within the next 48 hours. 

So many great things happening in the G/H Archdiocese....Keep the faith and carry your cross high!

Vivat Jesus!

John Hinojosa

Chapter President/Assistant Diocesan Deputy

Knights of Columbus

Archdiocese of Galveston - Houston

www,ghknights.org

713-412-6477