St. Raphael
Knights of Columbus
Council No. 14171
 

2008 MR/LD Drive; Revision 1

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

 

This year St. Raphael’s Knights of Columbus Council 14171 [In conjunction with other Naperville Councils] will hold its second Mentally Retarded and Learning Disabled MR/LD Fund (Tootsie Roll) Drive. Our Council goal is to raise over $12,000 for our special MR/LD friends over two weekends in September. All of the money raised [100%] is donated to the Mentally Retarded and Learning Disabled (MR/LD). Last year we raised over $12,000 towards this cause and funded some very worthwhile MR/LD community and parish programs. Our Naperville community is always generous towards this worthwhile cause.

 

We will conduct the Tootsie Roll Drive over two weekends this year. This allows better coverage, and will allow those Knights unable to participate due to a family or other commitment on one weekend to participate on another weekend. Also it allows those Knights which can participate on both weekends to help gain some added coverage. This is a worthwhile cause and one of the largest Knights of Columbus national annual volunteer campaigns. We encourage 100% participation by our Brother Knights and their families. We also encourage participation by other Parish organizations, who also have the goal of volunteerism and helping others. This is a great Boy and Girl Scout, Youth and Confirmation Project for example. Volunteers will be needed and welcome.

 

The overall Chairpersons for this event are Norm Bishop [630-922-3586] and Ray Wheeler [630-428-7581]. Please see us at mass, at the monthly business meetings, or call us if you would like to participate or get involved.

 

1st Weekend-September 12, 13 and 14, 2008-Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Church Weekend

We will collect tootsie roll donations after each Saturday and Sunday Mass. Tom Casey will Captain the Church Parish Mass Drive this year [630-961-2049].

On this weekend we will also solicit donations on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at
  • Casey’s & Trader Joes. Joe Hlava [630-947-4785] will Captain this location with Co-captain Nick Tsigaras [630-470-1703]
  • Walmart [Dave Gotowko, Captain, 630-851-6303].
  • Caputo’s [ Chris Prazak, Captain, 630-579-1816]

The storefront locations begin at 9:00 am or 10:00 am and go until 7:00 or 8:00 pm (depending upon location) on Friday (total of five, two-hour shifts available). We begin at 9:00 am on Saturday and will work until 5:00 pm (total of four, two-hour shifts). On Sunday, we begin at 10:00 am and will work storefront locations until 2:00 pm. (total of two, two-hour shifts available).

The Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts are at the Jewel Store 59th and 95th location on three weekends in September this year, and we have been told that we are not able to solicit at this store front. We are investigating alternative store front locations. Whole Foods Market and Costco do not allow solicitations at their store fronts. There is quite a bit of competition among organizations soliciting for donations. Any suggestions would be welcomed.

 

2nd Weekend-September 19, & 20, 2008-Friday and Saturday. Street Corner Weekend

We will collect tootsie roll donations on street corners Friday, and Saturday.

Street locations include:
 
·         River and Jefferson on Friday and Saturday[Tom Casey, Captain, 630-961-2049],
·         Naper/Plainfield at 75th on Friday and Saturday (only on the Naper/Plainfiled side; not on 75th or Richter) [Ken Kroll, Captain, 630-904-4904], and
·          Book at 95th on Friday and Saturday [John Lamb, Captain,630-544-6248]. 

 

We will begin at 6:00 am on Friday with the morning and evening rush hour at the street corner locations. Two-hour shifts are available on Friday between the hours of 6:00 am and 10:00 am., and 4:00 pm and 8 pm.   The Friday rush hours are always difficult to man because of work conflicts. We encourage our retired Brothers and those Knights able to consider to commit to either the Friday morning rush hour or evening rush hours. These are often the most difficult hours to obtain volunteers, but they are also the most productive in terms of donations. We begin at 9:00 am on Saturday and will work three locations until 5:00 pm (total of four, two-hour shifts).

Who Can Volunteer?
 
This is a volunteer effort that everyone, young and old can take part. We suggest that you make this a family and friends activity and involve wives and children. If you cannot stand for long, we have locations where you can sit, or be a driver to collect money and supporting the drive locations with water and other needs, or you can count money. We encourage everyone to participate.
 
The Volunteer positions available include:
 
Parish Money Counters-two volunteers needed for each two hour shift on each day-10 needed.
Drivers with Cars Needed-2 to 4 required; one or two each day.
Volunteers for Church Masses- 20 minimum volunteers’ needed.
-Saturday Mass-4 volunteers needed
-Sunday Masses-16 volunteers needed
Volunteers for Storefront locations-80 volunteers’ shifts required.
-Friday 3 locations; five two-hour shifts; two volunteers each shift
-Saturday 3 Locations; Four two-hour shifts; two volunteers each shift
-Sunday 3 Locations,; Two two-hour shifts; two volunteers each shift
Volunteers for Street Corner Locations-48 volunteers’ shifts required
            -Friday 3 Locations, Four two-hour shifts; two volunteers each shift
            -Saturday 3 Locations, Four two-hour shifts; two volunteers each shift
 
Volunteer Qualifications:
 
Everyone can participate. A smile is the only qualification!
 
Volunteers for street corner locations should be able bodied with good vision and reactions, due to traffic danger. Solicitation includes approaching automobiles at traffic stop signs and stoplights. Due to traffic danger we ask that street corner locations be manned by person 16 years and older.
 
Family and youth volunteers are encouraged to work storefront locations and after Mass times at the church. These locations do not have traffic hazards so younger children can participate always under parental supervision.
 
To be successful, we ask for total participation from our membership, and we ask that our brothers volunteer for more than one shift during the two weekends. Volunteerism is an important part of our Knights of Columbus Brotherhood. And this annual MR/LD drive provides in some cases the only source of funds for some of our Community and Parish MR/LD programs. Please sign-up with our location captains and volunteer!.
 
Corporate Matching Fund Programs:
 
Some companies have Corporate matching Fund Programs. We encourage you to check with your employers and make available these programs if available. We will be very glad to write letters or provide any documentation required to meet the requirements of these programs.
 
In some cases companies will make outright donations to the worthwhile programs like the MR/LD Drive, and these would be very welcome. Please check with your employers.
 
Jewel Shop and Share Drive:
 
This year we will also have a Jewel Shop and Share Drive to support the MR/LD Drive. The Jewel Stores have been very gracious to the Knights of Columbus and made available its shop and share program this year. Jewel shoppers who have a Jewel shop and share coupon on the dates of September 15 through 17, 2008 will have 5% of their bill donated to the St. Raphael’s Knights of Columbus, and the Knights will donate 100% to the MR/LD Drive. If you get a minute please thank the Jewel Store Managers, because worthwhile community programs like this should be encouraged.  
 
 
Co-chairs: Norm Bishop (630-922-3586) and Ray Wheeler (630-428-7581)

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