Knights of Columbus offer holiday cheer to veterans home

Friday, Dec. 16, 2022

OREM — Residents at the Central Utah Veterans Home will not be forgotten this Christmas, thanks to the Knights of 4th Degree Assembly 1146. The Knights of 4th Degree Assembly are drawn from the parishes of St. Francis of Assisi in Orem, St. Peter in American Fork and San Andres in Payson.  

Each year for the last 12 years the Knights have assembled and delivered Christmas stockings filled with goodies for the home’s more than 100 veterans, about 10 percent of whom are women. 

Each stocking contains two pairs of nonskid socks, gloves, a stress ball, a local calendar donated by Peczuh Printing and some chocolate candy. Each has a tag with the words “Merry Christmas from the Utah County Catholic Churches’ Knights of Columbus.” 

This year, the Knights would like to add additional items such as book puzzles to the stockings. They are seeking donations to make that happen, asking for cash or in-kind donations (no creams, fruits or anything with nuts). Any items that are donated but cannot be used at the home will be passed on to homeless veterans.   

“We’d like to get something more useful than just the socks, something a little more than what we give them every year,” said Ray Folks, veterans projects chairman.

The project began when a local Knight, Art Richardson, became part of the Central Utah Veterans Home volunteer advisory board and suggested the assembly find a way to give something back to the veterans at Christmas. Richardson has since moved to Boise, Idaho but the local Knights have continued the effort, Folks said.

“The idea is to give back to the veterans,” he said. Most of those who participate in the project are veterans themselves, “so it’s veterans giving to veterans. It’s really the Knights of Columbus giving back to the veterans for their service.” 

The Knights will assemble the stockings later next week and then they will be distributed by the care center’s staff to the residents on Christmas morning. 

To donate or for information, contact Ray Folks at ezerfolks@msn.com or 801-360-1891. Venmo @KofC-1146. Donations may also be mailed to K of C Assembly 1146, c/o Ray Folks, 862 East 650 South, Santaquin, UT 84655-5539.