Mercer Knights benefit pregnancy crisis center
July 29, 2019 at 12:37 p.m.
Mercer Knights benefit pregnancy crisis center
Dozens of Knights of Columbus filled the Choice One Pregnancy Crisis Center June 24 to unveil a gift which reflected their pro-life stance in black and white. The Knights’ donation of a $40,000 GE Voluson P8 ultrasound machine to the Lawrenceville center, the first such gift in Mercer County and second in the Diocese of Trenton, was made possible after months of fundraising by the Knights’ Centennial Chapter comprising 11 Mercer County parish-based councils.
“This issue is near and dear to my heart,” said Knight Joseph Melillo, District Deputy of Council #7103 which encompasses the parishes of St. Alphonsus, Hopewell; St. George, Titusville; St. James, Pennington, and Metuchen Diocese’s St. Charles Borromeo, Skillman. The staunchly pro-life father of three sons recalled, “When [Program of Life programs director] Jim Stoever discussed it at our meeting this past February, I said, ‘absolutely’.”
In order to meet the lofty goal, the Knights exemplified the order’s principles of charity, unity and fraternity. Diocesan knights hailing from parishes in Hopewell, Ewing, Lawrence, Princeton, Allentown, Trenton, Hamilton and others banded together to offer their support for the worthy cause.
Though the Knights of Columbus New Haven international headquarters and Dr. Daniel Rossi of the N.J. State Council each pledged monies matching 25 percent of the machine’s cost, a formidable fundraising task remained for the Mercer County men of faith. “We could have purchased a cheaper machine,” admitted Melillo, “but we wanted one that could show three- and four-dimensional images of the baby in the womb.”
The Knights undertook numerous fund raising projects within their faith communities to raise the necessary funds. The men distributed roses on Mother’s Day, conducted raffles and super 50-50s, collected baby bottle money collections and held Lenten fish fry suppers in their respective parishes. Melillo’s council sold meatballs and pasta sauce to meet their goal. “The money was raised lightningfast,” he said appreciatively.
Melillo recalled the June 24 ceremony at the Choice One center with joy. “There were so many Knights there, it was more than the building could hold,” he said. Dr. Rossi, Stoever, chapter president Robert Hemler, former district deputy Peter Donchak, and master of the second district Dr. Chet Kulak, were among the two dozen Knights assembled that evening.
Choice One client services director Megan Rudanovic expressed gratitude for the new addition to its pro-life arsenal. “The center’s prior machine was about 10 years old,” she stated, “but this is 3-D, and it makes all the difference. It works better and is nicer for the clients. It was a huge blessing for us.”
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Dozens of Knights of Columbus filled the Choice One Pregnancy Crisis Center June 24 to unveil a gift which reflected their pro-life stance in black and white. The Knights’ donation of a $40,000 GE Voluson P8 ultrasound machine to the Lawrenceville center, the first such gift in Mercer County and second in the Diocese of Trenton, was made possible after months of fundraising by the Knights’ Centennial Chapter comprising 11 Mercer County parish-based councils.
“This issue is near and dear to my heart,” said Knight Joseph Melillo, District Deputy of Council #7103 which encompasses the parishes of St. Alphonsus, Hopewell; St. George, Titusville; St. James, Pennington, and Metuchen Diocese’s St. Charles Borromeo, Skillman. The staunchly pro-life father of three sons recalled, “When [Program of Life programs director] Jim Stoever discussed it at our meeting this past February, I said, ‘absolutely’.”
In order to meet the lofty goal, the Knights exemplified the order’s principles of charity, unity and fraternity. Diocesan knights hailing from parishes in Hopewell, Ewing, Lawrence, Princeton, Allentown, Trenton, Hamilton and others banded together to offer their support for the worthy cause.
Though the Knights of Columbus New Haven international headquarters and Dr. Daniel Rossi of the N.J. State Council each pledged monies matching 25 percent of the machine’s cost, a formidable fundraising task remained for the Mercer County men of faith. “We could have purchased a cheaper machine,” admitted Melillo, “but we wanted one that could show three- and four-dimensional images of the baby in the womb.”
The Knights undertook numerous fund raising projects within their faith communities to raise the necessary funds. The men distributed roses on Mother’s Day, conducted raffles and super 50-50s, collected baby bottle money collections and held Lenten fish fry suppers in their respective parishes. Melillo’s council sold meatballs and pasta sauce to meet their goal. “The money was raised lightningfast,” he said appreciatively.
Melillo recalled the June 24 ceremony at the Choice One center with joy. “There were so many Knights there, it was more than the building could hold,” he said. Dr. Rossi, Stoever, chapter president Robert Hemler, former district deputy Peter Donchak, and master of the second district Dr. Chet Kulak, were among the two dozen Knights assembled that evening.
Choice One client services director Megan Rudanovic expressed gratitude for the new addition to its pro-life arsenal. “The center’s prior machine was about 10 years old,” she stated, “but this is 3-D, and it makes all the difference. It works better and is nicer for the clients. It was a huge blessing for us.”
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