Trenton, Camden Knights unite to aid Kentucky tornado victims
February 25, 2022 at 12:10 a.m.
Trenton Diocese Knights John Flynn and Gregory Kane, both members of Council 11660 and parishioners in Our Lady of Perpetual Help-St. Agnes, Atlantic Highlands, joined with two Camden Diocese-based Knights – Raymond Sands, N.J. State Secretary, and David Goeller – in a two-day marathon drive to respond with food, water and other supplies to aid the victims of the Dec. 10-11 tornadoes which tore across five states, resulting in widespread damage and loss of life.
Shortly after the cluster of tornadoes destroyed homes, churches and businesses, Sands contacted the Knights in the Msgr. Russell Council #1418 of St. Jerome Parish in Fancy Farm, Ky., to offer his help to the region, and was told food and water would be needed in the weeks ahead. As collections began in the Camden Diocese, Trenton District 24 Deputy Flynn volunteered to drive his own pickup and trailer to the Bluegrass State with critically-needed supplies. He explained his motivation to help invoking the name of the Garden State’s nemesis from a decade ago.
“I live in Atlantic Highlands,” Flynn said. “Hurricane Sandy came through here and devastated the area. People from all over the country donated and came here to help us. It is in [the Knights’] nature to help when we can.”
The “Hope and Help Kentucky Aid” program was launched, and Knights from both counties contributed generously. In Trenton, the four counties were notified via the Trenton Federation of Knights, then other chapters, councils, communities and local businesses were moved to help. Supplies of non-perishable food and water were collected in Burlington, Monmouth and Ocean counties with the aid of councils including those in Keyport, Marlton, Browns Mills, Tabernacle, Mount Holly, Willingboro and Delran.
In addition to these staples, others stepped in with necessities. Hainesport Knights donated bags of winter coats; the women’s group in Our Lady of Perpetual Help-St. Agnes created more than 100 Rosaries for Kentucky Catholics, and Master Second N.J. District Knight John Brandon of St. Mary Parish, Middletown, donated three large bags of stuffed animals to cheer up young victims. Others donated bags of dog food and funds for the two trucks’ travel expenses, while the account created for monetary donations soon totaled nearly $10,000.
Conditions in the Mayfield area pushed the visit to early February. On the night of Feb. 8, the four left their respective homes, Lynch traversing the 2,032-mile round trip with Kane. The Trenton Knights were struck by the devastation as they neared their Kentucky destination.
“On both sides of the highway, the trees were leveled as far as the eye could see,” said Kane. “I realized there would be damage to the low-lying homes and trailers, but there were three-story buildings which were destroyed… and they had had a couple of months to clear it out. It was amazing; when we approached the church drop-off site, we saw it had lost its steeple but was intact with devastation all around.”
Lynch added somberly, “The four of us were tremendously moved as we witnessed the damage.” Stopping to consider how best to describe the devastation, he continued, “I’ve seen pictures of Hiroshima and Nagasaki after the bombs hit. Block after block was totally leveled. It was like a war. On the interstate on the way down, there was acres and acres of large trees down. There had been five storms which traveled about 200 miles. We just saw a little slice of it.”
Upon arrival at St. Joseph Church, Mayfield, distribution center, the quartet was greeted by pastor Father Eric Riley, Sister Martha Keller, pastoral associate at St. Jerome Parish, Fancy Farm, and 20 Knights from the local council who unloaded the 10,000 lbs. of supplies from N.J., fed the New Jersey men, and offered the use of their homes for showers or rest. After a mere two-and-one-half hours in town, the four departed for their Garden State homes.
Plans are being finalized for a follow-up Zoom meeting between local Knights and their Kentucky brethren, for, as Lynch reflected in a recent interview, “It’ll be years before they are back to normal.”
James Stoever, N.J. State Deputy of the Knights, expressed his admiration for all those involved in the long-distance donation, calling it a “wonderful display of Christian unity.”
He continued, “The efforts of this small group of men coming to the aid of those in need, whom they've never met, fills me with intense pride. What they did, from collecting donations from local communities to traveling [about] 1,000 miles overnight to deliver food, clothing and other much needed items to the victims of historic tornadoes, amazes and humbles me.”
Noting that 2022 marks the 140th anniversary of the Knights of Columbus, Stoever, a member of Epiphany Parish, Brick, continued, “How proper then that this mission of mercy was carried out by a small but determined group of Catholic men, not at all unlike what our founder, Blessed Michael McGivney, did in 1882 when putting his dream into action.”
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Trenton Diocese Knights John Flynn and Gregory Kane, both members of Council 11660 and parishioners in Our Lady of Perpetual Help-St. Agnes, Atlantic Highlands, joined with two Camden Diocese-based Knights – Raymond Sands, N.J. State Secretary, and David Goeller – in a two-day marathon drive to respond with food, water and other supplies to aid the victims of the Dec. 10-11 tornadoes which tore across five states, resulting in widespread damage and loss of life.
Shortly after the cluster of tornadoes destroyed homes, churches and businesses, Sands contacted the Knights in the Msgr. Russell Council #1418 of St. Jerome Parish in Fancy Farm, Ky., to offer his help to the region, and was told food and water would be needed in the weeks ahead. As collections began in the Camden Diocese, Trenton District 24 Deputy Flynn volunteered to drive his own pickup and trailer to the Bluegrass State with critically-needed supplies. He explained his motivation to help invoking the name of the Garden State’s nemesis from a decade ago.
“I live in Atlantic Highlands,” Flynn said. “Hurricane Sandy came through here and devastated the area. People from all over the country donated and came here to help us. It is in [the Knights’] nature to help when we can.”
The “Hope and Help Kentucky Aid” program was launched, and Knights from both counties contributed generously. In Trenton, the four counties were notified via the Trenton Federation of Knights, then other chapters, councils, communities and local businesses were moved to help. Supplies of non-perishable food and water were collected in Burlington, Monmouth and Ocean counties with the aid of councils including those in Keyport, Marlton, Browns Mills, Tabernacle, Mount Holly, Willingboro and Delran.
In addition to these staples, others stepped in with necessities. Hainesport Knights donated bags of winter coats; the women’s group in Our Lady of Perpetual Help-St. Agnes created more than 100 Rosaries for Kentucky Catholics, and Master Second N.J. District Knight John Brandon of St. Mary Parish, Middletown, donated three large bags of stuffed animals to cheer up young victims. Others donated bags of dog food and funds for the two trucks’ travel expenses, while the account created for monetary donations soon totaled nearly $10,000.
Conditions in the Mayfield area pushed the visit to early February. On the night of Feb. 8, the four left their respective homes, Lynch traversing the 2,032-mile round trip with Kane. The Trenton Knights were struck by the devastation as they neared their Kentucky destination.
“On both sides of the highway, the trees were leveled as far as the eye could see,” said Kane. “I realized there would be damage to the low-lying homes and trailers, but there were three-story buildings which were destroyed… and they had had a couple of months to clear it out. It was amazing; when we approached the church drop-off site, we saw it had lost its steeple but was intact with devastation all around.”
Lynch added somberly, “The four of us were tremendously moved as we witnessed the damage.” Stopping to consider how best to describe the devastation, he continued, “I’ve seen pictures of Hiroshima and Nagasaki after the bombs hit. Block after block was totally leveled. It was like a war. On the interstate on the way down, there was acres and acres of large trees down. There had been five storms which traveled about 200 miles. We just saw a little slice of it.”
Upon arrival at St. Joseph Church, Mayfield, distribution center, the quartet was greeted by pastor Father Eric Riley, Sister Martha Keller, pastoral associate at St. Jerome Parish, Fancy Farm, and 20 Knights from the local council who unloaded the 10,000 lbs. of supplies from N.J., fed the New Jersey men, and offered the use of their homes for showers or rest. After a mere two-and-one-half hours in town, the four departed for their Garden State homes.
Plans are being finalized for a follow-up Zoom meeting between local Knights and their Kentucky brethren, for, as Lynch reflected in a recent interview, “It’ll be years before they are back to normal.”
James Stoever, N.J. State Deputy of the Knights, expressed his admiration for all those involved in the long-distance donation, calling it a “wonderful display of Christian unity.”
He continued, “The efforts of this small group of men coming to the aid of those in need, whom they've never met, fills me with intense pride. What they did, from collecting donations from local communities to traveling [about] 1,000 miles overnight to deliver food, clothing and other much needed items to the victims of historic tornadoes, amazes and humbles me.”
Noting that 2022 marks the 140th anniversary of the Knights of Columbus, Stoever, a member of Epiphany Parish, Brick, continued, “How proper then that this mission of mercy was carried out by a small but determined group of Catholic men, not at all unlike what our founder, Blessed Michael McGivney, did in 1882 when putting his dream into action.”