Camden Central School District -

Even against the cold and unforgiving Central New York winters, the warmth of the Camden community endures. Through a continuing partnership with Camden’s Knights of Columbus - Eugene F Sauer Council #16943, that warmth gets passed along, literally, to students throughout the Camden Central School District, and at Constantia’s AA Cole Elementary in the Central Square School District.

On Wednesday, December 3rd, representatives from the Camden Central School District received their annual donation of coats from the Knights at the St. John’s Parish Hall in Camden. 48 brand new jackets were distributed this year across five school buildings in two districts, where they will go to students that may not have the means to easily get a new coat. Camden has been receiving jackets for over five years now, and the Council’s partnership with Central Square stretches back even further.

The jackets are secured by the Knights at a heavily discounted price through the Burlington Coats for Kids Initiative, which allows them to help more students with the funds invested. In addition to the coats, the Knights have donated $1,500 this school year to help Camden students through the Rome Alliance for Education/Connected Community Schools. That organization uses its vast network of community support and its collective buying power to provide for a broad range of student needs in its partner Districts, including Camden. Each year, the Knights also provide one or more $500 scholarships to graduating seniors.

Camden High School principal Aaron Fiorini and Camden Middle School technology teacher Thomas Hickey help to facilitate the partnership as members of the Knights. As Council members, they stressed that having a direct community impact is a foundational part of their mission, and their work with schools is an avenue to do exactly that.

“This is a high priority for the Knights because it has a direct impact on this community," Hickey said. "After hearing of the need in schools for food and clothing assistance, the organization made it a priority that a substantial amount of our budget would go to the schools, and these coats are a way to participate in all schools in the district.”

“What drives our council to continue this program is our unwavering commitment to service and charity, and those are core values that define who we are as an organization,” Fiorini said. “Supporting local families and community organizations is not just something we do; it is central to our mission. We prioritize this work because we recognize the real and immediate impact it has on the lives of those around us, and it allows us to put our principles into practice and ensure that no family or organization in need stands alone.”

For Fiorini, being an educator and administrator has also provided the opportunity to see the effects firsthand over the years, and they go way beyond any one material item.

“The impact is immediate and visible,” he said. “Students who arrive to school warm, properly dressed, and equipped with what they need are better able to focus, participate, and enjoy their day. For many families, these items relieve a financial burden and ensure their children are not singled out or struggling quietly. Something as simple as a warm coat or a pair of cleats can help a student feel included, supported, and valued.”

Including their school programs, the Knights from Council 16943 give away about $12,000 per year. Funds are raised through direct donations, their spaghetti suppers, the annual 12 Days of Christmas and 12 Days of Easter cash raffles, and an annual charity picnic held alongside the Central Square Lions and Rotary during the build up to the Syracuse Nationals car show.

With each dollar raised, the Knights see the opportunity to build a stronger community. And in this case, that happens one jacket at a time.

“Programs like this strengthen our school community by reinforcing the message that our students are surrounded by people who care about them,” Fiorini said. “The Knights’ continued commitment to providing these essentials directly supports our mission as educators—to create an environment where every child has the opportunity to succeed.”