Knights of Columbus Council 15967 is celebrating a successful first year in Clarkston.
Based at St. Daniel Catholic Community, the council used to be part of Council 5436, which served St. Dan’s and Our Lady of the Lakes in Waterford for more than 50 years.
“Our new council was established to serve the needs of our parish more directly, along with the local community,” said council Wardon John Greaves of Clarkston.
“The name is different, but the effort to serve our community is not,” said Geoff Wright of Independence Township, deputy grand knight. “We’ll be able to focus on activities at St. Dan to support the youth and the church here.”
Clarkston council knights help out all over the community at events including Taste of Clarkston, Concerts in the Park, Fourth of July parade, and Holiday Lights parade.
“We’re able to mobilize a group of guys fairly quickly and get things done,” said Jerry Roberts of Clarkston, past grand knight. “We’re here to support any organization.”
They also help out at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, checking in coats, and donate sweaters and coats for Christmas at Holy Cross Children’s Services. They donated $1,600 recently to Angels Place in Clarkston, an effort to build a special-needs house for 5-6 residents.
“That’s a great project, one near and dear to us,” Greaves said. “The property has been donated. The Knights helped with the downpayment ? there’s more to do in the future.”
The knights sold their building on Maybee Road in 2013 and moved to Everest Academy campus for about a year.
“We lost the hall on Maybee at Sashabaw because of the economy ? we couldn’t support the expenses,” Roberts said.
Fr. Christopher Maus, St. Dan’s pastor at the time, called last spring to ask if they were interested in forming a council at the Clarkston church. This is the parish’s first Knights of Columbus council.
The newly Clarkston-based council signed its charter on May 13, 2014,with about 55 charter members.
“We’ve grown the number significantly since the council was established,” Greaves said. “We have about 85 members now.”
Grand Knight Robert Reinelt of Clarkston joined seven years ago.
‘I was asked by my father for years to join,? Reinelt said. “I was impressed with the Color Corps. Then I found out how close the knights are ? and it puts you one step closer to God.?
Roberts, a knight for 46 years, also followed his father into the Catholic men’s fraternal service organization.
“I joined because of camaraderie, faith, and community,” he said.
Wright has been a knight for 19 years.
‘I was raised to believe in charity of all manner, raising money, amd also acts of service ? this gives us an opportunity to serve our fellow man,? he said. ‘It’s not limited to St. Dan’s. It’s a chance to serve friends, neighbors, and strangers in the community.?
Greaves has been a knight for 28 years, and is a member of the color guard along with Roberts.
‘It’s something important,? he said. ‘As a knight you have an opportunity to support your parish, give back to the community, grow in faith, build meaningful long term friendships, and gain exclusive access to top rated insurance programs.?
The council’s annual Tootsie Roll drive benefiting SCAMP, Angels Place, New Horizons, New Gateways, Special Olympics, and other charity groups, is March 27-28. Knights will be at intersections and stores in the community, collecting donations.
For more information, call Robert Reinelt at 248-933-9179 or Dan Torres at 248-321-9782.