The Gorham Knights of Columbus Council 10221 recently presented a total of $8,100 to representatives of the four community food pantries serving the communities of Gorham, Buxton, and Standish. The funds were raised largely from sponsorships from local organizations and businesses supporting the Knights’ recent 5k Walk/Race to benefit food insecurity.
The $8,100 donation was divided among the four community pantries – Gorham, Standish, and two Buxton pantries – and presented at a recent dinner at St. Anne’s Church celebrating the accomplishments of the Knights’ 5K event that was held on Saturday, Oct. 11 at Shaw Cherry Hill Farm in Gorham.
“Food insecurity is a huge issue in our communities, and it’s not expected to get better any time soon,” said Race Director Steve Sedgeley. “It’s an issue that impacts so many of our neighbors, friends, and relatives – virtually anyone reading this probably knows someone experiencing food insecurity, whether they know it or not.”
“We’ve seen a significant increase in the number of people we serve,” said Jean Harmon of the Buxton Food Co-Op. “We’re extremely grateful to the Knights for this donation. It makes a huge difference.”
This marked the first year the event was held at Cherry Hill Farm, as previous years were held in downtown Gorham starting and ending at St. Anne’s Church on Main Street. Organizers hope to continue the event next year during the Columbus Day weekend. Nearly 100 participants registered for the event.
“This was truly a community event with a mission that really resonated with so many people,” added Sedgeley. “We even had private donations from people who weren’t interested in walking or running, but simply wanted to help their neighbors.”
The Knights of Columbus is a Catholic fraternal service organization founded in 1882. It was established to provide mutual aid and charity, originally to care for the widows and orphans of Catholic men who died or were disabled. Today, it is a global organization focused on the principles of charity, unity, fraternity, and patriotism.