St. Ann’s Parish Knights of Columbus, Council #10289, was formed on March 10, 1990, with 43 members. We held our first charity event in May 1990, on Mother’s Day weekend. The event was our first Baby Shower for the Unborn to aid Birthright of Greater Taunton. When presented with the assorted materials to the organization, Birthright founder and director Kay Poirier, said it was the largest single donation of cash and materials they had received in their 22-year history. St. Ann’s Knights have made the Baby Shower for Birthright an annual event during the month of September.

Over the years we have annually held many different charitable events such as:

Blood Drives – We hold a Red Cross blood drive annually;

Adopt-A-Highway Program – We were responsible for cleaning a 2-mile section of Rt. 495 monthly;

Children’s Events – Each year the Knights hold a Halloween and a Christmas party for the children in the Taunton/Raynham area.

Ever since 1991, the Knights have held their Annual Charity Road Race. With the proceeds from the race, we have awarded many scholarships to graduating high school students living in Raynham. We also make monthly donations of cash and food supplies to the Raynham Food Basket and The St. Francis Samaritan House for the Homeless in Taunton. The council donates to Birthright of Taunton, a non-profit organization that assists women
with unplanned pregnancies.

We are also a major source of support to seminarians from the Fall River Diocese. These men have depended on the Knights to help keep them in school to fulfill their calling.

Every December St. Ann’s Knights of Columbus sponsor a Giving Tree to aid the needy in the Taunton and Raynham area. The Giving Tree has provided gifts for over 500 children and families each year since its inception in 1991. These children give their requests for needed clothing items and toys to Santa’s Helpers at the Raynham Food Basket, St. Vincent De Paul Society, My Brother’s Keeper Homeless Ministry, and Birthright of Greater Taunton.

The St. Ann’s Knights of Columbus have sponsored many special or one-time projects. In 1994 we held a ham and bean supper and were able to raise over $2,000. The money was used to provide help with medical bills for a family with a 6-year-old boy in Raynham suffering from leukemia.

The Council has provided help to citizens of Raynham in many areas. We acquired a van equipped with a wheelchair lift for a handicapped child in Raynham and provided the resources to build two wheelchair ramps for families in town. We donated $5,000 to have a room converted into a bathroom for a Raynham family whose daughter is mentally challenged and has cerebral palsy. This was the third bathroom we remodeled.

The St. Ann council held several major events in 1997. We began raising funds to purchase water and ice rescue equipment for the town of Raynham. This equipment, “RESCUE ALIVE”, was delivered and presented to the town on August 2, 1997. The Knights raised the needed $3,000 by holding a supper and soliciting donations from town residents and businesses.

We also held a Pancake Breakfast and raised $500, which we matched and donated $1,000 to enable the town of Raynham to finish paying for “FANTO”, the town’s new Police Dog at that time. We also recognized the Raynham Canine Officer and his retired partner, “LARO” for his exceptional career.

St. Ann’s Knights provided a local teen with muscular dystrophy with an electric wheelchair. The young man wanted to attend college but could not propel his manual wheelchair by himself. The Knights obtained and refurbished an electric wheelchair and presented it to him. The K of C participates in the annual Raynham Community Day. Knights assist with set up, cleaning up, and sponsoring a table. The council donates funds to the children’s library to hire a Museum of Science exhibit each summer. Since the council was formed, the Knights have raised nearly $150,000, all of which has been used to help Raynham residents and the town.

The St. Ann Knights of Columbus are already planning future projects and are always ready to help those in need. Catholic men interested in joining the Council can do so by speaking with any member or emailing Grand Knight Chris Buckley at chris.buckley80@gmail.com