The Knights of Columbus council based at the St. Joseph Parish in Imperial has been working to better the community for 100 years.
That group, named Knights of Columbus-Kimmswick Council 2333, was formed in 1921 at the St. Joseph Catholic Church when it was located in Kimmswick.
“At that point, there were no other councils in the north part of the county,” said John Appelbaum, who has been a Council 2333 member since 1989 and was elected to the national order’s Board of Directors in August 2020. “There were councils in Festus and De Soto, and that was it. (Council 2333) encompassed the Arnold-Imperial area in the north part of the county. It took in St. John’s in Imperial, Immaculate Conception and St. Joseph in Kimmswick.”
Nick Wallis, who was named the council grand knight in July, said the group’s official anniversary is Dec. 11.
The Rev. Dan Shaughnessy, St. Joseph Catholic Church’s pastor, said the parish is proud of the council’s long history in the community.
“It has been a really good outreach for men to grow in their faith and serve the community through all sorts of ministries they do,” he said.
While most of the council’s focus is on northern Jefferson County, the group’s work extends further.
“We have proven we can do more for the community, not only at St. Joseph but the surrounding communities in Imperial, Barnhart, Arnold and St. Louis,” Wallis said. “We have proven we have good ideas and people who can execute them to help all kinds of people.”
History
Appelbaum, 61, of Imperial said the council’s home was at St. Joseph in Kimmswick for its first 40 years or so.
That church was relocated to Imperial, opening at the new location in 1998. The old St. Joseph church and school in Kimmswick was sold to the Windsor C-1 School District, which uses the property for Windsor Elementary School.
In the 1960s, some Antonia property was donated to the group, and the members built a hall there. That was the council’s home until 2006, when the group began meeting at the St. Joseph church in Imperial. In 2012, the council bought a building on Imperial Main Street and turned that site into its hall.
However, in January, the council sold that hall, which is now home to Magnolias Salon and Spa.
Council 2333 has moved its operations to the St. Joseph campus in Imperial, and it holds its meetings the third Tuesday of every month at the parish’s Corpus Christi Center.
“We have been more visible in the parish. I think being on campus has helped that,” Appelbaum said. “When you are there, you are doing things and getting involved with the parish on a regular basis.”
Shaughnessy said he is happy the council is meeting on parish grounds again.
“I think that was a good strategic move on their part,” he said. “It allows us to work together as a team to grow our Catholic faith and provide faith formation activities, ministry activities and do great things to serve our neighbors.”
Big year
Wallis, 42, of Imperial said the group has a goal to complete even bigger service projects this year to celebrate its 100th anniversary.
For one of those projects, members filled 250 baskets with breakfast foods it collected and then donated the baskets to the St. Patrick Center in St. Louis, which helps the homeless in St. Louis.
“We assembled them and delivered them in February, right around the coldest time of the year, so the timing was great,” Wallis said.
The group’s next big project was held Feb. 17 through April 1, when the 40 Cans of Lent food drive was held to benefit the parish’s Sister Christine Food Pantry.
“We collected more than 1,100 cans,” Wallis said.
Jake Dugal, a former grand knight, said another big success was the council’s blood drive in June.
“We collected 109 units of blood,” said Dugal, 39, of Imperial. “Usually, we collect between 60 to 70 units of blood. That was really monumental.”
During the council’s Coats for Kids drive, the council distributed more than 150 coats to children at the church in October, which was a big increase over previous years, Wallis said.
“We normally only do a couple of cases of coats a year, so about 25 coats,” he said. “Because this was a huge year for us, we wanted to do more. We had some coats left after the event, and we donated those to the Fox C-6 School District for their Cares Closet project. I believe a lot of those coats already found homes.”
The council also held “Socktober,” a sock drive in October, and collected a car full of socks that were donated to the St. Vincent De Paul Society and the Fox district, Wallis said.
“Most of them were collected through (St. Joseph Catholic School),” he said.
Wallis said the council also purchased 100 teddy bears and planned to distribute them to patients at SSM Health Cardinal Glennon and St. Louis Children’s hospitals after Thanksgiving.
In addition, the council donated $22,000 to St. Joseph to replace the kneelers at the church and $30,000 to the St. Joseph Athletic Association to install new batting cages at St. Joseph Athletic Fields in Barnhart, Dugal said.
He also said the council is currently holding a Queen of Hearts Raffle online. Tickets may be purchased for $5 each at goraisedough.com/tickets.html?raforg=890 and the first raffle will be held when the jackpot hits $1,500 from ticket sales.
For questions about the raffle email the council at GK@KOFC2333.org.
“It has been exciting to say the least,” Dugal said. “It was great to see everyone come together. The members’ ages vary, and we all have one common goal to support our community.”
Wallis said council members will celebrate their anniversary with a catered meal and live music at the Corpus Christi Center on Dec. 18.
“It will be a celebration for all of the success this council has had for the last 100 years,” he said. “It should be a good night.”
Work to continue
Council 2333 members say they believe their work can continue for another century.
“I think this year has proven we can go big,” Wallis said “I like that we took some of these events that were small and made them bigger. We have set an expectation to continue to do those things in the future.”
Appelbaum said he believes the council’s mix of longtime members and newer members will help keep the council’s tradition alive at St. Joseph.
“I would encourage men who are looking for something in their lives to be involved in charitable giving, a faith-based group with people who share their values, to go online and join the Knights of Columbus,” he said. “It is a great organization. It is the best way I know to live out your faith.”