Charity Spotlight for August
Charity is the first principle of our Order. This month, our focus turns to the Intellectual Disabilities Drive, one of the most recognized charitable efforts of the Knights of Columbus in Illinois. Through the ID, or “Tootsie Roll,” Drive, councils help support local programs serving people with special learning and life needs.
The State Council has set the 2026 Annual ID Drive for September 18–19–20. Since that weekend is quickly approaching, August is the month for councils to move from good intentions to a working plan.
By now, councils should have named an ID Drive Chairman, reviewed the Intellectual Disabilities section of the Illinois State Council website, selected their collection dates, begun securing locations and permissions, requested any needed insurance certificates, and ordered their Tootsie Rolls. Councils should also confirm which local organizations they hope to support and make sure those organizations are eligible to receive ID funds.
Please encourage your councils to use August well. Finalize store fronts, street corners, parish locations, municipal permissions, volunteer schedules, publicity, money-handling procedures, and the local story of who the council is helping. Councils should also consider setting up an online ID fundraising page so those who do not carry cash can still support the drive.
This year’s statewide goal is topping $2 million in much-needed dollars. That goal will only be reached council by council, Brother by Brother, and collection by collection. A successful ID Drive does not happen by accident. It happens when councils prepare early, tell the story well, invite people personally, and keep the focus on the men, women, children, and families whose lives are touched by this work.
Please share with me examples of Charity in action from your councils, especially stories of councils preparing early, building strong partnerships, or supporting local organizations that serve people with intellectual disabilities.
As Assistant Diocesan Chairman for Charity, I am happy to help you identify needs, promote State Charity programs, and gather examples that can be shared in future DD reports, on the diocesan website, and through social media.
August Charity in Action Example:
A successful ID Drive begins before the first Tootsie Roll is handed out. Councils that already have their chairman, locations, permissions, insurance, candy order, and volunteer schedule in place are giving themselves the best chance to succeed. More importantly, they are showing that this work matters and that the people served by the ID Drive deserve our best effort.
Council August Charity Action:
Councils should use August to finalize their ID Drive plan and make sure nothing is left to the last minute. Confirm the chairman, dates, locations, permissions, insurance, candy order, online giving page, publicity, and volunteer schedule. Then tell the story clearly: this drive helps us serve God’s Special People, and every council has a part to play.