Knights of Columbus giving away Tootsie Rolls to aid kids with disabilities

Knights of Columbus, a Catholic men’s fraternal benefit society, is giving away Tootsie Rolls and asking for donations in return..

The society was formed to render financial aid to its members and their families, and now they are working to aid Maricopa children.

“The Tootsie Rolls are free because they raise people’s interest in what you are doing,” said John Weindorf, a member of the Knights. “Sometimes this interest leads to a donation.”

All this weekend members of the organization will be standing in front of Fry’s Marketplace handing out the chocolate sweets and asking for donations to benefit intellectual disabilities.

Of the money raised, 25 percent will go to the state and the other 75 percent will stay in Maricopa.

Last year the organization used the funds it raised to build a garden at Maricopa Wells Middle School for children with disabilities.

“The person who runs the disability program at the school cried when we gave them the garden,” Weindorf said.

This year the organization plans once again to give the donations to the middle school.

“In general people are good and want to support causes like this,” Weindorf said.

Photo by Michael K. Rich