Manitoba Knights lead a special convoy through winter roads to deliver coats, beds and wheelchairs to residents affected by 2025 wildfires
PUKATAWAGAN, Manitoba–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The Knights of Columbus delivered last week a special donation to the Cree First Nations community of Pukatawagan in northern Manitoba. A convoy of Knights made the drive through challenging winter roads to reach the village of 2,000 residents on February 26 and personally delivered 500 new winter coats for local children, 22 new high-quality beds and 10 wheelchairs to those with pressing healthcare needs. With the donation, the Knights of Columbus has distributed more than 300,000 new winter coats across the U.S. and Canada this winter, surpassing last year’s record of 286,000.
“I wish to congratulate all of my brother Knights across North America who participated in our Coats for Kids, Build-a-Bed, and Global Wheelchair programs, and helped us reach this milestone,” said Knights of Columbus Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly. “These men are a constant reminder of the vision of our founder, Blessed Michael McGivney, as they serve their parishes, their communities, and women and children in greatest need with a spirit of charity.”
Inspired by Most Reverend Murray Chatlain, Archbishop of Winnipeg, who proposed the idea of visiting the First Nations community, the trip was led by Mark Desjardins, State Deputy of the Knights of Columbus in Manitoba, in close cooperation with Fr. Dhana Raju Amarlapudi, MSFS, pastor at Sacred Heart Catholic church in Pukatawagan.
“Members of the Mathias Colomb Cree Nation and many parishioners suffered greatly last year due to the wildfires which forced us out of our homes,” said Fr. Dhana, who has been living in the largely isolated community for the past nine years. “When the Knights called us to propose this visit, we jumped at the occasion to welcome them. We are very grateful to the Knights, their partners, and all of the generous men and women who worked tirelessly to make this donation and visit possible.”
During their time in Pukatawagan, Knights delivered coats and beds to children and families in need and remitted wheelchairs to the local nursing station. The group also trained local residents to build the remaining 20 beds. Joining the convoy were Cleo Castillo, Winnipeg-based general agent for Knights of Columbus Insurance, Tony Kusiak, a Knight from Winnipeg, a four-person video crew and photographer.
The truck and two-car convoy departed from Winnipeg on Wednesday, February 25, after having spent the previous day assembling bed parts at Sleep in Heavenly Peace in Winnipeg, a partner of the Knights that is committed to ensuring no child is forced to sleep on the floor.
Throughout the year, Knights of Columbus councils across Canada and the U.S. raised funds to purchase the essential goods. One hundred percent of each dollar donated to the Knights of Columbus for programs such as these goes to help those they serve.
The Knights of Columbus Coats for Kids® program was launched in 2009 and has since distributed close to two million new winter coats through the organization’s 16,800 councils across Canada and the U.S.
About the Knights of Columbus
In 1882, Blessed Michael McGivney, a young parish priest in New Haven, Connecticut, founded the Knights of Columbus to serve the needs of a largely immigrant Catholic community. What began as a small fraternal benefit society has since grown into the world’s premier lay Catholic men’s organization, with more than 2.2 million members in over 16,800 local councils. As members of one of the world’s leading charitable organizations, Knights donated more than 48 million service hours and over $197 million for worthy causes in their communities in 2024. The Knights of Columbus also offers a range of life insurance products to members and their families. Knights of Columbus Insurance has more than $124 billion* of life insurance in force. In addition, the organization offers investment services in accord with Catholic social teaching through its wholly owned subsidiary, Knights of Columbus Asset Advisors, which holds more than $30 billion** in assets under management. Guided by the principles of charity, unity, fraternity and patriotism, the Knights of Columbus is committed to strengthening Catholic families and parishes, by enabling men to grow in their faith and put that faith into action through service to all in need. To learn more or to join the Knights of Columbus, please visit kofc.org/join.
*As of January 1, 2026
**As of January 1, 2026
Contacts
For more information, photos or interviews with one of our spokespersons:
Daniel Torchia
416-275-2151
[email protected]
Jacob Brunette-Savard
438-777-8876
[email protected]
