Fourth Degree Assemblies from throughout the Diocese of Baltimore conducted a drive to collect bottles of water, potato chips, cookies and candy for Operation Welcome Home, a program that greets soldiers returning from overseas deployments. Knights collected 2,240 bottles of water and more than 900 snacks.

Westminster Council 1393 volunteered at the first Carroll County Homeless Resource Day, sponsored by the state and by the Carroll County Department of Social Services. More than 100 needy or homeless citizens received dental and vision checkups, flu shots, legal assistance, and employment and housing consultations.

Patuxent Council 2203 in Laurel sponsors a recycling program that raises money for charitable causes. Launched by Jim Brown, Chris Erdle and Bill Knox, all of whom work in the HVAC industry, Knights collect old household appliances that are dismantled and salvaged for coils, compressors, motors and copper. These items, in turn, are sold to a local recycling center, and the council uses the proceeds to fund a number of charitable initiatives.

Nearly 50 Knights from New Jersey Fourth Degree District #1 provided a honor guard for the dedication of a 9/11 memorial at Holy Cross Cemetery in North Arlington. Four bishops presided over the dedication, which was preceded by a Sept. 11 memorial Mass.

Six Knights of Columbus Insurance agents from the Thomas Schreiner Agency in Springfield participated in the annual Special Olympics New Jersey Plane Pull. The K of C team came in first place by raising $7,500 for Special Olympics and for pulling a 737 aircraft across the tarmac with just six men.

America Assembly in Jersey City provided an honor guard at Our Lady of Victories Church for the celebration of the feast of Our Lady of Peñafrancia, Patroness of Bicolandia.

Perez Council 262 in Passaic donated a new laptop to St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic School.

Ridgewood Council 1736 held a memorial service for council member Daniel McGinley, who perished in the South Tower of the World Trade Center on 9/11. Knights invited friends and family to a private ceremony for the unveiling of a memorial photo plaque that is now on display at the council's hall.

Nativity Council 2976 in Laurel Springs collected 50 pounds of soda can tabs from parishioners at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church. The tabs, in turn, were presented to the Ronald McDonald House, which will recycle them for operational funds.

St. Joseph Council 3402 in Keyport held a dinner Sept. 26 to honor past grand knights of the council. Ten past grand knights, along with the council's current grand knight, William H. Horton Jr., attended the event.

Marian Council 3801 in Pompton Lakes has sponsored area youth sports teams for many years.

South Plainfield Council 6203 purchased a 40-foot-wide pro-life banner that is placed on the roof of its council hall several times each year. The council also sold mums at the South Plainfield Rescue Squad, netting $2,673 for the council's charitable fund.

East Hanover Council 6504 participated in the Morris County Columbus Day Parade with a float of the Santa Maria. The parade followed Mass at St. Rose of Lima Church.

St. Gregory the Great Council 7677 in Trenton volunteered at its parish picnic Sept. 11. Parishioners came out to the soccer field at St. Gregory School to enjoy the day together.

Long Valley Council 10419 donated the proceeds from its annual fund drive for people with intellectual disabilities to Morris County ARC.

Members of Mary Immaculate Council 12769 in Secaucus and their spouses volunteered nearly 200 hours to operate game booths at the Immaculate Conception Parish Carnival. The council also distributed child ID kits at the annual Secaucus Library Mini-Fair and participated in a pro-life prayer service and life chain Oct. 2.

The Our Lady of Victories Round Table in Jersey City, which is sponsored by Mary Immaculate Council 12769 in Secaucus, hosted a Filipino-American breakfast on the feast of Our Lady of Victories Oct. 1. Knights served about 120 guests, raising $250 for the church and for charity.

Members of Commodore John Barry Assembly in Elmhurst process out of the hangar of the USS New York during a 9/11 ceremony and prayer service. Knights joined with the captain and crew of the New York to host a memorial service on the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The USS New York, a San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship, was built partially with steel recovered from the World Trade Center.

Joan of Arc Council 1992 in Port Jefferson sponsored a blood drive that netted 88 units of blood.

John W. Mackay Council 2310 in Glen Head hosted its annual memorial Mass for deceased council members Oct. 14.

Memorare Council 3476 in Seaford provides ongoing support to the The Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind Inc., which breeds and trains guide dogs for people with visual impairments. Over the past year, the council raised $20,000 for the foundation through a number of fundraisers, including a special weekend for couples at the Hudson Valley Resort and Spa that also featured a number of raffles and auctions. It costs approximately $6,000 to train one guide dog, and all of the canines funded through the council are named after Catholic saints.

Bellmore Council 3689 co-sponsored a 9/11 memorial blood drive with Long Island Blood Services. The event netted 93 pints of blood.

St. Mary Council 4065 and John Paul II Assembly, both in Fishkill, along with the council's ladies' auxiliary, donated $400 each to the four parishes that they serve. The funds will offset the cost of new sacramentaries that incorporate the upcoming changes to the Roman Missal in English.

St. Anastasia Council 5911 in Little Neck hosted its annual fund drive outside of St. Anastasia Church. The drive netted approximately $2,000 for the council's charitable fund.

Keith Armbrust of Hyde Park Council 6111 sands the flagpole at Regina Coeli School in preparation for painting. At the request of their pastor, Knights painted the badly rusted 40-foot pole, borrowing a cherry picker to complete the project.

St. Sylvester Council 6194 in Ozone Park held a food drive to benefit the food pantry at its parish. Knights collected more than 60 bags of food during the six-hour drive.

St. Joseph Council 7675 in Dolgeville hosted a going-away part for Michael J. Jablonski, a council member who was accepted to study for the priesthood at the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio. In addition to the send-off, Knights also pledged to provide financial aid to Jablonski by donating to him a portion of the council's quarterly raffle proceeds.

Woodlawn Council 2161 in Aliquippa hosted a traditional Latin High Mass at St. Titus Church to celebrate the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. After the promulgation of Pope Benedict XVI's 2007 apostolic letter Summorum Pontificum, the council formed a Traditional Latin Mass Guild to sponsor the regular celebration of the extraordinary form of the Mass. Following the liturgy, Knights hosted their annual Battle of Lepanto Dinner to celebrate the great Catholic victory of 1571. Proceeds from the dinner — about $1,500 — will be used to provide three scholarships to local seminarians.

Every year at its annual memorial Mass, Cardinal Stritch Council 4649 in Quakertown offers a memorial site with an eternal flame in honor of deceased members. Located at the parish cemetery, every deceased brother is listed in stone. The council also offers prayer requests through its website and Facebook page.

As part of an area 40 Days for Life campaign, St. Thomas More Council 14090 in Pottstown prepared a pro-life breakfast at its council hall to support Birthright and A Baby's Breath. Knights served more than 100 people during the event, which raised about $500. The council also held a clothing and household items drive to benefit the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.

Father Charles R. Slough Council 14161 in Elysburg presented a new automated external defibrillator (AED) to Queen of the Most Holy Rosary Church. Prior to the presentation, a local nurse instructed and certified nine people to use CPR and the AED in case of an emergency. The council will host additional training sessions in the future.

St. Basil Circle 5509 in Kimberton volunteered at a fundraiser for Alex's Lemonade Stand, a foundation that sells lemonade to raise money for pediatric cancer research. Squires dressed up in costumes to attract customers to the stand, which raised $91,000 in 2011.