Father Andrew White Assembly in Ridge provided an honor guard for and participated in the annual Veterans Day program in Helen. Knights laid a commemorative wreath at the foot of the veterans memorial there.

Bel Air Council 4714 sponsored a Christmas party for local people with intellectual disabilities and their families. The event included dinner, dancing and a visit from Santa.

Archbishop Francis P. Keough Council 5263 in Odenton donated 100 Knights of Columbus rosaries and K of C rosary prayer cards to fourth-grade students at School of the Incarnation in Gambrills.

Father Peter Paul Maher Council 6793 in Olney presented $500 Refund Support Vocations Program (RSVP) scholarships to 11 seminarians at the council's Christmas party.

The New Jersey State Council presented a gift to Archbishop Peter L. Gerety, archbishop emeritus of Newark, on the occasion of the archbishop's 100th birthday. Archbishop Gerety is the oldest living bishop in the United States and one of the oldest in the world.

Bishop Griffin Assembly in Mercer County, Bishop George W. Ahr Assembly in Allentown and Anima Christi Assembly in Berlin provided an honor guard for a High Latin Mass that was celebrated at St. Hedwig Church in Trenton Nov. 27, 2012. Broadcast by EWTN and held in honor of the Year of Faith, this was reportedly the first Mass of this kind celebrated in the diocese in more than 40 years.

Franciscan Friars Assembly in Butler provided an honor guard for a procession held in honor of the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The Hispanic community from in and around Pompton Lakes walked five miles and visited four different communities to pray and replicate the journey of St. Juan Diego. Following the procession, participants enjoyed a fiesta of food and music.

Over five autumn weekends, Lafayette Council 514 in Dover collected 8,850 pounds of food and $2,930 in cash during a council-sponsored food drive. The food and funds were donated to the food bank at St. Mary Church in Wharton for distribution to needy families at Thanksgiving and Christmas. Over the past decade, the council has collected approximately 35 tons of food for the needy during the holidays.

In response to the devastation caused by Hurricane Sandy, Father Sylvester P. Mcveigh Council 4186 in Kenilworth held a food drive Nov. 10, 2012, at its council hall. Knights volunteered 57 hours and collected 1,400 pounds of food for the Community Food Bank of New Jersey, which will donate the goods to hurricane victims through its network.

Our Lady, Queen of Peace Council 6139 in Hewitt and Father Francis Koch Council 6343 in West Milford set up a Christmas crèche in front of the West Milford town hall. Knights and their pastor worked with the town council to get approval to display the crèche alongside a Christmas tree and a menorah. Approval was granted on Dec. 14, 2012, and the two councils sprang into action to build, paint and install the display.

St. Therese Council 6320 in Kenvil hosted its annual winter WARMTH drive, netting more than 500 pieces of warm-weather clothing for Hope House. In addition to the clothing, Knights also presented the facility with $625 to help with its holiday food voucher program.

Local children display their presents after visiting with Santa Claus during a tree-lighting ceremony hosted by East Hanover Council 6504. Knights co-sponsored the event at town hall with the East Hanover Fire, Police and Recreation Departments.

St. Peter Council 6735 in Merchantville erected a "Keep Christ in Christmas" sign to emphasize the true meaning of the season.

Lawrence Council 7000 in Trenton joined forces with the U. S. Marine Corps for the latter's Toys for Tots Program. The council's drive netted 10 boxes of toys for distribution.

Don Bosco Council 7784 in Newton distributed winter coats to children from three area parishes through the Knights of Columbus Coats for Kids Program.

Members of Tabernacle Council 8733 hosted a party with St. Nicholas for young parishioners at their parish. Knights gave candy to all the children in attendance, plus served food and refreshments.

Mary Immaculate Council 12769 in Secaucus held its annual pan drive to help local shelters. The weekend before Thanksgiving, council members asked parishioners to take an empty cooking pan to fill with leftover food from Thanksgiving. Knights received back more than 125 pans of cooked meals and about 400 pounds of non-perishable goods that were given to local shelters and food pantries.

Watertown Council 259 sold "Keep Christ in Christmas" greeting cards in the weeks leading up to Christmas.

James Norton Council 1828 in Glen Cove distributed Thanksgiving food baskets to local residents in need, as well as families affected by Hurricane Sandy. Mayor Ralph Suozzi of Glen Cove, a member of Council 1828, assisted with the distribution.

Despite losing power during Hurricane Sandy, Msgr. John A. Cass Council 2626 in Long Beach served as an aid station in the immediate aftermath of the storm. Knights served hot food to victims and provided other community assistance toward recovery efforts.

Father Joseph O'Connell Council 3481 in Oceanside hosted a turkey dinner Nov. 21, 2012, for area first responders and personnel from the National Guard, FEMA and the Red Cross. The dinner was held in appreciation for the workers' response during Hurricane Sandy. The council also invited residents whose homes were severely damaged or destroyed during the storm.

Bishop Daniel J. Curley Council 3717 in Syracuse donated $10,500 from its charitable fund to several pro-life organizations, including Syracuse Right to Life, 40 Days for Life and others.

St. Mary Council 4065 in Fishkill, along with its ladies' auxiliary and Our Lady of Lourdes Circle 5307, served a complete Thanksgiving dinner to 180 needy senior citizens at an event sponsored by the Boy Scouts.

As part of its ongoing outreach to the Northport VA Medical Center, St. Joseph Council 4810 in Greenlawn presented 80 veterans at the facility with special multiuse flashlights for Christmas.

Under the direction of member Don Drexler, Our Lady of Genesee Council 4812 in Henrietta erected a "Keep Christ in Christmas" sign on Dec. 6, 2012, the feast of St. Nicholas.

St. Anastasia Council 5911 in Little Neck sold "Keep Christ in Christmas" car magnets outside of its parish. Proceeds from the magnets were split between St. Anastasia Church and the New York State Council's disaster relief fund to aid victims of Hurricane Sandy. The council also held its annual Christmas party, during which attendees brought toys and gift certificates for a council-sponsored toy drive to benefit a local outreach program.

Hampton Bays Council 7023 hosted its annual Christmas party for people with intellectual disabilities. A clown and Santa entertained about 200 guests, all of whom received Christmas gifts.

Our Lady of Fatima Council 14961 in Delanson provided free hot chocolate to spectators who came to see the Canadian Pacific Holiday Train arrive in their community. Each year, the train visits more than 150 communities in the United State and Canada, and attendees are encouraged to donate food and money, which is given to local food banks.

Pennsylvania Districts 35, 36 and 41 joined forces to lease four "Keep Christ in Christmas" billboards in Pike County.

An honor guard from Father Denys Baron Assembly in Pittsburgh, along with Knights from several councils in southwest Pennsylvania, participated in the annual wreath-laying ceremony at the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies in Bridgeville. With approximately 1,000 local citizens attending the ceremony, the Knights helped to place 5,000 Christmas wreaths on the headstones at the cemetery.

St. Joseph the Worker Council 4215 in Levittown and St. Albert the Great Council 7925 in Huntingdon Valley co-hosted pro-life baby bottle drives and a pro-life breakfast to raise funds for a new ultrasound machine through the Knights of Columbus Ultrasound Initiative.

St. Catherine Laboure Council 12811 in Harrisburg hosted its annual Christmas party to raise donations for two local pregnancy resource centers. The event netted close to $600 worth of baby goods like clothing, diapers and wipes.