As part of its commitment to the vets at St Francis House, the Knights of Columbus coordinated a meal that was served on January 16 to about 60 vets and staff.  Mike and Ruth Kerwin prepared a pasta dish and French bread as well as sweet tea and coffee.  Their entre was supplemented by a great garden salad made by Anna Suttor.  Members of the HSV vet organizations provided a variety of delicious desserts.  

In addition to the aforementioned, the following attended to help serve the meal and socialize with the vets:  from the Knights of Columbus were coordinator John Bodensteiner, Tom Donnelly, and Carl Suttor; from VFW Post 10483 were Lew Ake and Jim and Beverly Albright; from the Military Order of the Purple Heart, Chapter 783 was Jim Grant; and, from the American Legion Post 123 and Auxiliary were Mary and Dallas Erdman, Jim Gruenewald, Leo Keys, and Anna Maeux.

The next on-site meal is scheduled for Thursday, April 3.

To view pictures, click Photos.

A 6:00pm social with a Christmas theme was held for the vets at St Francis House on Monday, December 2, with 48 vets attending (40 men and 8 women).  To start the evening, all of the vets and the team members met in the hall, held hands, and prayed for God's blessing. 

Each vet was presented with a $10 Walmart gift card.  The gift cards were purchased from donations from the Knights, VFW, American Legion, and the Order of the Purple Heart.  It only required a hug and kiss to get a card from Anna Suttor.

Gerry Krawczynski.and Ray Ambrozich made six gift baskets that were given away as door prizes.  Anna Suttor did a superb job of decorating the hall as can be seen in the pictures.  Mike Murphy provided two DVD/CD players that were used to play music in each of the rooms.

The volunteers who provided food and who were in attendance included:  Ray and Gynnie Ambrozich, Rosemary Monarque, Anna Suttor, Mike and Ruth Kerwin, Bill Nosek, Larry and Rebecca Linteau, Phil and Marlene Carl, and Mike Murphy.  The following provided food but were not in attendance: Ed Keearns, Lanny Mabus, Patricia Khuen, Mike Garstecki, Valerie Hartnett, Bill Patterson, Libby Dyar, and Judie Pearson.

The vets were very appreciative.  View pictures in Photos.

Gary Clemmons by his plaque

A new program recently started with Bed, Bath and Beyond in Hot Springs.  They will joining their sister operations in North Little Rock and Little Rock in making regular donations to St. Francis House.  Ken Mace from St. Francis House makes the pick ups in NLR and LR.  The Assembly team is assuming responsibility for the pick up and delivery of the items from the Hot Springs' store.  Assembly volunteers are neded to assist with this program.

Ken and Mike Kerwin made the first pick up in mid October.  A  second pick up was made shortly thereafter.  On November 6, Phil Carl and Mike made the third pick up .  Weekly pick ups are anticipated, after having made made three in four weeks.  Mike is notified in advance when the pick ups are ready. 

They require a full-size van or truck based upon earlier pick ups.  The store items are in boxes other than the comforters that are in plastic bags.  Weekly deliveries from varioius sources have been made by volunteers to St. Francis House for over a year now.

Gary Clemmons was in the program 11 years ago and ever since has worked at St. Francis House.  He is always very helpful whenever Assembly volunteers are there for a drop off or a social.

View pictures by clicking on Photos.

Finished window that has been caulked and glazed with the trim repaired and painted.

A team of seven volunteers under Dave Witchger's excellent leadership started the first work project at St. Francis House on Saturday, October 19.  The work consisted of scraping, caulking, glazing, and painting five windows and the trim on the Good Shepherd Episcopal Chapel, attached to St Francis House.  Some of the window sills and trim also had to be replaced.  On the first five-hour work detail were Mike Garstecki, Mike Kerwin,  Larry Mabus, Mike and Pat Miller, Mark Swain, and Dave Witchger.

On the following Saturday, October 26, a team of Mike Frantz, Mike Kerwin, Lanny Mabus, and leader Dave Witchger finished the inside and outside caulking, glazing, and painting.  Again, they worked about five hours.

With the window project completed, the volunteers are discussing with Ken Mace the replacement of the fascia on the front of the Chapel.  However, access for this project is complicated by an awning located over the Chapel's entrance.

View pictures by clicking on Photos.

On Monday, September

Tables of food prepared by the volunteers.

16, the Knights, VFW, and American Legion hosted a 6pm social at St. Francis House in Little Rock.  Finger food, punch and coffee were provided.  The food consisted of sandwiches, fruit, deviled eggs, veggies, breads, cookies, and cake. 

There are currently 38 vets at the House who participated.  It was a good evening with good interaction between team members and the vets.  The food left over was made available for the Monday Night Football watchers.  The Friendship team will plan one more event for this year.  Coordinator Mike Kerwin stated, "I want to thank all of the volunteers for their participation."

Attendees included: Carl and Anna Suttor, Bill and Mary Lou George,  Ed Pilarski, Ray and Gynnie Ambrozich, Bill and Valerie Hartnett, Bill and Kathleen Nosek, Gerry Krawczynski, Jim and Beverly Albright, Dub and Geri Green, Ed Keearns, Jim Dyar, Marshall Garrison, Tom Donnelly, Mike Garstecki, and Doug Bead.

Not in attendance, but providing food were Ed Miller, Jim and Marge Vorisek, and Dub and Geri Green's neighbor.

See pictures in Photos.

A Fourt

Pictured (l-r) are Sir Knights: Gerald Krawczynski, Gordon Wilson, Bud Campbell, James Walker, Lloyd Cambre, and Bert Steck.

h Degree Exemplification was hosted by Bishop Andrew Bryne Assembly 0024 at Our Lady of the Holy Souls Catholic Church in Little Rock on Saturday, August 17. Twenty candidates were exemplified into the Fourth Degree by Arkansas State Master Russ Anazlone. The honoree was Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI.  Knight dignitaries in attendance were current State Deputy Mike Kieffer and former Masters Bob Peters and John Shields.

Local Council 10208 member William "Bud" Campbell along with Benton Council 9396 members Lloyd Cambre and James Wallker were exemplified.  Current Assembly 2316 members Gerald Krawczynski, Bert Steck, and Gordon Wilson accompanied and supported the candidates.