Council has Faith in a Strong Finish of the 2024 “Loads of Love” Soap Drive
On February 9th, Dakota News Now featured the charitable efforts of the Knights of Columbus from the Holy Spirit Parish, who are leading the way towards raising funds for an essential cause — the provision of laundry and dish soap needs for all three homeless shelters in the city of Sioux Falls.
Mr. Jim Coburn of our Holy Spirit Knights, Ms. Madeline Shields from the Bishop Dudley Hospitality House, and Mr. Brady Kirkman from BMD Consulting and a fellow Holy Spirit Knight of Columbus discussed the current fundraiser aimed at securing $17,000 by the end of February. This fund will directly contribute to the welfare of the shelters’ guests, ensuring they have access to laundry facilities — a vital service for maintaining dignity and improving their chances of gaining and retaining employment.
During the segment, Brady highlighted his role in facilitating fundraising for the Knights of Columbus, drawing attention to the significance of providing these basic amenities. The Diocese-wide Catholic fundraiser is seeking community support, emphasizing that, while the targeted sum may seem large, it is relatively modest given the 200,000 strong population of the community.
Ms. Madeline Shields from the Bishop Dudley Hospitality House, an emergency homeless shelter, underlined the impact of the drive. The shelter serves approximately 1,800 individual guests each year and handles around 4,000 loads of personal laundry. August Swims Under, a guest who also shoulders the responsibility of laundering sheets and towels for the facility, shared his daily routine, which keeps him occupied from early morning until evening.
The initiative underscores the importance of seemingly small contributions, such as laundry detergent, which can have a transformative effect on individuals’ lives. A touching story was shared about a man whose job loss during the pandemic left him unable to afford laundry detergent. His encounter with the Bishop Dudley House allowed him to do his laundry for free, which eventually led him to secure a full-time position as an assistant manager at a grocery store.
The collaboration between the Knights of Columbus, BMD Consulting, and the Shelters acts as an inspiring testament to the community’s spirit of helping one another. For those interested in contributing to this noble cause, donations can be made through the Catholic Community Foundation.
The funds raised not only provide the essential detergents but also reinforce the essential human dignity of having clean clothes—a fundamental yet often overlooked need critical for social well-being and success. This fruitful collaboration between the organizations and the generous response of the community are anticipated to make a significant difference in the lives of many, one bottle of detergent at a time.