Dexter Knights of Columbus Tootsie Roll Drive Benefits Special Needs Children, Adults

Each year members of the s mark the start of spring by taking to the streets to raise funds for children with special needs. This year the event coincided with the visit to Dexter on March 30-April 1.

"We raised more than previous years," event coordinator Randy Fox said. "Thanks to the generosity of the Dexter community, and the volunteers from this council, more than $3,000 was raised to support special education classes in Dexter and also the St. Louis Center in Chelsea."

Approximately 50 knights from Dexter Council 2959 distributed about 2,100 Tootsie Rolls in exchange for the donations over the weekend drive.

The Campaign for People with Intellectual Disabilities, also known as the Tootsie Roll Drive, is one of the Knights of Columbus’ best-known national fund-raisers. All of the proceeds help people locally with intellectual disabilities.

“This one of our most popular and successful fund drives,” Fox said. "We do a lot to help out the members at the St. Louis Center as often as we can."

Fox said the Knights do not use a hard sell approach to collect money; they merely stand near the entrance to businesses wearing a red and yellow apron designating them as a K of C fundraiser. People who donate receive a “thank you” from the knight and an offer of a Tootsie Roll.

"It doesn’t matter if it is a $5 bill or a handful of change,” Fox said. “We appreciate whatever people are able to donate."