Knights of Columbus provide charity by the truckload

Intermountain Catholic

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From left, Bob Masse and Miguel Gutierrez unload supplies at San Felipe Catholic Church in Wendover.

WENDOVER – The economical times have affected everyone everywhere, and people in Wendover are no exception.

When Robert E. Masse Jr., state secretary for the Utah State Knights of Columbus, heard that an estimated 300 workers who were parishioners of San Felipe Catholic Church were laid off last year from their casino jobs in Wendover, he decided to take action.

Together with fellow Knights Joseph (Joe) Vrazel and Fredrick (Fred) Montoya, Masse met with San Felipe pastor Rev. German Umana to decide how to help.

Vrazel is the promotional chairman and Montoya is the district deputy for District 7 of the Knights of Columbus Utah State Council.

"We decided that money was not the best way because coming up with money isn’t going to put food on their tables," Masse said.

Instead, the Knights of St. Martin de Porres Council in Taylorsviile chose to gather funds and to start working with grocery stores to get good deals on non-perishable items and clothing to purchase to take to Wendover.

"The Utah Food Bank was already helping there, but they just give food to the people per car and frequently in each car there were four families; people over there (in Wendover) don’t have vehicles," Masse explained.

Early last year the group started their monthly trips to Wendover to take the supplies.

The people who receive this help are iprimarily Latinos and "many can’t go anywhere because the only thing they know how to do is work in the casinos," Masse said.

On a recent trip, Masse, Vrazel and Montoya got into Wendover with a truck full of food and with a stove. They also took some cupcakes for the kids.

Miguel Gutierrez, a Mexican worker at the Red Garter Hotel and Casino in Wendover, Nevada, was one of those affected by the economical downturn. He and his wife have five children, and the Knights’ help was "like seeing a light in the darkness," he said.

"I love this cupcake," said María, one of Gutierrez’s daughters, as she took a good bite.

"We are going to have a delicious dinner," said Ramon, another Gutierrez’s kids, watching the boxes being unloaded.

The charitable work by the St. Martin de Porres Council earned the Community Award at the 103rd State Convention Awards Banquet on May 1. According to the proclamation read by State Secretary Ray Lopez, the group has driven nearly 650 miles each month for more than a year, providing thousands of dollars, tons of food and truckloads of furniture and appliances for the needy.

"We are not doing this for recognition or awards; we did it because it was the right thing to do," Masse said.