The Peru Gazette

L-R St. Augustine’s Knights of Columbus Council 7273 Deputy Grand Knight Gordon Santor, Peru Intermediate School Nurse Melissa Dupras, and Council Coats For Kids Chairman John Ryan

Peru, November 21, 2025 – St. Augustine’s Knights of Columbus Council 7273 has been bringing new children’s winter coats to Peru Central’s Primary and Intermediate Schools since 2013. Then, last year school nurses said they had another need – winter boots, so the knights responded by bringing 12 pairs of boys’ and girls’ boots. This year, they brought 16 pairs of boots and six jackets. When LuAnn Santor, an officer in the Catholic Daughters at St. Augustine’s Parish, learned that her husband, Gordon (Gordy), was going to the school, she asked, “Would you bring knitted hats that Crafters For Charity and others donated to the Catholic Daughters?” There were dozens of hats. School nurses say they will have everything available on teachers’ conference day and anytime students need them. As outside temperatures drop, the need will grow.

Since 2013, the Peru Knights have delivered 281 jackets and 28 pairs of boots to Peru Elementary School. Councils in the United States and Canada have distributed over 1.8 million jackets since the Coats For Kids program’s inception in 2009.