The James J Zegers Council’s charitable works on behalf of the St Maximilian Kolbe Parish and our local community include a variety of projects and fund-raising efforts to support these activities.  Charity is the core of our council’s work and faith; it always has been and always will be!  The following is a sampling of some of our many endeavors throughout the year:

      ** January – Conduct raffle ticket sales. Start preparations for potential events such as Super Bowl Wings Sales, Valentines day festivities and/ or St. Patrick's Day activities.  Conduct or support council or district youth free throw competitions.

     ** February – Complete Super Bowl activities/sales and conduct the annual raffle if it is planned for Super Bowl Sunday.

     ** March – Conduct the annual raffle if it is planned for St. Patrick's Day and host any other events that may be scheduled for that day (or during that week).  Prepare for the annual Easter Egg Hunt for local area children; contribute to support a seminarian; and, work on improvements to Knight’s room in Immaculata Hall as needed.

     ** April – Support the Parish Easter Sunrise Service on the beach at Strathmere.  Conduct the Easter Egg Hunt providing up to 100 local children with candies, chocolate, and a visit with the Easter Bunny.  Begin weekend coin-drop collections at local business establishments to help support our various charitable endeavors.  And, begin canvassing local campgrounds for donations of used mobile homes which we can sell to support our “Knights in Need” fund and/or other community charity needs.

     ** May – Support the March for Life in Washington, DC.  Solicit for sponsors and participants for the Annual “Michael J Barnes Shoes at the Shore" horseshoe and cornhole tournament usually scheduled around Fathers Day.  This competition is conducted annually to benefit the Widows in Need (WIN) fund.

     ** June – Conduct the "Shoes at the Shore" tournament.  Continue coin-drops at at local business venues to fund activities for the mentally and physically challenged, and for general community support.  Prepare and sell any donated mobile home trailers we are able to obtain.  And, support various "right to life" activities such as contributing to ultra sound availability at local family clinics and/or collecting and providing diapers & wipes for single moms.

     ** July/August – Continue coin-drop business collections for the general/charity fund.  Provide support for St. Maximilian Kolbe Feast Day at either Strathmere beach or Immaculata Hall on August 14th.  Begin preparations, and start soliciting sponsors and golfers, for the annual Frank Lang Golf Tournament to be held in October.  This is our major fund-raising event each year which ends up enabling our support for multiple charities.  Charity giving continues throughout these months as it does throughout the year as need arises.

     ** September/October – Final preparations and conduct of the Frank Lang Golf Tournament.  We contribute part of the golf outing net proceeds to the Women’s Auxiliary for their scholarships/religious programs.  Other than a potential coin-drop around the Christmas holiday, during these months we complete our coin-drop program.  This time period is also prone to our being solicited for disaster relief support.

     ** November/December -  During this time period we concentrate on helping the Food Pantry with their donations of Thanksgiving meals to the less fortunate, and our preparations for our Christmas “Feed the Needy” program.  This program usually delivers Christmas dinners to from 125 to 200 needy families including toys for 400 or more children. Collect Christmas gifts and provide Christmas day festivities for the homeless youth at the Covenant House in Atlantic City.  Conduct “Keep Christ in Christmas” poster contest.

     **Weekly – Provide volunteers to assist the Parish as needed.  Provide personnel to usher at Masses and help park overflow cars during high attendance events at Resurrection Church.  Provide bibles and rosaries for families as they have their babies Baptized during Sunday Mass.  Assist in other Parish or community activities as needed.

     **Monthly – Contribute $400/month to “Always Supporting Our Military” for sending care packages to unaccompanied military overseas.  Provide a monthly contribution to the Parish Food Pantry.  Contribute funding and volunteer to periodically cook breakfasts and/or dinner meals for the Covenant House guests and staff.

     **As required - Assist individuals and families in need in conjunction with the St Vincent DePaul Society when requested.  Assist the Parish Pastor when unusual requirements arise. Support unusual national disaster relief situations and other charitable works when appropriate.  Contribute manpower, material and financial support for major Parish construction or renovation projects as they occur.

                   NOTE:  To support all the charity and parish activities in which our council participates requires dedication and commitment by many of our members.   Younger members have family and jobs which is the main focus of their attention and some of the oldest are not able to physically support as well as they would like, but one thing is always true ... when any task or program or fraternal activity needs support, more brothers than even needed are always there to provide the support.  Msgr. James J Council 9113 is proud of this reality.