The annual Tootsie Roll Drive was established by the Knights of Columbus Supreme Council to assist in funding programs for the mentally disabled and to raise the public’s awareness of the needs of those persons in their local communities. Seventy-five percent of the funds collected come back to the local council for distribution and 25 percent stays with the State Council through the Knights of Columbus Mental Retardation Foundation of Kentucky, Inc., for distribution to eligible projects throughout Kentucky, including the Hardin County area. Locally, the Drive provides funds which help purchase vans, busses and other equipment for the disabled, through the support of programs operated by the Association for Retarded and Handicapped of Hardin County, Inc. (ARHHC, Inc.) and the Tri-County Very Special Arts Program.
In 1977, the first Tootsie Roll Drive was held locally Elizabethtown Council of the Knights of Columbus and statewide by other K. of C. councils. This was an abbreviated drive held on the Saturday after Thanksgiving Day. Collection was taken only on the square in downtown Elizabethtown, from 9:00 am to 12:00 noon.
It was by far the coldest Tootsie Roll Drive ever held locally. The temperature during the morning was in the mid-teens with a brisk wind. Luckily, members only had to work one-hour shifts instead of the three that each member now works. Council 1455 collected $501 that year.
In 1978 the State Knights of Columbus Mental Retardation Foundation, Inc. was established to promote the annual drives, as well as distribute funds to worthy projects around the state that served the mentally disabled. Our own (PSD & PGK) Charles P. Doyle served as a trustee for the foundation from its inception until 2000.
Jim Skees has been Chairman of the Tootsie Roll Drive for the Elizabethtown Council since 1981.
In that year, (PGN) Jim Skees became a trustee and served in that position until June of 2009. In 2002 the State Foundation changed its name to the Kentucky Association for the Mentally Disabled, Inc. Since 1992, the State Association has also contributed to these two local organizations.
Originally, the Foundation chose to hold the Tootsie Roll Drive state-wide on the first weekend of October, to be in sync with the same Drives held nationwide. Through the years changes have taken place which allows individual councils the opportunity to set their collection dates to better fit other community activities.
Councils in the state now hold their drives at different times during the fall season. Since 2007, Council 1455 has held its Tootsie Roll drive the last weekend of September, so as not conflict with the schools systems’ fall break.
Past Grand Knight Jim Skees took over the job as Chairman of the local Tootsie Roll Drive in 1981, and has continued to serve in that role for the past 28 years. Past Grand Knight John Pawley, also serves as Co-Chairman. We now have collection points at eight different retail locations, where volunteers brave the elements to pass out Tootsie Rolls and collect donations. We also collect at all the Masses at St. James Church on the same weekend and solicit contributions from Council members and the local business community.
In 2006, a total of $9050 was collected locally, representing our largest single Drive amount to date. The 2009 Tootsie Roll Drive marked the 32nd year of this event in Elizabethtown. Since 1977, a total of $210,000 has been collected locally. Thanks to the generosity of local businesses, industry and individuals throughout the throughout Hardin County, the K of C Tootsie Roll drive has been able to provide financial aid to the programs that make life more fulfilling for God’s special children.
