Knights in shining armor

Toys and gifts lined the tables Friday afternoon at the Knights of Columbus building in Lake Placid. Volunteers Nellie Brown and Lorraine Pekar carefully cut Santa Claus paper and wrapped the gifts by age and gender-appropriateness. Behind them, volunteer Bill Travers mounted an enormous gold bow on top of the Christmas tree.

But it isn't just any party they were preparing for - the presents and decorations were part of a special celebration being held for local agricultural workers and their families at 3 p.m. today. The event was conceived and organized by three Knights of Columbus members: Grand Knight Ricardo Gonsalves, Membership Director Kevin Boudreau, and District Deputy Hiram S. Pedraza.

The men wanted to launch a service project and decided to target the mostly Hispanic agricultural worker population. They solicited donations from St. James Catholic Church, the Knights of Columbus, Highlands Greenhouse, and the St. Vincent de Paul Society. With the funds they collected, they purchased gifts for approximately 125 children and food for the families. The Knights gave them access to their facility to hold the event.

Gonsalves and Boudreau explained that they chose to target local ag workers because they are low income workers who, according to state standards, are paid minimum wage and are not paid time and a half for overtime. "They work hard. They work long hours. They work for basic needs, not for wants," said Gonsalves.

"In a life without these workers, the price of vegetables would be sky-high. The oranges would be sky-high. These people are willing to work any type of job to make a living. Without them we'd be paying very high prices," Gonsalves added.

Boudreau rolled out the program where he works at Highlands Greenhouse in Venus. "The response was huge. I put it out and I knew right away I was in trouble," he remembered with a laugh. Local orange grove workers also signed up to take part.

The men were expecting to sign up approximately 50 children and ended up with 125. Gonsalves said they did not turn anyone away and were thankful for the gracious donations they received that made it possible.

"It might have taken the burden off some parents who were wondering what they were going to buy their kids for Christmas this year," said Gonsalves.

Some of the toys purchased included walkie talkies, Barbie dolls, teddy bears, Matchbox cars and infant toys. Volunteers from St. James Catholic Church helped with the set up. "I know it's nothing big," said Boudreau. "We're just trying to give every child a toy and everyone something to eat."