“Ready to help save a life?” That is the tagline on the American Red Cross blood donation page, and it is no exaggeration. One of the easiest ways to be an everyday hero and impact lives, especially with such a small sacrifice of your time, is to donate blood. You can make a life-saving impact, and the Knights of Columbus All Saints Council 9709 at St. Francis is here to make it even more convenient.
The St. Francis of Assisi Parish is a community of service and ministry, and no one exemplifies this mission more than the Knights of Columbus. The Council at St. Francis (All Saints Council 9709) has been a vital ministry within the faith community of St. Francis of Assisi since 1988. The mission of the Knights of Columbus is to empower Catholic men to live their faith actively in their families and communities. The Order’s principles center on Charity, Unity, and Fraternity, with four pillars of service: Faith, Community, Life, and Family. Among its many service programs, the Knights Council at St. Francis organizes two Red Cross blood drives each year.
For more than three decades, All Saints Council 9709 at St. Francis has partnered with the American Red Cross to hold blood drives, accumulating more than 5,000 units of donated blood. Their sustained efforts have impacted as many as 15,000 lives over the past three decades. Chris Miranda, the Knight transitioning as the lead contact for the Knights Council blood drive, is working with the former Knight lead, Bryan Kozak, on the planning of the next blood drive on September 26th and the Spring drive on March 20, 2027. “It takes a really small amount of your time,” said Chris, “but it can affect so many people in so many ways.”
The All Saints Council’s efforts to impact lives through its partnership with the American Red Cross have drawn widespread praise. The National Knights of Columbus Organization (Supreme Council) sent a film crew to Raleigh to document their efforts, and that video highlighted the St. Francis All Saints Council Blood Drive. Please join the Knights in supporting the American Red Cross and our larger Raleigh community through your gift of life. To donate at the September Drive on the 26th, which runs from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM, please go to the Red Cross donation site here and type in sponsor code ‘stfrancis’