By David Myers

Southwest Kansas Register

They fell like pennies from heaven – a $10 bill here, a check there, some change from a child’s hands – into a wicker basket at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Dodge City Sept. 9, all to benefit the multitude of victims from four natural disasters that raked across the state.

In the first half of 2007, disasters, ranging from destructive floods to massive tornados, struck several Kansas towns, leaving hundreds homeless and destroying century-old communities.

On Sept. 9, the Dodge City Knights Council #2955 held their annual Pennies from Heaven fundraiser breakfast at the K of C Hall in Dodge City to aid the victims of the disasters.

"When anyone loses their home to a disaster, this fund is available," explained Grand Knight Tim Burke. "It doesn’t matter if you’re Catholic or not. You can receive up to $800 from our local fund."

Next to the wicker basket of donated funds were four pictures of severe storm damage caused by the different storms – in Hodgeman County, Salina, Greensburg, and Coffeyville. For such disasters, the Knights of Columbus are often the first responders -- the first on scene to represent Catholic generosity.

Only five days after the May 4 tornado, Burke and dozens of other area knights traveled to the devastated town.

As the people of Greensburg were still getting over the shock of the loss of their homes and the near total loss the town, the Knights went from house to house – or what was left of them -- handing out $100 vouchers to weary and worn residents. Before they were finished, the Knights would deliver $55,000 into the hands of thankful Greensburg residents.

In the two months before the floods hit Coffeyville, the Knights would go back to work, raising more funds. By the time the southeastern Kansas town was ravaged by floods, the Knights had were able to donate $35,000 to flood relief.

"The money came from generosity," Burke said at the breakfast. "I’m hoping for a lot of generosity today."

Typically, money raised from the Pennies from Heaven breakfast fundraiser is delivered to the state Knights during its annual convention in April, when they have a "parade of pennies" as the Knights bring up their donations. This year, the numerous disasters left the Knights holding more than their usual fundraisers.

This wasn’t the first fundraiser Knights in the Diocese of Dodge City have held for the storm victims, and it won’t be the last. Knights all across southwest Kansas have been actively raising funds for victims since the storms struck.

"We did a very successful fund-raiser for Greensburg earlier," Burke said. "We gave $3,000 from a breakfast directly to the Knights of Columbus national office."

Two years ago, the Knights helped a family in south Dodge City whose house had burned to the ground.