“Operation ROVAC (Remembering Our Veterans At Christmas) 2024 is complete.” This quote from East Providence Council Knights of Columbus 1528 official Steven Perry is indicative of a 20 year ago idea of holiday gifting that the Knights are known for. Building on an initial idea from Perry’s long-time friend and fellow EPHS graduate, Tony DeJesus, the friends have built an annual program to present gifts to the residents of the Rhode Island Veteran’s Home in Bristol. DeJesus is retired now from the Big Blue Bug Solutions company and started the idea. DeJesus still assists as the bulk of ROVAC is now organized by Perry and Columbus Club members from throughout the region. The East Providence K of C collects donations from other Knights and then delivers the gifts to Bristol each Christmas.
“This year we filled a 20-foot panel truck with donations of brand-new clothing and toiletries and personally delivered everything to the Rhode Island Veterans Home in Bristol, R.I. Our Brother Knights step up every year to give some well-deserved love to our heroes in Bristol. Just one small example of the power of ROVAC,” said Perry. Just before the Columbus Club donations arrived, a homeless veteran was admitted to the home without many possessions. “This veteran was outfitted with several days worth of brand-new clothing and toiletries, allowing him to live his life and interact with his fellow Veterans with dignity and a sense of belonging. To me, there is no price tag that you can put on that,” Perry added.
The Rhode Island Veterans Home is a 110-acre complex on Mount Hope Bay in Bristol with about 208 beds. The home provides nursing and residential care to Rhode Island war veterans. Some of the services provided include social, medical, nursing and rehabilitative services. It is a long-term care facility that also provides X-ray, dental, and pharmacy services, physical therapy and occupational therapy, social work services and transportation to the Providence Veteran’s Hospital.
Through initiatives like ROVAC, the Coats for Kids program, toy drives, Thanksgiving basket donations, and Christmas Adopt-a-Family efforts, the Columbus Club provides critical support to those in need within the community. Councils actively participate in community events, from local parades and fundraisers to state-wide gatherings like the State Family Day and the State Charity Ball. The Club honors our nation's heritage and supports veterans and active-duty military through various patriotic programs and ceremonies.
"Over the last 10 years, we have survived poor weather, three years of a pandemic, and even a major bridge closure, yet the R.I. Knights of Columbus have increased their donation every year and continue to support our Veterans as we have since World War I," said ROVAC coordinator Steven Perry. Perry, a past Grand Knight of council 1528, was quick to thank his “Brother Knights” for their volunteerism. “I thank Tony DeJesus, East Providence mayor Bob DaSilva and so many others who help every year. This year was the biggest yet and we hope to increase donations each year going forward. When you witness grown men crying because they have been given a huge gift bag at the holidays from someone they don't even know and to know they are remembered for their service to our nation, that is incredibly powerful.”
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