IWKnights Developmental Disabilities (DD) or Tootsie Roll Drive

From 2010 to 2021, the Knights of Columbus accepted donations and gave away tootsie rolls on the streets of Chesterfield every year the weekend before Columbus Day.

Traditionally,  on the weekend  before Columbus Day holiday...... members of the Knights of Columbus across the state of Missouri will be manning street corners and store fronts collecting donations for children with disabilities during our annual Tootsie Roll Drive.  For the 2023 DD Drive, We'll be collecting donations on the weekends of October 5th - 8th and October 13th - 15th (Schnucks locations only) at the following locations (locations will vary per weekend) for the IWKnights annual DD Drive:

We will also be collecting donations after the weekend masses on October 7th & 8th (Sat. Vigil 5PM Mass, Sunday 7:15 Mass, 8:45 Mass, 10:30 Mass, 12:15 Mass, & 6:00 Lifeteen Mass) at Incarnate Word Parish in Chesterfield, MO.

In addition to accepting in person donations on the dates listed above, The IWKnights will also be promoting other fundraising events to be announced in September and October of 2023.

In 2022, Chesterfield and Creve Coeur’s restrictions on street solicitation has resulted in decreased drive-by donations by $12,500 per year. As a result, organizations that benefit from these collections must either limit services or make up for this loss.  (Click Here to Read our press release and click here for our Handout)

Can you help us make up the lost donations in 2023?

Please Note:
All non-cash donations accepted via the Online (Square), etc. through November 20, 2023 will be counted towards the 2023 Drive while donations accepted after 11/20/2023 will be applied to the 2024 DD Drive.

Today, the annual DD Drive of the IWKnights are collecting for five different organizations that serve children, adults and families of children with developmental disabilities and 100% of your donation will go directly to these local charities and those charities are listed below.

St. Louis Charities for Disabled Lose Thousands in Donations Due to Chesterfield Ban on Street Collection

Knights of Columbus Council 9981 Permit Denied for Second Year

By IWKnights of Columbus (9/11/2023)
     Click here to view the Press Release
     Click here to view the Handout

Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital Logo2

The Knights of Columbus Developmental Center at SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital has been serving children with special needs in the St. Louis region since 1981. Today, our developmental pediatrics team includes neurologists, psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses, speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, a family resource specialist and education coordinator, social worker and an active research team.   You can find more information about this organization by clinking here.

Special Olympics MO logo 1a

Special Olympics Missouri

Special Olympics transforms lives through the joy of sport, every day, everywhere. We are the world’s largest sports organization: with nearly 5 million athletes in more than 170 countries -- 16,900 of them here in Missouri. We are also a global social movement. With initiatives to activate youth, engage kids and adults with intellectual disabilities, build communities, and improve the health of our athletes - we're changing the game for people young and old and asking you to be a part of it all."   You can find more information about this organization at somo.org.

The Academy of St. Louis

Founded and operated by Dunn Family (Ann and daughter Terri O’Daniels) of Incarnate Word Parish, this extraordinary operation specializing in providing a Catholic education to children with Asperger's syndrome (autism spectrum), ADHD, speech/language delays, and other cognitive disabilities. Presently the enrollment is 12 students. It’s located in the former Linda Vista Catholic School in Southwest Chesterfield.  You can find more information about this unique school at acadstl.org.

Acadamy-Of-St-Louis-Logo1b

Family Forward

FamilyForward’s highly skilled staff, evidence-based practices, and strong partnerships with leading educational institutions and researchers positions the agency to utilize innovative tools and practices to formulate better insights and achieve better outcomes for children and families.  You can find more information about this organization at familyforwardmo.org.

Incarnate Word Parish School

One Classroom Program

One Classroom is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit foundation dedicated to creating inclusive Catholic educational opportunities for children with special needs in the Saint Louis Archdiocese. We believe every child deserves a Catholic education in their local parish school in full community with their peers! Incarnate Word Parish School is one of the schools participating in the program.The mission of One Classroom is as follows:

  • Build Awareness & Promote inclusive Catholic education
  • Educate about inclusive learning
  • Support parish schools
  • Connect families & building a community
  • Provide access expert resources and practitioners
  • Create forums and opportunities to share best practices
  • Fundraise and provide funding to schools through grants
  • Welcome every child with special needs into our Catholic schools!

More information about the Incarnate Word Parish School One Classroom Program is available at one-classroom.com/home.html.For More information about the IW Knights, click here.