joconnell@journalnet.com

POCATELLO - Two summers ago, the Knights of Columbus stepped in to finish a task for a member of their Holy Spirit Catholic Community who had passed away. At the request of the mother, the Knights finished a playhouse the man had started building for his children.

Another time, members of the fraternal organization built an accessible ramp for a woman in the parish who had become disabled.

They've also made generous donations to finance holiday dinners for the community's needy.

In line with the values of their Catholic faith, the Knights of Columbus make charity their top priority, and they have a lot of fun in the process of raising funds to make life better for local families in need of a break.

On Saturday, Oct. 10, they'll seek to help good causes by eating good food and drinking good beer. Starting at 6:30 p.m. in the basement of St. Anthony church, the Knights of Columbus will host an Oktoberfest beer-tasting event. The cost for beer tasting is $8 per person or $15 per couple, and brats, pork loin sandwiches and chili will be served. Also, $500 will be raffled off.

Proceeds will benefit local causes included Pennies from Heaven, youth activities, the seminarians program, Special Olympics and people with special needs. For anyone who appears to have had too much fun supporting charity at the annual beer-tasting, the Knights offer rides home.

Though he's not a member of the Knights of Columbus, Bruce Olenick's home-brewed beer is a perennial favorite at the tasting event. For this year's tasting, Olenick, who is a member of the Holy Spirit parish, has prepared a Scottish India pale ale and an American pale ale. The distributor typically brings many seasonal beers. Olenick said members of the crowd are always curious about trying homemade libations.

"I think it just brings a different perspective, and the big thing is people think, 'Wow, you can make good beer on your own,' so it's a learning experience for them, too," Olenick said. "It's a lot of fun, and what I like about it is I see a lot of folks I know, and I see a lot of folks who wander in from the community."

Pocatello has two Knights of Columbus councils from the days when the community had two parishes. Council 892, which is hosting the beer tasting event, is affiliated with St. Anthony's Church. Council 8930 is affiliated with St. Joseph's and St. Paul's.

Ramon Gutierrez, grand knight of Council 892, said his council has about 100 members.

"It's basically set up for practicing Catholic men," Gutierrez said of the organization. "We do a lot of things in the community, and we try to focus on our Catholicism and just try to help the community in that way."

Kerry Hennessy, grand knight of Council 8930 and warden of the Idaho State Council of the Knights of Columbus, said the two councils will be united once the new Holy Spirit Catholic Church building is completed and the parishes are united in a common facility.

His council alone fundraises about $17,000 for the local food bank, Special Olympics and other good causes. His council plans to support the beer tasting and will host a wine tasting event of its own in the spring. Hennessy's council also finished a successful golf tournament on Sept. 13.

On Sept. 25-26, the two councils worked together on a Tootsie Pop fundraiser, in which they gave away Tootsie Pops to people in local stores. They typically get between $1,000 and $3,000 in donations in appreciation for the suckers.

The Knights of Columbus meets on a monthly basis, and meetings are started and ended with prayers. Hennessy stressed potential members must vow that they are practicing Catholics and subscribe to the beliefs of the Catholic church before joining.

The other significant requirement is that they support local charities.

"The first step in becoming a Knight is charity. We do all of these fundraisers so we can contribute to the people who need it," Hennessy said.