For the Gazette
Submitted by Bob Rogers

Funds will be used to make home wheel chair accessible

STEVENS POINT — The Knights of Columbus Council 1170 has donated necessary funds to a local veteran in need.

Robert (Bob) King is a retired facility mechanic from Saint Michael’s Hospital in Stevens Point. King is a veteran who served his country in the Air Force. He was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) in 2011 shortly after he retired. The disease has been progressing very rapidly.

King can still walk with the aid of a walker, but his legs tire very quickly. He gets around in his home using a mobility scooter and a wheel chair. However, King’s home was not built to accommodate a wheel chair and costly remodeling was needed, which was beyond his financial means. The Knights of Columbus provided the needed funds to realize the remodeling project.

King, a member of Knights of Columbus Council 1170, has always been very handy and was always willing to help others in need prior to his illness. Now he was in need. King’s family approached Rhody Przekurat, Past Grand Knight of Council 1170, and asked if he could help with a remodeling project to make Bob’s home wheel chair accessible.

“Absolutely,” said Przekurat. “I knew it would be costly with what needed to be done, so I asked Bob to check with the Veterans Administration (VA) to see if they could assist with the remodeling cost.”

Remodeling consisted of modifying the bathroom and constructing a ramp for the house entrance. The reply was “yes”, but the amount of financial assistance that King received was insufficient to cover the cost of the entire project. Medical bills had depleted King’s resources.

This is where the Knights of Columbus came into the picture.

Przekurat approached Stevens Point KC Council 1170 with Bob King’s story and they were willing to donate $250 towards the remodeling project. John Olig, KC Council 1170’s insurance agent, suggested applying for a grant from the Wisconsin State Knights of Columbus Charity Fund for Relief of Financial Hardship due to illness.

Together, Przekurat and Olig filled out the grant form and sent it off to the Wisconsin KCs. The grant application was approved, and King received a check for $2000 from the State of Wisconsin Knights of Columbus. As a result, with the funds received from both organizations and the VA, Bob’s remodeling project will be finished with very little out of pocket cost to Bob and his family.

The Knights of Columbus is dedicated to helping neighbors in need. We thank all members of our community who support our charitable works. This story reflects our motto “In service to one, in service to all.”