By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

You’ll see them everywhere in Kansas this weekend.

Men wearing bright yellow and red aprons standing near store entrances and churches holding specially marked Tootsie Rolls asking for your donations to the Knights of Columbus annual Tootsie Roll Drive.

Proceeds are used to help Kansans with intellectual disabilities.

Donors get a smile and “Thank You,” and of course, a Tootsie Roll candy.

Eighty percent is returned to local Knights of Columbus councils to be donated to institutions of the council’s choice which aid people with intellectual disabilities.  The remaining 20 percent is used by the state K of C council to sponsor the annual Special Olympics basketball tournament held at Fort Hays State University each spring, and for religious education of  people with intellectual disabilities.

Hays Mayor Henry Schwaller IV recently declared Oct. 10-12 “Helping People with Intellectual Disabilities Days” in Hays.  Gov. Brownback signed a similar declaration for Kansas.

This is the 44th annual Tootsie Roll drive.

Last year, the 254 Kansas K of C councils collected more than $347,000.

Click HERE to read the Hays proclamation by Mayor Schwaller.