It never ceases to amaze me at the generosity of our friends and neighbors in the Miss-Lou, including our businesses, when it comes to helping when there is a need in our community. Mississippi ranks No. 1 in per-capita giving, even though it is one of the poorest states. Our people care.

One of these organizations that relies on that generous giving spirit is the local office of Catholic Charities. Catholic Charities works on the front lines in many area counties and parishes providing a wide range of services and assistance to residents regardless of their church affiliation. Located on South Union Street, Catholic Charities assists families, children and elderly with emergency help, food, clothing, transportation, counseling and much much more.

However, the agency’s financial resources always seem to be less than the needs of our community. Relying on the goodness of others often can be both a blessing and a curse — a blessing because it is rewarding to see people helping people no matter what their needs might be, a curse because the need sometimes, in fact most of the time, exceed the contributions and funds needed to help when the need is so great in our community.

So, the Knights of Columbus and Ladies Auxiliary and the St. Mary Basilica Community Services Commission volunteered to help Catholic Charities by sponsoring a golf tournament to be Saturday March 1, at Duncan Park. All the proceeds will benefit Catholic Charities in Natchez.

We are most in need of hole sponsorships — at $100 each, — players — $75 each — to play and door prizes. You can also sponsor a four-person team and be a hole sponsor for $350. The scramble-style four-person team tournament will start at 8:30 a.m. with a shotgun start. You don’t have to be a Cracker Jack player, just be willing to come and have some fun and help a good cause.

We will have prizes for teams that finish well, and we will have on-course prizes and door prizes. We will serve lunch and provide beverages.

So far our turnout looks great and several good folks and businesses have agreed to sponsor holes, make donations and have teams in the tournament. We hope you can help, too.

Please give me a call at 601-442-4107 or 601-597-4724 and I’ll be glad to share with you the details on how you can help. You’ll be glad you did.

I thank you for your past and continued support and generosity to this very worthy cause. God bless.

Ricky Warren of Natchez is chairman of the Knights of Columbus Catholic Charities Golf Tournament.