Pontiac — Thanks to the Knights of Columbus and the generosity of several former Detroit Lions players, 1,700 local children a little warmer this winter.

Local Knights teamed with the Michigan State Council and the Detroit Lions Alumni Association to distribute new winter coats Dec. 16 at St. Damien of Molokai Parish in Pontiac aspart of the Knights’ nationwide “Coats for Kids” drive.

Through the program, local and state councils purchase the coats to give away to families in need in impoverished areas. Throughout Michigan, Knights of Columbus councils have given away 4,000 coats this year, said Gary Merritt, state council public relations director.

Former Detroit Lions players Tom Nowatzke, Lomas Brown and George Jamison were among those helping kids pick out their new coats at St. Damien of Molokai, but they weren’t the only ones.

Fifty-six volunteers greeted families and helped more than 400 children find a coat, said Dan Fuller, membership director for the Knights in the Archdiocese of Detroit.

“Our youngest volunteer was 6 year old Nathan Morgan, working with his dad, Scott Morgan of

Council 2940,” Fuller said. “The most senior was 93 year old Brother Knight Major Kelly of Council 13930.”

Fuller noted the annual charity event is a way for the Knights to show their continued dedication to the community.

“This event was very inspiring, seeing the volunteers and Detroit Lions alumni help kids pick out coats and all the volunteers from the Knights and their families leading each family through to process of choosing the right coat for their child.”

Of the 1,880 coats available at St. Damien, about 180 coats were left over and were taken to be distributed by the Knights on diocese of Saginaw and Kalamazoo.

Nationwide, 1,780 local councils distributed more than 87,906 coats to children throughout the U.S. and Canada last year.