He was reminded of them on Dec. 17 while delivering food to needy families with eastern Wake’s only Kiwanis club.

“After delivering a box (of food) I was leaving the family’s house and a 15-year-old boy came outside and said ’God bless you, sir. God bless’ ... that makes your day,” Connolly said.

Connolly, of Wendell, was one of about 50 volunteers and club members who delivered food to households across Knightdale, Wendell and Zebulon.

It was the newly-formed Knightdale Kiwanis club’s first large-scale community outreach.

“Every one of the families was so appreciative. It’s just very rewarding for me. For all of us,” Connolly said.

Hank Doyle, a partner at the law firm Doyle & Doyle, and former Town Councilman Tim Poirier chartered the Knightdale chapter in July.

With help from elementary students and The Total Connection, the club helped raise enough food to feed about 85 families during the holiday season, according to club secretary Lesia McKenzie.

“As early as August, we were communicating with the elementary schools in eastern Wake to determine where non-perishable items could be brought,” said McKenzie, who also led the food drive efforts.

The schools also provided the club with the names of families who needed help.

Club members visited the schools about twice a week to pick up the donations, McKenzie said.

“We were the manpower picking the food up and taking it up to Cornerstone Self Storage on Highway 97 in Wendell,” she said.

By Dec. 16, the club had filled six storage units with canned and dry food as well as pet food and baby food – so much that the club had leftovers.

Leftovers will go to Central Baptist church and Wendell United Methodist for their food pantry ministries.

“Overall, it was a great start to our club and we’re hoping it only gets better,” McKenzie said.

The Knightdale Kiwanis Club meets the first and third Thursdays at noon at IHOP. For more information about the club contact Hank Doyle at 261-8018.