The Knights of Columbus Marian Council 7894 recently held their semi-annual Belgian Waffle and Pancake Breakfast at Holy Rosary Church in Owen. This fall, the proceeds were dedicated to Muchas Sonrisas, Inc (Many Smiles), the non-profit organization set up by Tom and Mary Gelhaus of Owen to benefit the various missions they have visited through over 32 years of providing dental services and promoting educational trips to aid those less fortunate in South and Central America. The Knights are overjoyed to announce they were able to present Tom and Mary with a check totaling $1,700 to assist them in this endeavor.
Tom, a local dentist, began doing mission work in 1992, and has traveled every year since to Third World Countries. His wife, his family, and many friends have accompanied him on many of these trips. The purpose of Muchas Sonrisas, to support dental missions, has recently expanded to include educating people in our country as to the cultural and societal reasons for the problems that exist in the world, and the U.S. role in their history. Muchas Sonrisas works to build bridges of knowledge, communication, and understanding between our countries and peoples.