Kim Sheppard directs cars as local residents pick up baskets at the Knights of Peter Claver Chapter 63 headquarters on Field Street.

While many people were busy getting their holiday shopping done Saturday morning, the Knights of Peter Claver chapter 63 were handing out free baskets full of goods to local residents. 

Grandmaster Joseph Simon said the event had been done before but never on the magnitude that was shown Saturday. 

“We give baskets, generally five to 10, every year, but this year we’re one of the organizations that Super 1 Foods picked to give out to the community,” Simon said. “The community actually gets the baskets. We’re just distributing them in the spirit of Christmas. 

The baskets contained basic items like canned goods and macaroni and cheese, with about 10 items in each one. Simon estimated that approximately 500 baskets that were handed out Saturday. 

“We’ve got some extra, too, that we have in boxes in the back,” he said. 

Other groups like the local Ladies Auxiliary chapter assisted with the distribution. The event took place on Field Street at the local chapter headquarters, where people from several organizations assisting in a “family-type operation,” Simon said. 

Knights of Peter Claver is an extremely active organization in the community, with Simon calling it the “best kept secret in New Iberia.” Along with the food distribution Saturday, the group also assists in cooking for St. Francis Diner and also helping with the Disch-DeClouet Social Service Center. 

And of course, the knights stay active in religious duties at St. Edward Catholic Church. 

Simon said there are more than 40 members in the chapter, with some even located out of state because they didn’t want to transfer to another chapter. 

Kim Sheppard, commander for the chapter, agreed and said that several deacons in the church are also Knights of Peter Claver members. 

“We have about three deacons in the church too,” Sheppard said. 

“We run the gambit, in the church we go from usher to deacons to choir members,” Simon said. “Every aspect of St. Edward Church.”

As for the event Saturday, Simon said it was supposed to get underway at 10 a.m. but the demand was so large that the group started earlier. 

“People didn’t want to wait in line that long,” Simon said with a laugh. 

“It’s all in the spirit of Christmas.”