Frankfort Resident Collects Donations For Manteno Veterans Home

FRANKFORT, IL — Two SUVs full of gifts, clothing and other donations made a drop-off at Manteno Veterans Home earlier this week. Frankfort resident Kelly Stricker-Butkowski and Providence Catholic senior and Mokena resident Jake Rybka spearheaded the donation collection.

Stricker-Butkowski is a volunteer ambassador for Mission 22, which is a nonprofit that supports the veteran community with "veteran treatment programs, memorials and community social impact."

Stricker-Butkowski told Patch that Rybka, who is her friend's son, was looking for community service hours and offered to help her collect gifts for veterans for the holidays. Rybka created a Facebook post on community groups, which immediately drew attention from residents looking to help.

"I [didn't] have room for all the gifts," Stricker-Butkowski said, adding that every time she came home, she would find even more gifts and donations stacked on her front porch.

The biggest request for donations was alarm clock radios, so residents at the veterans home can listen to music in their rooms. Other donations included electric razors, slippers, clothing, and toiletries.

"It has compounded in such a great way," she said, adding that she was "overwhelmed" by the support of the community.