Community Members Join Forces to Help Small Business

Kristin & Cathy Vander Hye are no strangers to stepping into a cause they feel passionate about. So, when the Governor announced the roll back to Phase Three due to the increase in Covid-19 numbers, they realized local businesses would be impacted and came up with a way to help.

“I was enjoying breakfast at Kat’s Café in Manhattan, and the owner, Anita Rodriguez, stopped by my table and told me her 50th birthday was coming up and she was concerned about business,” Kristin Vander Hye explained. “I decided to give Cathy a call to see what we could come up with to help out Kat’s Café and to help make her 50th birthday special.”

The idea they came up with is a Raffle; $50 gift cards to Kat’s Café are being sold that can be used on carryout. The concept is to keep the local restaurant functioning and busy during these difficult times. Eventually things will go back to normal but until then, buying gift cards for future use will help them stay above water.

Here is how it works, for every $50.00 spent on gift cards, you are able to enter a drawing that could land you a basket. Each person who buys a $50 gift card is entered into a raffle for one of three gift baskets. Some might buy a $50.00 gift card, or two $25.00 gift cards or others being resourceful for stocking stuffers might buy five $10.00 gift cards. The more you buy the better your odds that you’ll land a basket.

The next step was to contact local businesses to obtain gifts for the raffle baskets. “Kevin Molloy, owner of Kevin Molloy State Farm in New Lenox, is always willing to help. He donated three Southwest Airline gift cards- one for each basket,” Kristin said.

Cathy explained they also contacted Amy Dudeck, owner of Manhattan Crafts, for handmade crafts and Kevin Schuster of Midtown Wine Bar for wine donations. “The baskets showcase several Manhattan businesses and how the community is coming together to support each other,“ Cathy continued.

The baskets range in value from $150 -$350. The first prize basket includes a $250.00 Southwest Airline gift card, the second-place basket includes a $175.00 Southwest Airlines gift card and third place includes a $100.00 Southwest Airline gift card.

The winners of the raffle will be announced Friday, Nov. 13 at 7 p.m. and will be streamed on Facebook Live.

Kat’s Cafe is located at 340 West North Street in Manhattan. If you wanted to call in to get your gift cards to the drawing the number is 815 -680-6092.

“My goal is to sell 100 gift cards. This is a great way to support local businesses and have a chance to win a great prize,” Kristin said.