Shorewood residents rally to aid fire victims

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Print this ticket and bring it into Buffalo Wild Wings Monday, Feb. 6, 2012, at 1023 Brookforest Ave. in Shorewood. Ten percent of purchases will go to Troy Firefighters Association. | Submitted

Updated: March 1, 2012 8:21AM

SHOREWOOD — The community is rallying around a family whose home was destroyed by fire last week.

Donations of clothes, money, home goods and more are pouring in after friends of Danielle and Kevin Armknecht spread word of the Jan. 17 that destroyed the family’s home the 100 block of Channahon Street. The fire is believed to be caused by a faulty boiler, fire officials said.

“I just wanted to get them covered, but it turned into some more,” said Karen Thacker, a longtime family friend. “It’s amazing, just amazing.”

Thacker said members of Will County A.B.A.T.E. were “very instrumental” in getting truckloads of items for the family just days after the fire, and Anchor Storage donated two storage units for the goods.

“They lost everything and they’re not the type to ask for anything,” she said.

Tom Moretti, of the Troy Fire Protection District, said the Troy Fire Association also is committed to helping the family. The Armknechts have two young children, and Danielle ran a daycare out of the home, he said.

“We’re just helping them out however we can,” he said.

The fire association has arranged with Buffalo Wild Wings to host an all-day fundraiser Feb. 6 at the restaurant, 1023 Brook Forest Ave. People will have to present a ticket, which the fire association will distribute, and 10 percent of their food purchases will go to the family. The free tickets can be picked up at Troy Fire Department Station 1, at 700 Cottage in Shorewood.

Shorewood Trustee Gary Fitzgerald, who publicized the fundraising efforts during Tuesday’s village board meeting, said the outpouring of support for the family has been great.

“The generosity of the Shorewood community rose to the occasion,” he said.

Thacker said the family already has received a lot of clothing and furniture, but they still need appliances. Any type of donation will continue to be accepted, however, as any items the family doesn’t need or receives duplicates of will go to someone else who needs it.

Donations for the Armknechts are being collected at Conrad’s Harley Davidson, the Hangover Bar in Joliet and the Troy fire stations.

Additionally, monetary donations can be made to the “Armknecht Family” at any local Chase Bank location.