Benefits set for Shorewood vet who lost his home in fire

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Updated: March 1, 2012 8:29AM

A benefit Sunday will raise funds for a Shorewood Marine veteran’s family whose home was struck by fire on Jan. 17.

The dinner and raffle benefit will be from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 725, located at 19852 Wolf Road in Mokena.

Cost is $10 per person, and children younger than 6 will be admitted for free.

All proceeds benefit the family of Kevin Armknecht, a U.S. Marine veteran and local steelworker.

The Shorewood family has been without a home since the fire, and has been staying at a relative’s home, said Karen Hamilton-Thacker of Bolingbrook, who helped organize Sunday’s event.

Kevin’s wife, Danielle, had a day-care business in the Shorewood home, so the fire cost the family a significant portion of their income, Hamilton-Thacker said.

Kevin and Danielle have two children, Natalie, 3, and Charlie, 10 months.

Sunday’s event is being organized by Hamilton-Thacker, a longtime family friend who has known Danielle for around 20 years; Ann Whitcomb, a neighbor of the Armknechts; and Mike Szydelko of Crestwood.

Also, the Troy Firefighters Association has arranged with Buffalo Wild Wings to host an all-day fundraising event Feb. 6 at the restaurant, 1023 Brook Forest Ave. in Shorewood.

Participants will have to present a ticket, which the firefighters association will distribute, and 10 percent of their food purchases will go to the Armknecht family. The free tickets can be picked up at Troy Fire Protection District Station 1, at 700 Cottage St. in Shorewood.

A donation event was held on the weekend of Jan. 20 at The Hangover Bar on Cora Street in Joliet.

Ryan Alm, a candidate for the Illinois House seat in District 86, enlisted and received the help of Shorewood Trustee Gary Fitzgerald, Alm said. Both donated boxes of diapers, clothes, shoes, blankets, books, grooming products and more, he said.

There are additional opportunities to help the Shorewood family. Chase Bank is taking monetary donations in the Armknecht family’s name.

For more information, call Thacker at 630-706-1230.