Libertyville Rotary Sunrise, Zengeler Cleaners Team Up to Support Vets 7,861 coats collected
Happy New Year! We want to thank all of you for a wonderful 2022. Our final community event, "Coats for Vets" was an enormous success because of you. Thank you.
Lake County, Illinois, communities responded in record numbers to the annual “Coats for Vets” drive, sponsored by Libertyville Sunrise Rotary and Zengeler Cleaners. The 2022 collection drive netted 7,861 coats and jackets, as well as hundreds of winter necessities, such as gloves, scarves and other seasonal clothing in support of local veterans. The items were collected from mid-October through November 11th – Veteran’s Day – then inspected, cleaned and delivered to the North Chicago VA Hospital by Zengeler Cleaners.
“Veterans Day is a time set aside to give a grateful nation an opportunity each year to recognize and honor our veterans,” said Tom Zengeler, President of Zengeler Cleaners. “It’s been well documented that vets returning from active duty face a myriad of serious challenges as they readjust to civilian life, perhaps none more challenging than finding a productive job that matches their skills. Too often, jobs held before leaving to serve are no longer available, making it very difficult to find meaningful work.”
Libertyville Rotary Sunrise, Zengeler Cleaners, its customers and other concerned citizens contribute to ‘Coats for Vets’ as a way to thank veterans for their sacrifices. It’s clear that opportunity resonates throughout the local community, as the response this year went beyond all expectations. With so many veterans surviving conflicts from World War II through the present time, there are tens of thousands needing assistance for basics such as food, shelter and clothing, particularly seasonal items, such as winter coats, jackets and gloves.
Zengeler Cleaners’ two Libertyville stores once again served as drop-off locations for the donations. After the items were collected, the Zengeler staff inspected, repaired as needed, and cleaned each donated item. Zengeler Cleaners then delivered the clothing for distribution by the VA Hospital. “Our staff was blown away by the results of this year’s collection drive,” continued Zengeler. “The volume really drove home the message about just how much our customers and neighbors care about the country’s veterans.”
The Libertyville Rotary Sunrise Club chapter was founded in 1987. Rotary International is a worldwide organization of business and professional leaders that provides humanitarian service, encourages high ethical standards in all vocations, and works to build peace and goodwill in the world. There are currently 1.4 million members – called Rotarians – in 48,000 clubs located in 130 countries around the world.
For more information about the 2022 Coats for Vets drive, please visit zengelercleaners.com, or contact Tom Zengeler, President, at (847) 272-6550, ext. 14. Zengeler Cleaners’ stores are located in Deerfield, Northfield, Winnetka, Northbrook, Long Grove and two in Libertyville. Zengeler Cleaners … America's First Family of Dry Cleaning.