Kids & Family

Orland Park Vets' Commission Group Collecting for Manteno Vets

Food and snack items can be donated through April 11.

 The Village of Orland Park Veterans Commission’s Military Family Support Group is on a mission to help replenish the pantries at the Manteno Veterans Home. With the help of Orland Park Boy Scout Troop 383, the group is calling on the community to donate items that will be transported to Manteno in mid-April.

“Our families with loved ones currently serving wanted to do something to help the vets at Manteno,” said Orland Park Veterans Commission Secretary Gail Blummer. “When we found out that they need to restock some of the vets’ goodies and personal care items, we jumped at being able to help,” she said.

Homemade goods cannot be accepted at the veterans’ home. Sugar free items are best but non-sugar free is accepted.

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Food and snack items needed include sugar free/no nut candy; small sugar free/no nuts candy bars; decaf coffee in any size cans; ice cream sundae toppings; chewing gum, individual juice boxes; individual bags of snacks (potato chips, pretzels, crackers, etc.); liters of root beer for root beer floats; packaged nut free snack cakes and cookies; small boxes of raisins and soft granola cereal bars.

Orland Park Boy Scout Troop 383 is chartered by the village’s Veterans Commission and works closely with the veterans’ groups in the community.

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“The Veterans Commission teamed up with Troop 383 before Christmas, helping them with their toy drive for the kids in Washington, Illinois,” said Veterans Commission Chair Phil Bell. “We’re looking forward to having the scouts collect and deliver the donations for the men and women at Manteno,” he said.

Needed personal care items include aftershave; body lotion; cologne for men and women; denture cleaning tablets and denture cream; roll on deodorant; hair cream/dressing for men; Kleenex packets; pre-electric shave lotion; toothbrushes, combs and hairbrushes.

“Our guys are excited to help with the commission’s collection,” said Troop 383 Scoutmaster Gerry Klotz. “They do a lot with veterans groups and will do anything to help the Veterans Commission. A number of them will help deliver to Manteno and they’re looking forward to spending time with the vets,” Klotz said.

Entertainment items needed include AA, AAA, C and D batteries; Big Band, polka, 50s era CDs for the juke box; new greeting cards; magnifying glasses; men’s wallets/change purses; forever value postage stamps and word search/crossword puzzle books.

Donated items should be delivered to the Orland Park Civic Center by Friday, April 11. Located at 14750 South Ravinia Avenue, the Civic Center is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

The building has varying evening and weekend hours. Those making delivering donations after business hours should call first to confirm the building is open. For more information, call Gail Blummer at 708/403-6203.


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