American Legion Raising Funds for Veterans Home

The property they were hoping to purchase and convert into a one-of-a-kind veterans home has sold, but that isn’t deterring members of Romeoville American Legion Post 52.

The group, now nearly four years old, is pushing forward with plans to build the , which will combine an American Legion hall/banquet facility with housing for returning servicemen and women.

Members have been busy traveling to veterans homes throughout Illinois to gather input and ideas from more established American Legion posts.

“We try to take away something from every place we visit,” said Christopher Benigno, commander for Post 52. Most recently, members traveled to Defenders of Freedom Veterans Home and Shelter in Galesburg to meet with founder Bob Spears.

“He had it in his heart to do something for the veterans,” member Tom Wilczak said, adding the property was donated to the Galeburg American Legion post by a local church.

While the Romeoville post would welcome a similar donation, it is moving forward with efforts to raise money to build its own post home. The group is in the process of obtaining 501(c)(3) charity status.

Named in honor of late village clerk Ray Holloway, the Romeoville veterans home will offer a therapeutic component for returning vets, complete with a full-time clinical social worker and volunteer staff.

The Ray Holloway House will provide shelter for returning veterans and, in some cases, their families. While the housing is intended to be temporary, there won’t be any official restriction on how long veterans can stay, member Art Arellano said.

“It’s not meant to be permanent,” he said, adding the intent is to help struggling veterans become self-sufficient.

Though the building the legion hoped to purchase has been sold, Benigno said that won’t stop the group from working to make the Holloway house a reality.

“We may be looking at building from the ground up,” he said.

American Legion members will be out in the community collecting donations at the upcoming Poppy Days on Nov. 4 and 5, Benigno said, and a Veterans Day benefit is scheduled for Friday, Nov. 11 at , 721 N. Independence Boulevard.

The all-day fundraiser will include a 50/50 and raffle prizes, and 20 percent of every dine in or carryout order will be donated to the legion post.

Benigno said he also plans to work with the Illinois American Legion to try to put together a statewide campaign to benefit the Holloway House.

“That’s going to be huge,” he said.

For more information on the Romeoville American Legion or to donate to the Ray Holloway House building fund, visit www.americanlegion52.com.