Stone City VFW Seeks Donations After Fire
By Stephanie Irvine
Stone City VFW Post 2199 officials are seeking donations after an electrical fire on the building’s roof damaged the building’s furnace and refrigeration units last month.
The Post is accepting donations in person, by mail, and through a GoFundMe that has been set up for the Post.
Skip Hoechbauer, Post Chaplain and Fundraising Coordinator for Post 2199 said that a power failure on January 5th was the start of the problems.
“It caused the motor on the roof to catch fire,” he said
“It happened during business hours. The girls bartending started smelling an electrical smell, went outside, and saw smoke. The fire department had to come out and put it out,”
The GoFundMe was established February 2 with a fundraising goal of $30,000 to account for the damage that was incurred by this fire and power-loss event, as well as to recapture lost revenue from closures and event cancellations stemming from the damages.
“We are reaching out to you on behalf of VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) Post 2199, a vital community 501c organization dedicated to serving and supporting our local veterans,” stated Post Commander Kevin Pomykala in the GoFundMe letter.
He continued, “Unfortunately, the harsh winter weather has taken a toll on our beloved VFW hall, and we are in desperate need of assistance to repair our heating system.”
The VFW hosts weekly fish frys, monthly mostaccioli and spaghetti nights, and the popular Queen of Hearts events. Additionally, Post 2199 also has a banquet hall and outdoor pavilion that are available for the public to rent. Some of those events had to be canceled and they were unable to accept hall reservations while equipment was down pending repair.
The National VFW by-laws prohibits any post from continuously seeking donations.
“This is our only shot to raise funds. The idea is to get as much as we can to compensate for unexpected losses. We’re still trying to determine the financial losses because we lost hall rentals, bar, etc. We’re also losing help because they can’t lose the hours,” said Hoechbauer.
“Your contribution, no matter the size, will make a meaningful difference in the lives of our deserving veterans. By coming together as a community, we can ensure that VFW 2199 remains a warm and welcoming place for our veterans to gather, share their stories, and receive the support they need,” the GoFundMe letter reads.
Further adding to financial woes, the Stone City VFW, like many other VFW Posts and American Legions, are facing declining membership. Loss of membership means fewer membership dues. Stone City VFW currently has about 250 members.
“One percent of the US population is in the military, and out of that one percent, not everyone goes into the conflict,” said Hoechbauer of the declining membership.
Hoechbauer continued, “The Veterans of Foreign Wars requires that you have been in conflict. That limits the amount that we have there. Then we have to find someone who is willing to put others above themselves.”
A Nov. 6, 2023, Defense Department Report on service member enlistment data also showed that the total number of service members dropped 2.7 percent over the previous year.
In an effort to attract more membership to the post, the Stone City VFW is in the process of restarting the Auxiliary. The VFW Auxiliary is open to family members of service members who would be eligible to be a part of the VFW.
Family members include grandchildren of veterans, and the related veteran is not required to be a member of the VFW.
The Stone City VFW and soon-to-be-formed VFW Auxiliary focus on service. “We’re constantly involved in the community,” said Hoechbauer.
The Stone City Post 2199 values include: Always put the interests of our members first, treat donors as partners in our cause, promote patriotism, honor military service, ensure the care of veterans and their families, serve our communities, promote a positive image of the VFW, and to respect the diversity of veteran opinions.
“Donors can rest assured that all funds will go directly toward the needed repairs.The promise that I made is that I’m going for complete transparency, so all the monies will be declared and where it goes will be declared,” said Hoechbauer.
Donations to VFW Post 2199 can be sent to:
Stone City VFW Post 2199
124 Stone City Dr.
Joliet IL. 60436
Or made online by visiting https://gofund.me/483279be
Those interested in joining the VFW or the Auxiliary should email Skip Hoechbauer at [email protected] for more information.
Stephanie Irvine is a freelance reporter.