Knapheide employees donate presents to residents at Illinois Veterans Home

QUINCY — Knapheide employees continued the tradition of spreading holiday cheer at the Illinois Veterans Home on Tuesday, Dec. 20, when they donated presents for 140 residents. This tradition of giving through the Knapheide Veterans Tree started six years ago.

In a press release, Sara Colgrove, Vets Home director of volunteer services and activities, said, “The community sees how important it is to support us and our residents. Long-term care can get you stuck in the same daily routine. Providing something like this makes for a special day.”

Residents were not only surprised with gifts but also cards made by Baldwin Elementary students and a visit from several Knapheide employees including Knapheide corporate safety manager Mike Dailing, who dressed as Santa.

“We did not originally plan to take Santa, since COVID-19 had prevented us from meeting with veterans the past few years,” Knapheide fleet solutions analyst and Knapheide Veterans Tree co-organizer Ashli Hoover said. “We found out last minute that we would be able to meet with the residents, and luckily we had Mike and a Santa suit.”

Many of the requested items were for snacks and clothing items.

“Many of the residents we adopt have no family,” Hoover said. “Seeing their excitement over items that seem so small was a great way to wrap up this year’s campaign. It was a unique opportunity for us to say thank you to a special group of people, and I hope that our gifts remind them that they are not forgotten or taken for granted.”