Knapheide employees help bring holiday spirit to Illinois Veterans’ Home residents

QUINCY — Knapheide employees dedicated their time, talents and treasures to bring joy to residents of the Illinois Veterans’ Home on Dec. 19.

In a press release, Stacy Houghton, customer service representative and veterans tree co-organizer at Knapheide, said, “During Christmas, there is so much that draws our attention, and there are so many opportunities to donate and help kids and families in need. But it seems like, in general, the older generations are forgotten. I love that this program reminds them that we haven’t. When you can get a community behind something like this, the results are always greater than expected. That’s why I love that we get to participate as a group and that so many of our employees are involved.”

Employees from seven of Knapheide’s facilities in Illinois and Missouri contributed this year. They adopted a total of 130 Illinois Veterans’ Home residents by selecting tags from their location’s “Veterans Tree”, then bought and wrapped the gifts chosen from each veteran’s wish list.

“My activities staff helps determine which residents could use a little extra Christmas spirit each year,” said Sara Colgrove, director of volunteer services and activities at the Illinois Veterans’ Home. “With all the sickness and isolation periods this year, these gifts will be a welcome reminder that they are not alone or forgotten. Many of the gifts are as simple as candy, soda or even new pants, but it shows them that there are people here, in their community, who are thinking about them.”

More Illinois Veterans’ Home residents received receive homemade cards or handwritten letters from Baldwin Elementary School students, as a result of this year’s program, thanks to the Stegeman family.

“It is truly a family effort,” Kristen Stegeman, fleet production coordinator at Knapheide, said. “My brother Andrew (Stegeman, custom product specialist at Knapheide) and I reached out to our mom, Tammy Stegeman, for help. Because of her, 560 students in grades kindergarten through fifth decorated cards and wrote letters thanking the veterans for their service and wished them a very Merry Christmas.”

A few residents of Hammond Hall got something a little more special that day: an opportunity to chat with Santa and other Knapheide employees.

“While the gifts are a wonderful gesture, the time spent with these vets is what Christmas is all about,” said Mike Dailing, corporate safety manager at Knapheide — and this year’s Santa — said. “What I didn’t realize before my dad became a resident here is that many of these residents are from out of town and do not have family nearby. Delivering these presents and spending a few minutes chatting brings happiness to these brave men and women which is a special thing. Putting on my Santa suit just makes for a good icebreaker.”