NORTHBROOK, Ill. — Zengeler Cleaners and partner Libertyville Sunrise Rotary report they collected 7,458 total items during their 2025 Coats for Vets campaign in Lake County, Illinois.

These items included coats, jackets and winter necessities, such as gloves, scarves and other seasonal clothing, all in support of veterans in the Chicago area. They were collected from October through Veterans Day, then inspected, cleaned and delivered to Midwest Veterans Closet in North Chicago.

“Veterans Day is an opportunity to acknowledge and honor our veterans,” says Tom Zengeler, president of Zengeler Cleaners. “Many vets — our nation’s heroes — return from active duty, only to face a myriad of serious challenges as they readjust to civilian life, perhaps none more daunting than trying to find a productive job that matches their abilities. Too often, the skills required to hold a job before leaving to serve no longer match the needs of an evolving job market, making it very difficult to find meaningful work.”

With so many veterans surviving conflicts from World War II through the present, Zengeler Cleaners says, there are tens of thousands who need assistance for basics such as food, shelter and seasonal clothing, including winter coats, jackets and gloves. Midwest Veterans Closet provides many of these services in Zengeler’s area, thanks in part to the success of a collection drive that Zengeler says once again exceeded expectations.

Zengeler Cleaners’ two Libertyville stores served as drop-off locations. After the donated items were collected, the Zengeler team inspected, repaired as needed and cleaned each one. 

“Our staff is always astounded by the generosity of the local community,” says Tom Zengeler. “The number of donations we receive each year underscores just how much our customers and neighbors care about the country’s veterans.”