Community Corner

Rummage Sale Raises Funds for Family of Fallen Soldier

District 61, VFW Post 2838, the Darien Lions Club and more than 30 local families donated items to the sale.

Pfc. Gunnar Hotchkin was only 31 when he died in Afghanistan in June, leaving behind a wife and three children. The grad and Naperville resident was killed when an improvised explosive device detonated on the tank he was riding.

For one Darien mom, the story hit particularly close to home. Her husband is on his third deployment in Afghanistan while she holds up the fort back home with four young children.

To help show her support, this mom, who wished to keep her name private during her husband's deployment, joined forces with Kids 4 Good program and other members of to organize Sale 4 Soldier. The post-Veteran's Day rummage sale runs Friday and Saturday to raise funds for the Hotchkin family.

Find out what's happening in Darienwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"When a soldier gives the ultimate sacrifice, I can't even imagine what the family's journey must be like," she said. "Other people get back to their lives, but it's important for them to remember his wife is going to keep needing people."

More than 30 families donated items to the rummage sale, including toys, furniture, books and electronics. The Darien Lions Club as well as members of VFW Post 2838 also brought a number of items to sell.

Find out what's happening in Darienwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Members of Kids 4 Good baked cookies, muffins and other treats. Though the kid volunteers had to be in school on Friday, several will help man the bake sale on Saturday.

A steady stream of shoppers browsed the sale Friday morning. The mom said other families' support for the sale had tremendous meaning for her.

"Even people who already cleaned out their homes for their own garage sales, God bless them, they still said they'd find stuff to bring," she said.

Although the mom has yet to meet the Hotchkin family, she said it's a day she looks forward to.

"It's going to be really powerful," she said.

Westmont resident Nancy Smoot came to Sale 4 Soldier with her husband specifically to show support for U.S. troops.

"Nobody's doing enough for our soldiers," she said. "It breaks my heart."

Six of Smoot's uncles served in World War II, one of whom spent four months as a prisoner of war in Germany. Though several were injured, all six returned to the U.S. alive.

"I just wish people would do more," Smoot said. "If everyone got something like this going, it would be nice."

 


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here