KEWANEE WEATHER

Local businesses announce fundraisers to benefit Kewanee Police Chief


By Susan DeVilder    July 18, 2023
Kewanee Police Chief Nicholas Welgat made a public announcement of his cancer diagnosis recently. The community has come together to raise thousands of dollars for his family. [Acquired photo]

Two Kewanee businesses are joining in the community effort to help the Welgat family by holding two fundraisers. The community effort comes after the recent announcement by Kewanee Police Chief Nicholas Welgat that he had been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer.

On Monday and then early Tuesday morning, the Daily Fix Nutrition and Fernando’s restaurant announced their plans to help contribute after learning about the police chief’s battle.

On Facebook, Fernando’s owner, Fernando Anaya, told his followers that after returning home from his vacation, he was shocked to learn the news about Chief Welgat. He then announced that he would be holding a taco dinner with rice, beans and a drink and that the restaurant would be donating half the proceeds from the special to the Welgat family. The fundraiser will be held Saturday, July 22. “Remember this, today is for him, tomorrow could be for us,” he wrote in his post.

At the Daily Fix Nutrition, owner Janet Silva, announced her fundraiser for the police chief and his family. In order to help ease the financial strain while Nicholas is undergoing treatment and fighting his fight, the Daily Fix Nutrition, on Friday, July 21, will offer one its best-selling drinks, “Captain America.”

For every “Captain America” sold on Friday, the Daily Fix will donate $2. For customers who choose another drink, $1 will still be donated.

“This community has come together so many times during a family’s time of need,” her post reads, “it’s our turn to show that to our very own Chief of Police.”

Silva also provided a link to Nicholas Welgat’s GoFundMe page. https://gofund.me/f4deb37e.