by Tracy Crane

URBANA — When University of Illinois student and Marine veteran Jason Sakowski heard about a fatal fire in Danville that claimed the life of one veteran and displaced others, he wanted to do something to help.

“It sounded so horrible,” said Sakowski, coordinator for Veteran Student Support Services on the UI campus.

He said he wanted to do something to help the men, and after contacting Veterans Affairs officials at the Illiana Health Care campus in Danville, Sakowski and fellow Illini Veterans organized a clothing drive the day after the blaze.