Quinn Urges Tax Filers To Support Fund For Military Families

CHICAGO (CBS) -- Governor Quinn is making a pitch to last-minute filers to give a little back, and support military families, reports WBBM's Michele Fiore.

Sgt. Jason Hoster's in the Illinois Army National Guard. Two months before he was deployed to Kuwait last summer, his dad, who used to run an auto body repair shop, was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer.

"You can't work on a car you can barely hold a fork to eat his food. It hurts," said Hoster.

Medical bills have also hurt, but Sgt. Hoster got some help from the Illinois Military Family Relief Fund. Governor Quinn says the fund's helped more than 27,000 families in the past ten years.

"Things happen when you are deployed. We don't want our soldiers on the front line worried about financial matters back home," said Quinn.

It's a voluntary check-off on your tax return. Donations can also be made to operation www.homefront.org.