Stop me if you've heard this one.

It's a little joke going around the Lincoln-Way area about the U.S. Route 30 widening project, which began last summer and appears to have no end in sight. It goes something like this:

IDOT says the construction on Rt. 30 will be done by November. They just haven't said what year.

(Cue rimshot)

It's the kind of joke that musters a chuckle or two because it falls into that vein of "it's funny 'cause it's true" humor. But when you're a business whose livelihood depends on customers being able to find your parking lot, the continuing construction delays aren't amusing. In fact, they're devastating. Some stores and restaurants have even lost about 50 percent of their business because of the widening project.

That's why Patch wants to help.

The Frankfort, Mokena and New Lenox Patch sites are partnering with establishments along Rt. 30 to help these businesses who are feeling the pinch from the Rt. 30 project, which stretches 8.5 miles from Harlem Avenue in Frankfort to William Street in New Lenox. Here's the plan:

The L-W Patch sites will hold a weekly Rt. 30 raffle where a random reader could win a variety of prizes provided by Rt. 30 businesses and Patch. To enter, residents need to sign up for a Patch newsletter at a participating Rt. 30 business. Patch will routinely list those businesses where customers can find newsletter sign-up sheets. Residents only have to enter once to be eligible for all the raffle drawings.

Easy, huh? The idea is to rally the L-W communities around these businesses, helping them weather this financial hardship. To be honest, it's something Frankfort, Mokena New Lenox residents excel at—helping those in need. And Patch considers itself a member of its community, so we're just trying to do our part.

This is the list of the business currently participating in this initiative:

• Another Liquor Store
• Aurelio's Pizza (NEW)
• Avanti Fine Furniture
• Bobbie Noonan Child Care (NEW)
• Caffé Milan
• Hawgs 'N Dogs
• Hickory Creek Community Church
• Lighthouse Fellowship Church
• New Lenox Travel (NEW)
• Perfect Nails
• Pores of Color Tattoos

And these are the prizes you could win:

• Free lunch from Hawgs 'N Dogs
• Copies of Rick Warren's book from Lighthouse Fellowship Church
• *NEW* Two books donated by Bobbie Noonan Child Care
• * NEW* A prize basket including a $200 gift certificate from New Lenox Travel
• * NEW* Two free lunch buffets from Aurelio's Pizza
• Patch merchandise, including baseball caps, tote bags, Snuggies, water bottles and T-shirts

Support your neighborhood Rt. 30 businesses and give them something to smile about.

BUSINESSES: Are you interested in participating in this initiative? Contact Mary Compton, Patch's local business advocate and community ambassador, at 708-770-1341 or mcomptonphotos@att.net to get involved. Or you can contact Associate Regional Editor Lauren Traut at lauren.traut@patch.com, or 708-382-0737.