Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas will help military veterans and their families search for savings on their property tax bills during a Veterans’ Appreciation event Wednesday, Nov. 8, at Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital with Black Men United.

Treasurer’s Office employees will be at the hospital, 5000 5th Ave., Hines, IL, from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. to help Cook County property owners learn about potential refunds by searching their addresses at cookcountytreasurer.com.

“Veterans are among the thousands of Cook County homeowners who might have overpaid their property taxes or who are entitled to money-saving exemptions,” Pappas said. “They need to know about these tax breaks so they can apply for these savings.”

The St. Ignatius College Prep band will perform at 11 a.m., pizzas donated by Garry Apelian of Apelian Carpet & Orientals will be served at 12:30 p.m., and Bloom ‘N Toss will hand out plants and flowers to visitors. Plants were donated by the family of the late Peter R. Knoble, 23, of Wilmette, a lieutenant colonel with the U.S. Marine Corps who died in 2022.

Fresh produce will be distributed by Black Men United, a national community service organization that focuses on restoring and rebuilding Black communities.

Property tax relief includes exemptions for homeowners, senior citizens, lower-income “senior freeze,” people with disabilities, returning veterans and veterans with disabilities.

Property owners may be entitled to a share of $84 million in overpayments going back 20 years and up to $34 million for missed exemptions for the past four tax years.

Property owners can visit cookcountytreasurer.com and click on a purple box that says, “Your Property Tax Overview” on the home page. Visitors can search using their address or Property Index Number (PIN) and discover whether they are owed money.