Modern Woodmen home office employees attempt to pack 50,000 meals for the hungry

Rock Island, Illinois - Hunger is a serious epidemic for some in the Quad Cities and Modern Woodmen of America is stepping up to make a difference for food-insecure families in the community. On Friday, August 15 Modern Woodmen will host an Outreach, Inc. food-packaging event from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Modern Woodmen printing and shipping building (2015 2nd Avenue, Rock Island). Interview opportunities will be available.

Nearly 450 Modern Woodmen employees will take part in the food packaging event to provide 50,000 meals for River Bend Foodbank. Modern Woodmen will cover the cost the ingredients and supplies to package the meal. Each meal costs 25 cents.

Bags of delicious and nutritious macaroni and cheese will be packaged, sealed and boxed for distribution at River Bend Foodbank's mobile food pantry on Aug. 23, also sponsored by Modern Woodmen. The packaged meals, developed by Outreach, Inc., are high in vitamins, protein, calcium and other nutritious items.

This event is one of many fraternal projects sponsored by Modern Woodmen as part of the summer-long campaign to Knock Out Hunger.

Knock Out Hunger campaign

This year, Modern Woodmen has selected River Bend Foodbank to support through its Knock Out Hunger campaign. Modern Woodmen employees and members will donate time, money and food to the food distribution center throughout the summer.

The culmination of the Knock Out Hunger campaign is a 5K charity run, walk and kids' fun run on September 20. Families across the Quad Cities are invited to participate in the event located in the District of Rock Island. All proceeds will benefit River Bend Foodbank.

River Bend Foodbank is the largest hunger relief organization in the Quad Cities and surrounding communities, distributing more than 8 million pounds of food annually to feed the hungry. The Foodbank serves more than 10,000 individuals every week through its distribution network of 300 charitable feeding programs in a 22-county service area in Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois.

Founded in 1883, Modern Woodmen of America touches lives and secures futures. The fraternal financial services organization offers financial services and fraternal member benefits to individuals and families throughout the United States.

President Kenny Massey reports four years of solid growth

Indianapolis, Ind. - Modern Woodmen of America President W. Kenny Massey, LeClaire; National Secretary Denis P. Prior, Davenport; and all members of the board of directors were unanimously elected on June 30 by the fraternal financial services organization's 42nd National Convention. Massey has been president since 2005; Prior has been national secretary since 2009.

An organization with a democratic form of government, Modern Woodmen represents its members' ideas and concerns through elected delegates who participate in a National Convention once every four years.

Local residents Darcy G. Callas, Moline; David B. Emrick, Davenport; Gary L. Medd, Davenport; and Jerald J. Lyphout, East Moline; were elected to Modern Woodmen's Board of Directors. Other members elected to the board of directors were Albert Hurst Jr., Little Rock, Arkansas; Judge Robert C. Pollex, Perrysburg, Ohio; and William D. Keltner, Jackson, Tennessee.

Also elected were: Eugene A. Ortis, national adviser, Alexandria, Louisiana; Anthony W. High, national escort, Tompkinsville, Kentucky; Donald D. Wixom, national watchman, Nampa, Idaho; and Cary L. Mathes, national sentry, Parkville, Missouri.

Solid growth

More than 1,300 Modern Woodmen members and guests, including 190 delegates, from throughout the United States gathered at the JW Marriott in Indianapolis, Indiana, to attend Modern Woodmen's 2014 National Convention.

Massey shared Modern Woodmen's progress during the four-year period from Jan. 1, 2010, to Dec. 31, 2013, and reported gains in all phases of operation.

–  Assets increased 45 percent to a total of $13.4 billion.

–  Life insurance in force increased 8 percent to $36.3 billion.

–  Surplus increased 33 percent to $1.51 billion.

–  Total benefits paid to members increased 18 percent to $2.9 billion.

–  Fraternal expenditures grew to $77 million, a 10 percent increase.

Modern Woodmen has more life insurance in force than 90 percent of all life insurance companies in America.  The third largest fraternal organization in the U.S., in terms of assets, Modern Woodmen's A.M. Best Rating remains A+ (Superior) - the second highest of 15 ratings.

"Ten years ago our assets totaled $6.9 billion and today we stand at $13.4 billion," said Massey. "That's an increase of $6.5 billion, which makes us the fastest going fraternal organization in America during the past decade."

Massey explained that Modern Woodmen continues to exist to:

·         Help members in times of financial crises (especially after the death of a loved one).

·         Accumulate funds for a secure retirement.

·         Engage members and enrich their lives with fraternal benefits and activities.

·         Benefit communities through fraternal benevolence and outreach programs.

"Our mission statement reads 'to improve the quality of life for our members,'" he explained. "We live out our mission every day, it's in our DNA. It drives our decisions and actions as an organization."

Fraternal focus

In the past four years, Modern Woodmen's fraternal programs benefitted members and communities across the country.

• Fraternal benefits help members, their families and their communities in good times and in times of need. From disaster relief aid to scholarships to providing for orphans, members have a safety net of benefits.  In the last four years, Modern Woodmen gave $4 million in benefits to members.
• Modern Woodmen put $34.2 million into matching fund activities in the past four years. Matching fund activities allow members to show their support for a community cause or an individual in need.
• Through more than 99,500 chapter activities across the nation. Members and their families participate in social and volunteer activities.
• Through nearly 48,500 youth service club activities. Modern Woodmen children from tots to teens discover the benefit of helping others. Youth service club volunteers have given nearly 1 million hours of volunteer service in the past four years.

Modern Woodmen of America is a member-owned fraternal financial services organization. Since 1883, the organization has brought people together, supported families and strengthened communities nationwide. Modern Woodmen - touching lives, securing futures.

Youths and teens will work to benefit local American Red Cross chapter

On Saturday, May 3, hundreds of volunteers will make a difference throughout the Quad Cities with paint cans, brushes, rollers and cleaning supplies. The food pantry support projects are part of Join Hands Day, a national day of service sponsored by Modern Woodmen and other fraternal benefit societies.

Grace Bible Fellowship Food Pantry
1535 36th Avenue, Moline
Number of Volunteers: 40+
Project Details: cleaning waiting area, building shelving, painting
Projected Time: 8 am-12 pm.

Second Baptist Church Food Pantry
919 5th Ave., Rock Island
Number of Volunteers: 5
Project Details: painting and cleaning the food pantry.
Projected Time: 8 am-12 pm.

Watertown Ecumenical Food Pantry
1365 13th Ave., East Moline
Number of Volunteers: 5
Project Details: window work including detailing and cleaning.
Projected Time: 8 am-12 pm.

Modern Woodmen youth project:
Modern Woodmen, 1701 1st Ave., Rock Island
Number of Volunteers: 80+
Project Details: Youth clubs will make "Comfort Kits" for disaster clients with the American Red Cross.
Projected time: 9:00-11:00 am

Prince of Peace Food Pantry
415 W. 53rd Street, Davenport
Number of Volunteers: 5
Project Details: updating waiting area, cleaning, waxing and painting.
Projected Time: 8 am-12 pm.

Bettendorf Community Food Pantry
2204 Grant St., Bettendorf
Number of Volunteers: 5
Project Details: Refurbish entry and waiting area. Volunteers will also clean, paint and help hang signage.
Projected Time: 8 am-12 pm.

Join Hands Day is the only national day of service designed to bring youths and adults together to plan and implement service projects in their communities. As the generations work side by side, they learn more about each other, sparking a new level of understanding and respect.

The hunger and desperate need for food in the Quad City area sparked Modern Woodmen's interest to support River Bend Foodbank. This is one of many ways Modern Woodmen's plans to give back to River Bend Foodbank in 2014. The foodbank serves 22 counties in Illinois and Iowa and serves nearly 10,000 people each week for emergency food assistance.

Throughout the Quad Cities, more than 1400 area youths and adults are teaming up to complete volunteer projects. Locally, Modern Woodmen sponsors these local initiatives and gives each project a $50 grant to offset project expenses.

Founded in 1883, Modern Woodmen of America touches lives and secures futures. The fraternal financial services organization offers financial services and fraternal member benefits to individuals and families throughout the United States.

For more information about local Join Hands Day projects, contact Amber O'Brien at 309-793-5660, or visit modern-woodmen.org.
- end -