BETTENDORF, IOWA (June 22, 2021) — For the sixth consecutive year, Churches United of the Quad City Area will partner with local businesses and churches for Thanksgiving in July, a state-wide, non-perishable foods and essential-items drive. Churches United competes with other food-collection agencies in Iowa to see who can collect the most goods for their community.
All donations collected by Churches United will stay in the Quad Cities area and go directly to our 23 food pantries, two hot-meal sites, and Winnie’s Transitional Housing. Donations will be collected throughout the month of July.
Thanksgiving in July is a major campaign for us because it helps us restock our pantries and support our other ministries at a time of the year when people don’t usually think about food drives. Our pantries have continued to serve throughout the pandemic. Due to the pandemic, our hot-meal sites had to shut down but we are ecstatic to report that they will be re-opening soon. With their reopening, it is more important than ever to have a successful Thanksgiving in July campaign.
Collection boxes will be located at partner businesses throughout the community. Many of our member churches will also have special drives and some even have mini competitions with each other.
Items that may be dropped off in collection boxes are non-perishable, non-expired food items, like cereal, canned fruit, vegetables, meat (tuna, chicken, Spam), peanut butter, rice, pasta/pasta sauce, macaroni and cheese, juice boxes, boxed meals, and soups. We also accept essential, non-food items such as disinfecting spray, cleaning wipes, laundry detergent, aluminum foil, batteries, postage stamps, and bus passes.
Monetary donations are appreciated. Donations may be made online at www.cuqca.org/donate.php or on our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ChurchesUnitedoftheQuadCityArea. We also accept cash and checks.
Churches United of the Quad City Area is celebrating our 60th anniversary this year. Our mission is to bring together an ecumenical coalition of Quad City area churches to help feed the hungry, offer emergency assistance to those in crisis, and provide a transitional housing program for women and children who are victims of domestic violence or human trafficking. 148 member churches are represented by Churches United. We operate two free hot-meal sites, 23 emergency food-pantries, and a transitional-housing facility for women and children escaping from domestic violence and human-trafficking situations. We dispense financial assistance to those who need help paying bills through our CareLINK program. We distribute over 2.1 million pounds of food annually, serving 140,000 individuals. Our meal sites, when fully functional, serve 21,000 meals a year.
