Churches United of the Quad City Area has received a $1,000.00 grant from The Rotary Club of Davenport, in support of its Hunger Program in the Quad City Area.

Churches United has a 54-year history of reaching out to our community.  Its 136 member churches represent 50,000 people from the Quad City Area.  As well as 26 food pantries and 3 hot meal sites, Churches United also operates Winnie's Place, a shelter for women (with or without children) who are homeless and/or victims of domestic violence.  For information about services offered, or ways to support Churches United, call 563-332-5002, or visit our website at www.CUQCA.org.

National lead safety week is officially the last week of the month, but Angie's List celebrates 24/7 because it's THAT important.

• 40 million homes in America still contain dangerous lead paint.
• 500,000 kids have dangerously high levels of lead in their bodies.
• Too many homeowners and service pros either don't know or don't follow the rules about this 100 percent preventable malady.

That's why Angie's List is teaming up with U.S. EPA to get the word out about getting the lead out. Want to help us?  Details below. 

INDIANAPOLIS (October 12, 2014) - Angie's List is marking National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week by joining the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's "Look for the Logo" campaign.

"Awareness is the key to eradicating lead poisoning," says Angie's List Founder Angie Hicks. "The more homeowners know, the more likely they are to demand and be willing to pay what it takes to remodel and repair without endangering their children."

Since 1978, the federal government has banned residential use of lead-based paint, which remains on the walls of about 40 percent of the housing stock in the U.S. Any project that disturbs this old paint - such as prep work for re-painting, remodeling or window installation - can create dust and debris that an infant or child may inhale or ingest. Since 2010, the EPA has required contractors whose work disturbs lead paint be trained and certified in proper safety techniques.

"Of course do-it-yourself projects present the same dangers, so handy homeowners should be following best practices, too," Hicks said. "This isn't rocket science. It's smart, common sense actions that anyone can do - and all of us who deal with older homes should want to do."

Angie's List, an e-commerce marketplace and consumer review site, is helping share an EPA-sponsored outreach program to alert homeowners and remind professionals about lead paint. The materials and other outreach materials are available on Angie's List and the EPA websites. The company will alert members to the initiative this week. Hicks will also discuss lead paint in one of her weekly local television news segments, which air this month.

EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy said that her agency takes its mission to protect human health and the environment seriously and appreciates the opportunity to partner with citizens and corporations.

"We've been working to make the country's air, land and water safe for 45 years, but we can't do that alone," McCarthy said. "Angie's List is setting a great example of leadership and consumer advocacy, and we're thrilled to expand our lead safety outreach to their members and the companies they review."

Health experts estimate about 500,000 U.S children ages 1 to 5 have elevated lead levels in their blood. Older homes are considered to be the most hazardous source of lead for U.S. children.

Even low levels of lead in the blood of children can result in behavior and learning problems, lower IQ and hyperactivity, slowed growth, hearing problems, nervous system, kidney, hearing or other damage. Children age six and younger are at special risk because they lack the developed blood-brain barrier that protects older children and adults from more severe effects.

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Angie's List helps facilitate happy transactions between more than three million consumers nationwide and its collection of highly rated service providers in 720 categories of service, ranging from home improvement to health care. Built on a foundation of authentic reviews of local service, Angie's List connects consumers directly to its online marketplace of services from member-reviewed providers, and offers unique tools and support designed to improve the local service experience for both consumers and service professionals.

(Des Moines, IA) One hundred schools across Iowa will host Pennies to Paychecks, a live sketch comedy program aimed at increasing financial literacy among students this fall. The Iowa Insurance Division and The National Theatre for Children (NTC) have collaborated since 2009 to deliver educational and entertaining messages to young people who are emerging as consumers. Craig Goettsch of the Iowa Insurance Division sees the value of investing in students. "Today's teens are tomorrow's young adults, who will face important decisions regarding their spending and saving habits," he says. "When we prepare them to develop healthy habits, the benefits are enormous?they will have less stress, less debt and less confusion about their finances."

Pennies to Paychecks is a forty-minute performance divided into segments that humorously address topics like take home pay, wages and deductions, saving and investing, credit and debit cards and how to form a savings habit. Two professional actors take suggestions from the audience and incorporate the ideas into their scenes through improvisation. "The kids respond so well to the program because they get to help shape it," says NTC President and founder Ward Eames. "It's an interactive experience rather than a passive presentation. The energy is very high, the information is relevant and meaningful to the kids and the information sticks with them because learning and laughter are blended so seamlessly."

In addition to the live show, participating schools also receive student workbooks, teacher guides and access to interactive digital learning materials at no cost. "This information is crucial," says Goettsch. "we want every school to be able to access this opportunity. This is knowledge that will make a real difference in their lives."

The tour runs from October 19th to November 20th, and includes visits to schools throughout the state. Schools interested in participating in Cash Course can contact NTC at 1-800-858-3999 ext. 1 for further information.

About the Iowa Insurance Division (IID)

The Iowa Insurance Division (IID) has general control, supervision and direction over all insurance and securities business transacted in the state, and enforces Iowa's laws and regulations.  The IID investigates consumer complaints and prosecutes companies, agents and brokers engaging in unfair trade practices. Consumers with insurance or securities-related questions or complaints may contact the IID toll free at 877-955-1212 or visit the division on the web at www.iid.iowa.gov.

About NTC

NTC is an award-winning educational content provider whose methods include theatrical all-school assemblies, print and digital curriculum, professional development, extracurricular events and volunteers-in-the-schools.  NTC has developed the art of teaching through educational story-telling into a science of its own, and is an international company with operations in the United States, Australia and New Zealand.  www.ntccorporate.com

Those who call rural America home know that there's more to the rural economy than just farms and ranches. The potential to grow and make innovative products in rural America is limitless, and manufacturing is particularly important for rural communities. Rural America makes a wide array of products including light manufacturing tools, automotive parts, clothing and apparel, crafts, forest products, and services. In 2013, manufacturing accounted for nearly 2.5 million rural jobs nationwide.

Between fiscal years 2009 and 2014, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has invested $2.5 billion to help rural manufacturers across the country increase production and capacity, move products to market at home and abroad, and support good paying jobs in rural communities. To learn more about how USDA invests in rural communities and businesses to help them grow, visit www.usda.gov/results.