Churches United of the Quad City Area has received a $1,500.00 grant from The Rauch Family Foundation, in support of its food pantries in the Illinois portion of the Quad City Area.

Churches United has a 53-year history of reaching out to our community. Its 134 member churches represent 50,000 people from the Quad City Area. As well as Winnie's Place, a shelter for women (with or without children) who are homeless and/or victims of domestic violence, Churches United operates 25 food pantries and 3 hot meal sites in the Quad City Area. For information about services offered, or ways to support Churches United, call 563-332-5002, or visit our website at www.CUQCA.org.

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In continued effort to address student loan debt and college affordability, Congressman reaches out to Iowans

Washington, D.C. - After a recent report showing a 12-fold increase in the cost of college tuition in the last 30 years, Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01) today called on Iowans to share their stories receiving and repaying student loans. Braley will share the comments he receives with Department of Education in his continued effort to address the student debt crisis and college affordability.

"I was lucky to receive college student loans when I attended Iowa State, but my experience pales in comparison to present-day graduates who have the highest level of student loan debt in history," Braley said. "We've got to find solutions to rising tuition costs and rising debt burdens, and a big piece of that hearing and sharing the first-person stories of those facing these challenges."

Braley is seeking personal stories from Iowans that have taken out student loans and/or are repaying those loans, and the challenges they have faced to further their education goals. Stories can be shared on his website at: braley.house.gov

Braley recently sponsored the Bank on Students Emergency Loan Refinancing Act, allowing individuals to refinance their student loan debt at lower interest rates, helping address the record high levels of crippling loan debt and delinquencies increasingly affecting millions of students and their families. The U.S. Department of Education estimates this new legislation would benefit 311,000 Iowa student borrowers.

Student loan debt today totals $1.2 trillion, $864 billion of which is backed by the federal government. More than 70 percent of students who graduated from college in 2012 had student loan debt.

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CANTON, MO (09/04/2014)(readMedia)-- Over 550 Culver-Stockton students, faculty and staff participated in the sixth annual Extreme Dome Makeover, Saturday, Aug. 23, 2014, volunteering their services to fix up 16 different sites in Canton, Missouri.

Local students who participated in this event include :

Austin Pyrtle, freshman musical theatre major of Davenport (52806)

Alex Draper, sophomore biology major of Muscatine (52761)

Volunteers spent the day doing various activities like painting, landscaping and cleaning. Project sites included both public areas and private residences. Public sites included Canton Senior Housing, City Hall, Martin Park, the Mississippi River Park, the Canton Community Garden and more.

Extreme Dome Makeover provides the opportunity to introduce incoming students to the community of Canton, as well as to their classmates, advisors and neighbors.

"We want our students to know that being a servant leader is important. Hopefully by the time they graduate they will know that importance and they'll be able to lead service projects in their own community ," said Dean of Students Chris Gill.

Culver-Stockton College, located in Canton, Mo., is a four-year residential institution in affiliation with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). C-SC specializes in experiential education and is one of only two colleges in the nation to offer the 12/3 semester calendar, where the typical 15 week semester is divided into two terms, a 12-week term and a 3-week term.

Rock Island, IL - The Quad City Parrot Head Club has provided Christian Care with a $4,100 grant from its June annual golf outing. Funds will help provide direct therapy to children?our silent victims?during their stay at Christian Care.

"Children who arrive with their mothers at our domestic violence shelter have been traumatized by what they have seen and experienced," said Dr. Elaine Winter, Christian Care's chief executive officer. "This grant through the Quad City Parrot Head Club will allow Christian Care to continue to provide the services that help our children begin to heal and overcome the childhood scars that come with physical, emotional, and mental abuse, and help them feel safe and secure again. Our warmest thanks go out to all the golfers and volunteers who made this generous gift possible."

T.J. Griffiths, one of the event's co-chairs, along with Sue Wesselmann, was also thrilled with the club's generosity. "Even though we were a little late getting our annual golf outing organized this year, we still pulled off an amazing day at Saukie Golf Course," said Griffiths.

Christian Care is transforming the lives of homeless individuals, victims of domestic violence, veterans, men and women coming out of prison, and those with mental illness. Its two facilities?a domestic violence shelter for abused women and children and a rescue mission for homeless men?provide safe shelter, nutritious meals, clothing, counseling, referrals and guidance to those in need. Its services are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week with the goal of nourishing the bodies, minds, hearts and souls of the men, women and children who come seeking a new way of life. If you know someone in need, call the Christian Care crisis hotline any hour of the day or night at (309) 788-2273.

The Quad City Parrot Head Club was sanctioned in Dec. 2003, and is one of 239 member clubs in the U.S., Canada, and Australia. The Parrot Heal Club is a collection of people of all ages and backgrounds who embrace the music of Jimmy Buffett and the lifestyle he writes about so others may benefit. Club members also believe in leaving things just a little better than they found them, while holding fast to their motto, "partying with a purpose."