Churches United is a Christian Organization who in part helps feed the hungry and shelter women and children in the Quad City Area.  To date this year they have served 45,531 individuals by way of emergency food pantries, served over 12,000 people at 3 meals sites, and sheltered 1527 lodging to a total of 128 women and children.  Winnie's Place stands for Women In Need Nurtured Into Excellence. The program is designed to not only provide shelter, but to help women to survive on their own once out of shelter.

Thank you Quad Cities for your many years of financial and volunteer support as Churches United has worked to meet the rising needs of hunger and shelter in the Quad Cities communities.  As you can imagine, it takes significant financial resources to meet the needs of the most vulnerable.  The community has been generous through donations to the various programs to address human need in the area.  Yet with a decrease in grant income has placed a decided pressure on other areas of income.  We are asking our communities for assistance to assure that families are able to continue to find food when they need it; that women with or without children can find a safe place to re-start their lives in a safe environment. Currently Churches United is facing a $30,000 short-fall in important income areas so the question arises:  Will you, the community help Churches United provide the food and the shelter that is so desperately needed?

Here are some thoughts about the importance of Winnie's Place, the Women's Shelter of Churches United, from someone who found hope within its walls.

I was invited to come back to Winnie's so I could get my kids back.  Well, I moved back in on a Tuesday and by Friday, I got my first weekend with 3 of my children.  Then I got to keep the youngest forever!  The twins came only on weekends for the next three weeks - now they are with me forever as well.  As for my oldest, he is back in town and is staying with my mother.  I'm not allowed to keep him overnight yet but soon I hope.  I also found a 3 bedroom, 2 baths plus a garage for 'low' through section 8.  YEAH!  We move on the 4^th, which is today.  I thank God and Winnie's Place so much because without their belief in me I couldn't have done it!  I remember when I first came here - I was so unsure.  Ya'll made it possible for me to start getting' my babies back.  Thank you.  I am forever grateful and couldn't have done all this without your support, through all my yelling, and crying to you.

Will you, the community, help Winnie's Place continue the ability to provide the hope that is so desperately needed in this community and the world?  Will you, the community, provide the resources to see that those who are hungry find the food that is needed?  We invite you to consider helping us meet the needs for the next 50 years and beyond.  It is easy to donate simply go to the Churches United website - www.cuqca.org - and utilize the "donate" button.  A Donation can also be made by mailing a check to:

Churches United

2535 Tech Drive, Suite 205

Bettendorf, IA 52722

Rev. Ronald C. Quay, Executive Director

563/332-5002

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Dave Loebsack today joined a bipartisan group of 59 lawmakers in calling on the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) to ensure uniforms for future Olympics are manufactured in America.  It was recently reported that the uniforms for the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Teams for the London Games designed by Ralph Lauren were manufactured in China. Loebsack is a member of the House Manufacturing Caucus, as well as the Make it in America Working Group.

"At a time when so many Americans are still searching for work, it is offensive that the USOC would not support our workers and their families by manufacturing the uniform here," wrote the Members of Congress.  "Team USA should wear uniforms that evoke more than just an image, but actual labor from workers and raw materials from America. Hard working Americans should have the privilege of manufacturing uniforms for Team USA.  The USOC should immediately adopt a policy to ensure that future uniforms are manufactured in America."

A copy of the letter can be found here.

Moline, IL... State Rep. Rich Morthland (R-Cordova) joined a group of Illinois House republicans today in sending a letter to Governor Quinn thanking him for the recent response to the severe drought conditions across the state, along with a request that the Governor's administration put in place a system that will provide lawmakers with regular updates and developments that might help those in need.

"As a farmer, I am well aware of the devastating economic impact caused by these extreme weather conditions. The drought is not only going to hurt farmers, ethanol producers and our livestock producers; it will also lead to higher food prices for families," Morthland said. "I look forward to helping distribute any updates or new financial assistance opportunities to my constituents who may qualify for the programs."

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Herb Kohl, D-Wis., and Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, are applauding a ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit that drug companies' "pay-for-delay" settlements violate antitrust law.

"The court made the right decision," Kohl said. "The Third Circuit Court of Appeals' ruling is a big step toward ending an unfair and abusive business practice that keeps generic drugs off the shelves and costs consumers and taxpayers billions of dollars.

"This backroom deal making is at the expense of consumers and taxpayers, so the Third Circuit decision is good news for Americans who need affordable medicine and taxpayers who pay for prescription drugs in the Medicare and Medicaid programs," Grassley said.

In a class-action lawsuit challenging an agreement between Merck and Co.'s Schering-Plough unit and a generic drug company that delayed a competing version of the potassium supplement K-Dur 20, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals held that a "reverse payment is prima facie evidence of an unreasonable restraint of trade."

Last year, Kohl and Grassley introduced the Preserve Access to Affordable Generic Drugs Act (S. 27), which would deter "pay-for-delay" deals in which brand name drug companies settle patent disputes by paying generic drug manufacturers in exchange for the promise of delaying the release of the generic version into the market. Under the legislation, these anti-consumer pay-off agreements would be presumed illegal and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) would be provided the authority to stop the agreements.