DAVENPORT, IOWA (June 19, 2019) — For the fourth consecutive year, Churches United of the Quad City Area will partner with local grocery stores and businesses to build on the success of Thanksgiving in July, a community-wide, non-perishable food-drive. All food collected will go directly to the 26 food pantries and 3 hot meal sites operated by Churches United. The food drive to benefit the entire Quad City Area will be held Monday, July 1, through Wednesday, July 31.
Thanksgiving in July is a volunteer effort to mobilize community participation and provide nutritious food for our at-risk population. “Food is one of our most basic needs” says Ron Hall, Executive Chef for Mercy Hospital in Iowa City and founder of Thanksgiving in July. “Everyone understands what it means to be hungry, yet many are unaware of how widespread the need is in our community. Hundreds of individuals and families with children are in need of food assistance each week. There is a network of concerned individuals silently waging the war on hunger each day.”
Churches United of the Quad City Area provided 139,153 individuals with 3-5 days of free non-perishable food from the shelves of our food pantries in 2018. Food pantry shelves are frequently near empty during the summer months when the children are out of school. The food pantries struggle to meet the increased demand without cutting back on services. They depend on the community to help pull them together. Items in demand include cereal, canned fruit, vegetables, meat (tuna, chicken, Spam), peanut butter, rice, pasta/pasta sauce, macaroni and cheese, juice boxes, boxed meals, soups and diapers.
This July, each of our 147 Member Churches will be asked to participate by holding food drives in support of Thanksgiving in July. Community members, local business owners, and civic organizations are also encouraged to hold their own food drives or make individual food donations at one of the designated drop off sites in the Quad City Area. Cash donations are especially appreciated and allow the food pantries to buy bulk food at a reduced cost. Please make checks payable to Churches United Thanksgiving in July.
We are excited that 3 local Fareway Stores, QC Core Chiropractic, K&K Hardware, Dewey’s at the Bettendorf Library, Circa 21, CBI Bank and Trust, Davenport, and Caddy’s Sports Bar and Grill, will serve as host drop off locations for donations. Look for the big boxes labeled: Thanksgiving in July, starting July 1st. You can also take donations to the Churches United Offices located at 2535 Tech Drive, Suite 205, Bettendorf, and Winnie’s Wishes,1605 Harrison Street in Davenport.
To learn more about Thanksgiving in July, contact:
Betsy Vanausdeln, Associate Director, Churches United 563-332-5002bvanausdeln@cuqca.org
Executive Chef Ron Hall, Mercy Hospital Iowa City 319-461-3763chefron16@gmail.com
