During this week of giving thanks, I'm thinking of you. No matter the crisis, no matter how many times I came asking for your help this year, you were there, as part of the Red Cross community.

Thank you...for caring, for responding with compassion, and for being there when someone needed help.

I meet people often whose lives have been turned upside down after a disaster, and they tell me what the Red Cross has done to get their lives back on track. They shake my hand or give me a hug and say "thank you," but really, they are thanking you.

It's your support that puts food and water into the hands of people who are without, helps a person in need of CPR or first aid, provides lifesaving blood to hospital patients and comforts families across the country. You're the real hero.

View this slideshow to see how your support made a difference.

Gratefully,

Gail McGovern
President and CEO, American Red Cross

Quad Cities, USA- The Salvation Army's Angel Tree Program will begin on Friday, November 29th at the two Quad Cities Malls. Community members are asked to purchase a toy and bring it to the Angel Tree sites to that a less fortunate child will have a happy Christmas morning. This annual holiday program provides new toys for approximately 3,000 children whose families are having a hard time adding Christmas gifts to their budget.

On Black Friday, November 29, Macerich Malls will again partner with The Salvation Army and collect new, unwrapped toys inside the malls at the "Angel Trees." Hours will be 11am - 8pm Monday through Saturday, and 12pm - 5pm on Sunday.

Paper angel tags listing the age, gender and toy ideas are available at these locations: Younkers Court in SouthPark Mall, Moline; and JCPenney Court in NorthPark Mall, Davenport. Anyone wanting to participate can select an angel tag from the tree and purchase a gift for a child. New, unwrapped toys for a child, along with the original tag can be returned to any Angel Tree location. The last day you can choose an angel is Dec. 15 to allow time for distribution by The Salvation Army.

Major Gary A. Felton, Quad Cities Coordinator, states, "The Salvation Army is very dedicated to helping parents maintain a sense of normalcy and dignity so Christmas can truly be a blessed event for their family. This small gesture of purchasing a toy for a child can help to make another person's life less overwhelming."

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More about the QUAD CITIES Angel Trees

• Over 3,000 children will be served again this year because of our community's generosity.

• Gifts for 11-and 12-year-olds are especially needed.

• When a child receives a toy Christmas morning, the parents regain hope and the child has a happy memory to build on.

Contact Holly Nomura at (563) 271-7933 if you are interested in hosting an Angel Tree at your office or church.

Other Angel Tree Locations that can be used for dropping off your gift include :

All Four Area Wal-Marts at the Customer Service Desk

Chic-fil-A, 53^rd and Elmore, Davenport

The Moline Foundation will hold a 60^th Anniversary Celebration on Sunday, November 24^th in honor of Quad Cities area couples celebrating 60 years or more of marriage. Invited guests will be celebrating with the Moline Foundation Board of Directors at the Stoney Creek Inn, Moline, Illinois from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m.

Dinner will be served followed by anniversary cake and musical entertainment by the Wierson Father-Son duo singing tunes of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and holiday classics.

The celebration will be hosted by First Midwest Bank, The Planning Center, Moline; and Stoney Creek Inn.

Founded in 1953, the Moline Foundation is a community foundation benefiting the Quad City region that has distributed almost $28 million in grants to over 1,500 non-profit organizations in the past sixty years. The Moline Foundation also serves as resource for donors in a seven county area (Rock Island, Mercer, Henry, Warren, Henderson, and McDonough in Illinois and Scott County in Iowa). The Moline Foundation's collection of funds and gifts from individuals and businesses are then able to help the immediate needs of the community in the area's of health and human services, arts and culture, economic growth, workforce development, community development, education, and quality of life.

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Churches United of the Quad City Area is extremely proud and thankful to announce the award of a grant in the amount of $1,000.00 from the Potter Family Foundation, to be utilized for our shelter ministry at Winnie's Place.

Winnies's Place has served our community as a shelter for women, homeless or victims of domestic violence, with or without children, since 2006. Winnie's Place stands for Women In Need - Nurtured Into Excellence.

We thank the Potter Family Foundation for its support in this endeavor.

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