Humility of Mary Housing, Inc. is starting its 24th year of hosting one of the largest indoor "garage sales" in the area to benefit single parents and their children in a program that takes them from homelessness to  hopefulness. The spring semi-annual benefit sale will be Friday and Saturday, May 17 and 18, from 8 am to 4 pm at 3805 Mississippi Avenue, the office and donation center for Humility of Mary Housing. The sale features a wide variety of new and gently used items including: dishes, bedding and linens, jewelry, small appliances, furniture,  pictures, books, clothing and much more.

Humility of Mary Housing serves 47 single parent families and approximately 100 children every day except when an apartment is being prepared for a new family. In this program children learn there is a different way to live;  families have not only a roof over their heads but they are given the opportunities to build a foundation under their feet. This is a program that takes people from homelessness to self-sufficiency because every person has potential.

King's Harvest Ministries is a non-profit 501c(3) charitable organization. Our mission is to serve the poor and homeless in the Quad Cities. We offer the following services to our less fortunate: hot meals, shelters, groceries, pet assistance and various other emergency needs.

Due to a huge need in the Quad City community, King's Harvest will be opening on May 1st 2013 two new shelters that will be open year round for single men and single women. This past winter King's Harvest had 327 people staying at their Winter Overflow Shelter and upon closing this spring there were 55 people who were still in desperate need for shelter. The single men and women's shelter will be located in the King's Harvest building at 824 West 3rd Street in Downtown Davenport. Our Shelter for Homeless Mothers with Children will also be open year round. These new shelters will have programs that require the homeless to work on life style changes in order to stay in the shelter.

King's Harvest will host an Open House to allow the community to view these new shelters from 7:00-8:00 pm on Tuesday April 30th. Please come to the small door at the front of King's Harvest at 824 West 3rd Street in Downtown Davenport.

We are also in need of volunteers and monetary donations for this new endeavor. We will be needing volunteers to help with nightly check-ins, once a week over nights, snacks and help with the Love Your Neighbor Program which is where we connect you with someone who is in need. If you are interested in volunteering please call King's Harvest at 563-570-4536. If you would like to make a donation to King's Harvest please visit www.kingsharvest.net to use credit cards or mail checks to King's Harvest Ministries at 5837 Wisconsin Ave. Davenport, IA 52806.

If you would like more information about this topic please call Terri Gleize of King's Harvest Ministries at
563-570-4536.

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ROCK ISLAND, Illinois - Twenty-seven area nonprofit organizations will be awarded $338,950 on Wednesday, April 24th during The Amy Helpenstell Foundation's Spring Grant Reception at 8:30 a.m. at the Quad City Botanical Center in Rock Island. This is the largest amount of funding awarded by the Foundation in a single grant cycle.

The Amy Helpenstell Foundation promotes awareness, understanding, diagnosis and treatment of eating disorders in the greater Quad Cities area. Amy Helpenstell passed away in 2003 from complications related to an eating disorder. Ms. Helpenstell created the Foundation through her estate to support causes related to health, education, youth development, community development and cultural activities within a 60-mile radius of Rock Island, where she lived and worked.

"Amy's Foundation has given nearly $4 million back to the community since 2005, all to causes that she cared about very much," said Franz "Bud" Helpenstell, Amy's father and President of The Amy Helpenstell Foundation. "With the full impact of state cutbacks to nonprofits being especially noticeable now, we are happy to support these organizations in every way we can. The important work they do can be felt in the lives of real people every day."

The Spring Grant recipients and the programs that received funding include :

• Aldridge Early Learning Center - Parent Education, $2,000

• Arrowhead Ranch - Computer Based Learning Program for Arrowhead Academy, $10,750
• Augustana College - Amy Helpenstell Student Interns Program, $20,000
• Bethany for Children and Families - Youth Transitional Housing for Homeless Youth (Rock Island), $8,000
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Mississippi Valley - One-to-One Mentoring, $15,000
• Black Hawk College Foundation - Nursing Education: Extending Simulation into the Classroom and Beyond, $3,000
• Black Hawk College Optional Education Program - Adult Education English as a Second Language Coordination, $20,000
• Boys and Girls Club of the Mississippi Valley - Core Mission Grant, $16,000
• Child Abuse Council - Building Capacity for the Future, $10,000
• Children's Therapy Center of the Quad Cities - Enhanced Feeding Therapy Program, $16,000
• Community Housing Services - JumpStart After School Program, $10,000
• Community Resource and Learning Center, Inc. - Preschool Project, $5,000
• Gilda's Club of the Quad Cities - Children in Need Continuation and Expansion, $15,000
• Hand in Hand - Adapted Enrichment Programs for Children With Disabilities, $4,200
• Henry County Youth Services Bureau - Free Home-Based and School-Based Counseling, $12,000
• Junior Achievement of the Heartland - Building a Stronger Community-Junior Achievement Core-Mission Programs, $15,000
• Junior High Drop-In Center / South Park Presbyterian Church - Healthy Eating Program, $3,000
• Marriage and Family Counseling Service - Spanish Family Therapy Program, $10,000
• National Alliance on Mental Illness, Scott County - NAMI Scott County Office Expansion; Bringing NAMI's Signature Education Classes In-House, $5,000
• New Kingdom Trail Riders - 2012-2014 Horse Care Project, $10,000
• Rick's House of Hope - Ongoing Training of Volunteers and Staff, $4,000
• Robert Young Center for Community Mental Health - Quad Cities Eating Disorders Consortium, $50,000
• School Health LINK, Inc. - Behavioral Health Specialist, $15,000
• Spring Forward Learning Center - After-School Tutoring and Mentoring, $15,000
• St. Ambrose University - The Amy Helpenstell Scholars Program at St. Ambrose University, $10,000
• theplace2b - theplace2b Community Outreach Project, $15,000
• Vera French Foundation - School-Based Mental Health Therapy Program, $20,000

 

For more information about The Amy Helpenstell Foundation, visit www.amyhelpenstell.org orcall 563-326-2840. The Amy Helpenstell Foundation is administered by the CommunityFoundation of the Great River Bend.

Iowa/Illinois Quad Cities - Metropolitan Community Church of the Quad Cities ("MCC QC") is a spiritual home for many that is currently without a home. "We sold our facility on Harrison Street and we are currently looking for the right building," says the pastor, Rev. Rich Hendricks. MCC QC is currently holding its 11:00 a.m. worship services at the TriCity Jewish Center. "In the meantime," says Hendricks, "we are still growing and seeking financial support for our ministries." The annual chili cookoff is the church's biggest fundraiser. This year the event is being held at Fargo Lounge in Moline and the public is invited to come and enjoy all you can eat chili and fixings and homemade desserts for just $5.

In addition, there is no cost to enter your chili in the contest, which is judged by three independent judges not affiliated with MCC QC. The church offers $100 for first place, $50 for second place and $25 for third place. Mary Todtz, event organizer, says, "I am really excited about all the items we have for sale, about all the fun we are going to have and about the excellent entertainment!"

There will be both silent and live auction items available for purchase, including everything from free oil changes to works of art. Entertainment this year is a free will offering concert by Christian artist Shawn Thomas.

MCC QC is a member church of Churches United of the Quad Cities Area and the Church is involved in feeding the hungry ministries and supporting the works of many area nonprofit organizations.

The annual Chili Cook-Off will be held on Sunday, May 5h beginning at 5 p.m. at Fargo Lounge, 4204 Avenue of the Cities, Moline, Illinois. Doors open at 4:30 and all entries must arrive by 5:00 p.m. to be included as the chili judging takes place promptly at 5:15 p.m., followed by a time of feasting and fellowship during which people can bid on silent auction items. At the close of the silent auction will be a live auction, featuring several special items.

For more information, please call the Church office at 563.324.8281.

MCC QC: tearing down walls & building up hope!