Churches United of the Quad City Area is extremely proud and thankful to announce the award of a grant in the amount of $25,000.00 from the Riverboat Development Association, to be utilized in our hunger program.

Churches United has been serving our community for the past 52 years. Our Hunger Ministry oversees 25 food pantries and 3 hot meal sites to serve those in need. In 2012, our food pantries had 30,000 visits and helped
103,000 individuals.

We thank the Riverboat Development Association for its support in this endeavor.

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The Coats for Kids Program needs your support. The call is out for cash to purchase coats or donated gently used coats for needy students in area public and private schools. The Dr. David E. Lane Memorial "Coats for Kids" program, housed at the Mississippi Bend Area Education Agency (AEA), has already provided more than 2,000 coats this season. The requests continue to pour in; area kids need your help!

Donations of winter coats (new or used) may be taken to any Burke Cleaners location in the Quad Cities. Cash donations may be made online (qcacoatsforkids.org) or mailed to the Coats for Kids Program, in care of the Mississippi Bend AEA, 729 - 21st Street, Bettendorf, Iowa  52722.

Donations are tax deductible. The Coats for Kids Program is a 503.1 non-profit organization serving schools in Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois. The Program is part of the Mississippi Bend AEA Special Events Foundation.

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The Mississippi Bend Area Education Agency is one of nine AEAs across the state of Iowa created by the 1974 Iowa Legislature. It provides educational services, media services and special education services to approximately 50,000 students in twenty-two public school districts and fifteen approved non-public schools in Cedar, Clinton, Jackson, Louisa, Muscatine and Scott Counties.

The Mississippi Bend Area Education Agency does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, gender identity, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, socioeconomic status, or disability in its educational programs, services or employment practices. Inquiries concerning this statement should be addressed to Dr. Edward Gronlund, Equity Coordinator, at 563-344-6315.

Mississippi Bend Area Education Agency
Improving teaching & learning
www.aea9.k12.ia.us

Rock Island, IL November 1, 2013 -- The need has never been greater and yet it has never been easier for you to make a difference in our community. Christian Care is collecting clean, gently used coats and jackets as part of the One Warm Coat community service project. Coats of all shapes and sizes are welcome. One Warm Coat is dedicated to distributing reusable coats, free of charge, directly to local children and adults.

The program is an easy way for you and your family to pass along coats and jackets that you no longer need while making sure that no one goes without such a basic necessity as warm, winter coat. Christian Care has simplified the donation process. Just bring the coats you wish to donate to their Rescue Mission located at 2209 3rd Avenue in downtown Rock Island from November 4 through December 2. Christian Care will then distribute them to local individuals in need.

One Warm Coat is national non-profit organization that supports and encourages coat drives. It helps individuals, groups, companies and organizations across the country collect coats and deliver them to local agencies that distribute the coats free to people in need. Since its inception in 1992, One Warm Coat has provided more than one million coats at no cost to those in need.

Christian Care is transforming the lives of homeless individuals, victims of domestic violence, veterans, men and women coming out of prison, and the mentally ill. Their 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. Christian Care's 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. Help Christian Care help others; donate now. Call Lindsey at 309-786-5734 for more information, or visit Christian Care's website at www.christiancareqc.org.

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Monticello, IA– Camp Courageous of Iowa will sponsor the 5^th

annual "Walkin' & Wheelin' for Camp Courageous" on Saturday November 9, 2013  This fun-filled event will take place from 8:30-11:00 a.m. at Westdale Mall in Cedar Rapids.  Registration is from 8:30-9:30, with the walk from 9:30-10:30. Awards will be presented from 10:30-11:00.  T-shirts will be given to each participant who has collected a minimum of $10 in donations. Prizes will be awarded to the individual and team raising the most money for this event.

Participants may pre-register for this event by calling 319-465-5916 Ext. 2130, visiting camp's website at www.campcourageous.org, or may register the day of the event.

Camp Courageous of Iowa is a year-round recreational and respite care facility for individuals with mental and physical disabilities, located near Monticello, Iowa. The camp was built and continues to operate on donations, without government support, without formal sponsorship, and without paid fundraisers. In 2012, the camp served nearly 6,500 individuals with special needs. 

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