Davenport, IA: The Salvation Army of the Quad Cities once again met its Red Kettle Campaign goal thanks to the remarkable generosity of the Quad Cities community. A total of $740,622 was collected. That goal consisted of direct mail, red kettle donations and year-end contributions. The $725,000 fund-raising goal accounts for approximately 60 percent of the local Salvation Army's operating budget that is generated from public support.

The funds will help The Salvation Army meet the demand for services for shelter, food, clothing and other basic human needs here in the Quad Cities. "The Salvation Army's work is simply not possible without the people of this community who believe in
what we do. And I'd like to share with them the greatest joys of the season: the warm embraces, tears of joy, handshakes and 'thank yous' from the thousands of families they helped serve," said Major Gary Felton, Quad Cities Coordinator.

During the 2012 Christmas season, The Salvation Army makes Christmas much brighter for thousands of families in need locally. And more than 2,000 volunteer hours were given in order to make all of the Christmas season's programs possible.

More than 7,000 toys (games, books, stuffed animals and toys of all kinds) were donated through the Angel Tree program. Through the 2012 Christmas Distribution program 2,143 children from 1,036 families had a happy Christmas morning. Food boxes were also distributed to an additional 458 households without children. Combined, The Salvation Army distributed food and gifts to 1,494 families totaling 8,623 people in need in the Quad Cities.

"The statistics mentioned are only a reflection of the many people whose lives were impacted because of YOU! We are grateful to everyone who supported this year's Christmas program, either by supporting the red kettles, purchasing gifts for families, volunteering your precious time, supporting our efforts by spreading the word and encouraging others to participate or praying for the program itself and those we have the honor of serving," said the Major.

Two special match programs contributed to the success of this year's campaign. Hiland Toyota made a large gift that was matched through the Toyota Dealer Match Program. And for the second year in a row, Von Maur matched all donations placed in the Red Kettles at the malls on December 22nd.

The Red Kettle Campaign, the oldest annual charitable fund raiser of its kind in the United States, helps raise money to support programs for the very neediest in communities nationwide providing toys for kids, food for the hungry and countless social service programs year-round. From its humble beginnings as a fund raiser started by a Salvation Army captain in San Francisco in 1891, the Red Kettle Campaign has grown into one of the most recognizable and important charitable outreach efforts in the United States.

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If you can bake a pie, or if you just love a great dessert, plan to participate in a pie baking contest and auction scheduled for Saturday, February 9, 6:30 p.m., in Luther Hall - Augustana Lutheran Church in Andover, Illinois. The contest categories are: Mayors, Veterans, News Media, Pastors and Community. The event is to help fund an aisle of flags and sidewalk adjacent to the Veterans' Memorial Garden at the Andover Lake Park. A trio of professional food connoisseurs will be the judges, and the winners will receive prizes donated by area merchants. Persons interested in entering the pie contest should contact Amber Lilly: lil_lilly5@hotmail.com or Denise Lilly: (309) 521-8132. Pies can be delivered to Luther Hall between 2:00 PM and 6:00 PM.

The event is being hosted by the Andover Tourism Council and Andover Village Board. Auction is courtesy of Stenzel Auction Services.  The 2010 pie auction for Andover's 175th celebration raised $4,191, so we are looking to top that, but can only do that with YOUR HELP!

A grantssubmission deadline has been announced by the Moline Community Foundation. Non-profit organizations are encouraged to apply if they serve the citizens of Moline and the surrounding region, including the Quad Cities. All materials necessary to receive funds are due in The Moline Foundation offices by 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 31, 2013 or must be postmarked by or on  Thursday, January 31, 2013.  Any non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization, including those who have never received Moline Foundation funding in the past, is welcome to apply.

An application should consist of eleven copies of a written request stating the name and address of the organization, its mission, names and addresses of Board members, income and expense statement, balance sheet, and the specific purpose for which any money received would be used including a project budget. The name, telephone number, and email of a contact person must also be included. The requested materials should be mailed according to the above deadline. If you need further information, please call Linda Martin at the Moline Foundation at (309) 764-4193. The Moline Foundation offices are located at the Deere-Wiman House, 817 - 11th Avenue, Moline.

The Moline Foundation, founded in 1953, is a community foundation which provides grants to health, human services, education, workforce development, the arts and other charitable organizations which benefit the citizens of Moline and the surrounding area, including the Quad Cities region in both Iowa and Illinois. The Moline Foundation receives and administers charitable gifts and works with citizens to achieve their dreams to improve the community.

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Rock Island, IL - The Scott County Regional Authority has awarded a $2,430 grant to help Christian Care purchase an automated external defibrillator (AED) for each of its facilities?a domestic violence shelter for women and children and a rescue mission for
homeless men.

"Christian Care is grateful to the Scott County Regional Authority for supporting the men, women, and children we serve on a daily basis," said Dr. Elaine Winter, Christian Care's executive director. "This grant will permit us to purchase life-saving equipment, which is a tremendous relief for us. Christian Care's vision is to transform lives; we also want to save lives whenever possible. Having an AED at each of our facilities will help us to be that first lifeline of hope for anyone going into ventricular fibrillation."

Christian Care is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization operating two facilities?a domestic violence shelter for women and children and a rescue mission for homeless men. It serves homeless individuals, victims of domestic violence, veterans, men and women coming out of prison, and those with mental illnesses.

Christian Care's community meal site is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner on weekdays Monday through Friday, and for breakfast and dinner on Saturday and Sunday. Breakfast is served at 6:30 a.m., lunch at 12:15 p.m., and dinner at 6:30 p.m. If you know of someone in need, call Christian Care's crisis hotline any hour of the day at (309) 788-2273 or visit online at christiancareqc.org.