GatheringswithPurpose.com giveaway will award $5,000 to a lucky volunteer and his or her cause!

Doing good for others just became even more rewarding. As many Americans face a holiday season of hardship in a struggling economy, Modern Woodmen of America is looking for those who have given the gift of time.

Families and friends who have volunteered together to meet a community need, raised money for a local cause or added a volunteer activity to a social gathering are eligible to win a grand prize totaling $5,000. Through Modern Woodmen's Gatherings with Purpose Giveaway, one winner will receive a grand prize of $2,500 in cash, plus a $2,500 donation for the worthy cause described in a submitted story.

Stories can be submitted online at GatheringswithPurpose.com by 11:59 p.m. CST on Nov. 12, 2009. Submissions should be 400 words or less and describe who gathered, who was helped and how it touched lives.

Five finalists will be chosen from submissions entered online. Finalists' stories will be posted, and the public will vote online for a favorite beginning Nov. 19. The Gathering with Purpose earning the most votes will win the grand prize - $2,500 for the entrant and $2,500 for the purpose described.

Visit GatheringswithPurpose.com for complete rules and details.

As a membership-based organization, Modern Woodmen launched the giveaway to complement national efforts to bring people together to help others and their communities. Modern Woodmen sells financial products not to benefit stockholders, but to support our stakeholders - our members, their families and their communities. How? Through social, charitable and volunteer events where our members gather.

Founded in 1883, Modern Woodmen of America touches lives and secures futures. The fraternal benefit society offers financial services and fraternal member benefits to individuals and families throughout the United States.

For additional information:

As you may know, Churches United has the 27 food pantries that cover every single neighborhood in the Quad Cities on both sides of the river. Last year we provided meals for over 105,000 individuals. THIS year, because of the economy, some of our food pantries are experiencing a 75% increase. We also have 3 hot meal sites: The Churches United meal site @ Salvation Army in Davenport, the Churches United meal site @ Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist church in East Moline and the Hope UCC Meal Site in Moline. Every single night in the Quad Cities, a hot meal is served. Last year over 30,000 meals were served and so far in 2009 they're seeing increases of up to 50%! Additionally, Churches United has our Winnie's Place Woman's Shelter which serves women who are homeless or victims of domestic violence, with or without children. Just this year, Shelter has seen a 100% increase in clients in need.

With the economy the way it is, donations are down and usage at the food pantries, meal sites and the shelter is up. People who have never had to use a food pantry are having to do so. Same with the meal sites. So Churches United is trying to be creative in increasing it's financial support. This is where you come in!

• Non-Gala - September 31, 2009 - No, it's not a typo. It's a non-event on a non-day. We had some supporters who suggested that instead of holding a Gala which requires them to buy a new dress or pay a babysitter, they'd rather just write out a check and know that 100% of the money goes to help feed and shelter. We have been encouraging businesses to have fundraising events at their places of employment - departments preparing food and selling it to the other departments, jean day, etc. and sometimes the company is matching the money earned by it's employees! And some people are holding "Non-Gala's" in their homes as just a fun way to have a get together with neighbors and friends and let them know how many people Churches United helps out week after week, year after year. We are hoping to raise $100,000 by the closing day which is another non-day - November 31, 2009.

• Silent Auction: Great prizes that can be bid on beginning MONDAY! Go to our website at www.churchesunited.net and see great things like a pair of AirTran tickets anywhere AirTran flies, Farm Day with Happy Joe, digital photography package, restaurant packages and many many more!

• Trivia Night - Friday, October 16th is a very special Trivia night, held in October which is domestic violence awareness month and will benefit our Winnie's Place shelter. However, this is the first of it's kind...a Bi-State Trivia. One in Illinois (@ First UCC in Moline) and one in Iowa (@ St. John's UMC Davenport) at the same time! The top 3 from each state will do an extra round of questions to get the STATE WINNER! Mike Mickle will host the Iowa side and Jim Mertens the Illinois side. It's only $10 per person with 8 to a table. Dinner will be available along with mulligans, 50/50, Silent Auction, etc.

If you have any questions about our upcoming events, or Churches United in general, please give us a call at 309-786-6494. Thank you for your support!