Rock Island Economic Growth Corporation (GROWTH) is pleased to announce that seven community gardens will receive a total of $4,250 in assistance through the new Rock Island Community Garden Program. The program allows neighborhood organizations to lease vacant parcels of land for purposes of creating and maintaining a community garden space.

Community gardens are pieces of land that are gardened by a group of people, many times from the same neighborhood. Funding for the community gardens will help neighborhood groups establish a new garden or maintain an existing garden. Funds will be used for soil, fencing, water, plants, rain barrels, and other items to make their gardens more beautiful and functional.

The Rauch Family Foundation donated $3,000 towards the effort, Modern Woodmen of America donated $750, and GROWTH contributed $500.

Following are the community gardens:

• Broadway Victory Garden: Broadway Victory Garden will make 18 plots available and also have an area for children at their garden located at 800 20^th Street. The Victory Garden was the pilot community garden developed in partnership with GROWTH. Broadway will use their $1,000 grant to purchase dirt to establish the garden and additional items to support the creation of the garden.
• Christ Church Cathedral has leased 1419 5^th Street and will work with Karen refugees living in the neighborhood to plant Asian vegetables. The $750 grant will help establish this new garden.
• Community Caring Conference:  The CCC garden is located at 1501-1503 8^th Avenue. Ten plots will be available and participants will come from the West End Neighborhood Association. The $500 grant will help establish this new garden including purchasing a rain barrel, fencing, picnic table, and shed.
• Greenbush Neighborhood: Greenbush Neighbors will offer garden plots at a new community garden located at 2800 7^th Avenue. The $500 grant will help establish this new garden.
• Old Chicago Community Organic Garden Association: This garden is located at 1116-1124 4^th Avenue. Twelve plots are available and organic gardening will be practiced. The $500 grant will be used to purchase gardening tools and fencing.
• Rock Island County Area Project: RICAP has a lot at 935 29^th Avenue and offers the garden plots at no cost to gardeners. Twenty-five garden plots are available to residents of South Rock Island Township. The $500 grant will help purchase fencing for the garden.
• St. Joseph the Worker House: Two to three plots are available at 1920 and 1924 9^th Avenue. The garden serves and provides food for the homeless women and children living as a part of the Worker House Transitional Living program. The $500 grant will be used to purchase rain barrels, garden tools, plants, and mulch.

Community gardens have many benefits for communities including:

• returning unused or vacant parcels of land into thriving gardens with purpose and beauty
• improved quality of life for participants tending to the garden and receiving the garden's harvest
• a catalyst for community development
• stimulates social interaction and encourages self-reliance
• beautifies communities
• produces nutritious food
• reduces family food budgets
• conserves resources
• creates opportunity for recreation, exercise, therapy, and education
• preserves green space
• provides opportunities for intergenerational and cross-cultural connections are a way for people to come together

Brown Mackie College - Quad Cities Gives Back to Community During
National Week of Service - April 18 - 24, 2010

(Moline, IL - April 19, 2010)  Students, faculty, and staff at Brown Mackie College - Quad Cities are teaming up this week and participating in a coordinated, nationwide community service effort as part of a National Week of Service, April 18-24, 2010.

For years, Brown Mackie College - Quad Cities' students, faculty, and staff have given back to their community through charitable endeavors. The goal of the National Week of Service is to further highlight Brown Mackie College - Quad Cities' ongoing spirit of service during an entire week dedicated to impacting and improving the Quad Cities area.

During the 2010 National Week of Service, Brown Mackie College - Quad Cities' students, faculty, and staff will partner from April 19 - 23, with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Mississippi located at 406 7th Street in Moline, IL and 220 Minnie Avenue in Davenport, IA; and will provide assistance during their after-school programs.

"At Brown Mackie College - Quad Cities, we value giving back to the communities in which we live, learn, and work," said Brown Mackie College - Quad Cities President Kao Odukale.  "Partnering with the Boys & Girls Club provides our students, faculty, and staff a tremendous opportunity to foster a more cohesive school community while making a lasting impact in the Quad Cities area."

To learn more about Brown Mackie College community service initiatives, visit http://www.brownmackie.edu/Community_Involvement.aspx. For additional information about Brown Mackie College - Quad Cities, call (309) 762-2100 or visit www.brownmackie.edu.

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DAVENPORT, IOWA (April 12, 2010)  In partnership with the Jewish Federation of the Quad Cities, the German American Heritage Center will be showing the film "Saviors in the Night" at the German American Heritage Center at 712 West Second Street in Davenport, Iowa on Sunday, May 2, 2010 at 2 p.m. The film will be shown on the 4th floor program space and refreshments will be served. Cost is $5 per adult, free for museum members and free for students. For those who would like to explore the museum prior to the movie, please arrive early before the movie as the exhibits close at 4 p.m.

Ludi Boeken's "Under Bauern" (Saviors in the Night) tells of farmers ? unter bauern ? in Westphalia who sheltered Jewish friends from the Nazis. The movie is based on Marga Speigel's memoir "Saviour in the Night" who tells the story of how a little family survived in their hiding place because of the help of farmer families Aschoff, Pentrop, Sickmann and Silkenbömer from the Münsterland. The film will be subtitled. You can watch the movie trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WLAvZC91po

WHO:  GENERAL PUBLIC

WHAT: ANNUAL SPRING RUMMAGE & BAKE SALE

WHEN:  SATURDAY, APRIL 17, 2010

• 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

• LUNCHEON SERVED 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

WHERE:  IMMANUEL LUTHERAN CHURCH

3834 ROCKINGHAM ROAD

DAVENPORT, IOWA

The Lutheran Women's Missionary League of Immanuel Lutheran Church, Davenport is sponsoring their Annual Spring Rummage & Bake Sale on Saturday, April 17, 2010 Time is from 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. for the Rummage & Bake Sale. A luncheon will be served from 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Fill a paper bag for $3.00 Rummage items include : men, women's & children clothing, shoes, coats, household items, knick knacks, toys, books, and large donation of various craft items. There will also be baked goods, popcorn and homemade soups, sandwiches, and desserts for lunch. If you would like more information contact the church office at 563-324-6431

Proceeds will go to support various mission projects.