The mission of Churches United of the Quad City Area is to unite Christian churches, empower them for service and to honor diversity. We are called to serve.

Churches United supports this call by reaching out cooperatively, with sensitivity and responsiveness, to community needs with specific programs and by building networks of support throughout the Quad Cities. Churches United acts as a community team where issues of wellness, quality of life and faith are addressed and strengthened. Churches United is also a type of information clearinghouse where individuals in need are directed to appropriate “help” agencies.

Churches United provides crucial leadership expertise in:

• 23 Food Pantries providing response to 26,809 visits in 2006.
• 3 nightly Meal Sites providing 30,856 free hot nutritious meals to the hungry in 2006.
• Annual CROP Walk raising over $45,721 to fight hunger locally and globally.
• Volunteer Jail Chaplains in Rock Island and Scott County Jails.
• Coordination of 3 CareLINK clusters that link churches to those in need (helping 259 families with $42,632 in assistance in 2006).
• Advocacy.
• Representation in community-wide events such a Yom HaShoah, Anti-Hate Coalition, Quad City Health Initiative and the Pacem In Terris Award.
• Ecumenical Services.
• Emergency Funding for housing, medical care, utility payments and other critical needs (helping 29 families with $6,225 in assistance in 2006).
• Winnie’s Place, a shelter ministry for women (with or without children) who are homeless opened on December 6, 2006 and served 12 women and 11 children with 298 lodgings, 458 meals and 50 hours of direct service.

Additional Programs of Churches United include:

• Daily Weeknight Inspiration on WQAD-TV NewsChannel 8.
• ARC, free monthly newsletter updating the Quad City community on activities, programs and needs
• Directory of Churches (listing of local churches and service times).
• Faith Link Partner, a tool for open communication among Churches United and its members.
• Journal of Theological and Justice Opinion, a tool to express diversities within the Christian communities when it comes to controversial issues of our day.
• Radio Show, Faith Talks which promotes varying and diverse viewpoints on various faith issues relevant to the Quad City community.

Agencies with whom we partner are:

• 130+ churches representing 20+ Christian Faith traditions
• Bettendorf Community Center (Bettendorf, Iowa)
• Friendly House (Davenport, Iowa)
• Salvation Army (Illinois and Iowa)
• DavenportOne (Davenport, Iowa)
• Illinois Conference of Churches
• Jewish Federation of the Quad Cities
• Rock Island Kiwanis (Rock Island, IL)
• Shelter and Transitional Housing Council
• St. Ambrose University
• World Relief
• Church World Service
• Buffalo Community Center (Buffalo, Iowa)
• Illinois Quad City Chamber of Commerce
• Northwestern Illinois Continuum of Care
• Safe Passage (Rock Island, Illinois)
• South Park Presbyterian Church-Jr. High Drop In Center
• Steamwheelers Arena Football Team

Churches United coordinates and leads these community events:

• CROP Walk for hunger
• Christian Unity Service
• Put a Smile on a Child
• Souper Bowl of Caring
• Sounds of Celebration
• All God’s Creatures
• Borders Benefit Days
• Festival of Thanksgiving

mjones@churchesunited.net
www.churchesunited.net