Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to Quad City Forum, a weekly community service program
produced by iHeartMedia to look at the issues and opportunities
that exist in our community. Now here's your hosts for
Quad City Forum, Nott Luke and Denny Linnhowe.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
We have Lola Vandwali here today to talk about all
things Quad City Veteran Outreach Center centric here today and
right off the top, Lola, I think about the number
times of people don't want to see some of our buildings,
you know, be bulldozed down. I think using the old
Buchanan School, it was a match made in heaven for
(00:38):
what you get. And really you guys came to it
just because you had outgrown your other spot.
Speaker 3 (00:44):
That's correct. We are now, you know, jumping from thirty
five veterans in twenty sixteen to over forty seven hundred
veterans that use our services on a monthly basis. This
school is a perfect fit.
Speaker 2 (00:56):
It all started really out of just your inspiration for your.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
Dad, that's correct. I wanted to do something in his memory.
And he was in the Guam Islands at the age
of sixteen and a half for World War two, and
he talked about how the villagers would carry them food
and stuff on the mountaintop when their rations didn't come
in and I thought we can do something here. And
it's become so much more. It has become a place
(01:20):
for our veterans. They not only go there, but they
also give back cutting, hair services, volunteering. It is definitely their.
Speaker 2 (01:28):
When I see the food pantry, our veterans when they
come in there. In some cases, they don't have to
pay for some of this stuff.
Speaker 3 (01:35):
Oh, they don't pay for anything when they enter our center,
whether it's haircuts, whether it's library, DVD exchange for their
full groceries each month out of the grocery store, the
daily mart weekly, they pay for nothing.
Speaker 2 (01:46):
For people that want to play handicap accessible basketball, you've
got that set up too. Again. The perfect thing of
a school being repurposed has fit almost to the tea
for what you guys do there.
Speaker 3 (01:59):
That's exactly why we wanted the school was for our
adaptive sports program. We play wheelchair basketball, wheelchair lacrosse, and
wheelchair pickaball. We're very proud to say we have the
first competition lacrosse wheelchair team in the state of Iowa
and in the Quad City, headed by Bob Worrez was
a dwnpoor firefighter.
Speaker 2 (02:17):
Yeah, I'm sorry, but lacrosse can get fairly violent here.
So everybody still has a good time even though they're
keeping the competitive juices going.
Speaker 3 (02:29):
Right, that's for sure. I've played with them, you know.
Our community is welcome to come in and play with them.
They have extra chairs and I've played with them and
it's a lot harder than it was.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
That's the beauty of this. And for a lot of
people that maybe don't know where you're at, or if
they want to take a tour, why don't you give
them some ideas on what they could do for that.
Speaker 3 (02:49):
Oh, please come to forty five fifteen North Fairmont to
the Old Buchanan School. We'd love to give you a
VIP tour the facility. Let you shake hands with the
veteran and see what we do. As you know, our
facility is handled by one hundred percent volunteers. No one
in the facility is paid at all. Everything they do
is out of the goodness of their heart and volunteering,
(03:09):
and we'd like the whole community. I tell everybody stop
in and see what we do.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
Even if you're not a veteran, stop in because there
still are benefits absolutely for everybody on this There are
a lot of I guess you would say when you
see Quad City Veteran, there probably are a lot of
Maybe some people think this is part of the VA,
and even though there are connections, this is not connected
to the VA in any way, shape or form.
Speaker 3 (03:36):
It is not. This is a private outreach center and
it is not connected to federal or state or anything
like that. We serve everybody, and we invite all the community.
We invite the veterans, we invite their families, anybody that
wants to be there and participate, they can on some level.
Speaker 2 (03:50):
And I see also the job placement stuff too. There
are so many veterans that have maybe fallen in between
the cracks that they really don't know where to start
to get their momentum. Going the Quad City Veteran Outreach
Center is the perfect place to go. Whether you live
in Iowa and have been for a long time or
in Illinois, you guys are ready.
Speaker 3 (04:08):
We handle both sides of the river and we have
all kinds of resource programs. No matter what our veterans
are looking for, whether it's housing, a job, or whether
they're just coming in to have coffee. You know, I
hear that all the world's problems are solved in thirty
minutes at our coffee cards in the morning. And so yes,
whether you're just a coffee camaraderie, you want to donate
or you want to volunteer, that the center has a
(04:30):
place for you.
Speaker 2 (04:31):
I would say thirty minutes. Sometimes it's well before thirty
minutes is up, you've probably solved at least two maybe
you solve two problems there in that thirty minutes. Come
for the coffee, stay for the camaraderie at the Quad
City Veteran Outreach Center. Another neat thing this is in
fundraising obviously is happening all the time. But if people
want to join the honor wall that you guys have
(04:53):
set up, you could do that.
Speaker 3 (04:54):
That's correct, and you can honor someone in memory of
someone or honor of someone. And we're going to fill
all the halls with all the plaques of all our
veterans from all over. It looks wonderful. And we've had
a lot of companies come in for Veterans Day and
say we're going to buy a plaque for every veteran
that works for us. It's been quite an honor for
them and then their families come in and look at it.
(05:14):
It's a great.
Speaker 2 (05:15):
Place qcvetsoutreach dot com to find out more on that.
That's QC vets outreach dot com. One other thing that
it seems like another perfect match. Sometimes the harder you
work as the luckier you get. The Gary Mitvia connection
has really worked out. He's done some other work at
your website. But he's also isn't Gary a part of
(05:36):
the Forever Families film?
Speaker 4 (05:38):
He is?
Speaker 3 (05:39):
The Forever Family's idea came up with me right in
Italy a few years ago. I was driving through the
countryside and I saw an American flag and I said, man,
we need to stop and see what that's about. And
that grew into me bringing back the story and asking
Gary if you'd be a part of this with us.
There are tens of thousands of veterans buried in Europe
that you know, a lot of people don't realize that
(05:59):
I need to bring the story back to our veterans
and our people here that will never have the opportunity
there to go see it. And when you go to
places like Margarden, Netherlands, you know there's ten thousand veterans
names and graves there and the people of their country
adopt that grave, they take care of it, and they
pass it down from generation to generation. And there was
over a five year waiting list to get an American
(06:22):
grave and the government finally shut that down because it
is just a part of these families heritage. So not
only did Gary interview these families that adopt the graves,
but we also brought back two special stories from a
volunteer at our center that had been looking for a
family member for over fifty years, and also a pilot
from Louden that was a hero honored over there brought
(06:45):
these stories back to their family. And so the Forever
Family's documentary is just an amazing story for the Quad
Cities and veterans everywhere.
Speaker 2 (06:54):
Now, is there a way to see it over at
the Outreach Center or is that chill out in the
award circuit right now?
Speaker 3 (07:01):
We did just win Best Documentary in Cans, France for
the US France International Festival.
Speaker 5 (07:06):
Go.
Speaker 3 (07:07):
We'll be premiering it here in the Quad Cities in
October at the Picture House that we're dealing with them
right now to premiere it. But yes, we were very
honored that it wants the best documentary. Very honored. They
also honored all our veterans that were a part of it,
and we're very pleased to be able to bring this
story back.
Speaker 2 (07:26):
Pretty much seven days a week. Is it possible for
veterans and their families to stop on buy.
Speaker 3 (07:31):
Yes, we're open for tours Monday through Thursday from nine
to three, but we also have times weekends, nights when
we're there and on the weekends for our events, and
so whenever they want to get in, we'll make sure
somebody shows them.
Speaker 2 (07:43):
And again to find out more on the great work
that you do. And you're not the only one. I know.
There's a lot of people behind the scenes. But if
they want to find out more what do they do?
Speaker 3 (07:52):
They can call us at and just go to www
qcvtsoutreach dot com or call the center. It's five six three,
five nine four seven eight two. We have an amazing
group of volunteers. Without those volunteers and our veterans, the
center wouldn't be possible.
Speaker 6 (08:08):
If you or your organization would like to be featured
on Quad City Forum, please visit the contact page on
our station website.
Speaker 1 (08:16):
Now back to bat Luke and Denny linnowe.
Speaker 2 (08:20):
Very excited about this talking to Jennifer Blackirt about the
antique train ride we ride the Rails event supporting the
Mineral and Goal Fire Department. Now the event, by the
time this interview airs, it's a week away, and Jennifer,
when we first talked about this, we knew it was
a non traditional way of raising money. Now we just
want to know how's that going.
Speaker 5 (08:41):
It's going really good. We have two out of the
three already booked ten thirty and the noon is all
booked up, So we have the nine o'clock left and
we have about one hundred and fifty give or take
a few there on of how many people we need
to get booked.
Speaker 2 (08:57):
Jets, How did you guys come up with this?
Speaker 5 (09:00):
Well, one of our firemen basically is part of the
train that does the rails there, Okay daily he works
for the train right and on that like his boss,
I do believe, contacted us and said, hey, you know,
we're going to try to raise money for you guys.
Would you accept this? And it's like, oh, yes, why
(09:21):
wouldn't we? Why would we turn this down? So it
was a great opportunity for us for them to offer
it to us and this is how it got started.
Speaker 2 (09:31):
Well, if you wanted to get our attention, Pat loves
trains and I have a soft spot for fire people,
So I mean to that match made in Heaven for
people that want to be a part of this. No waiting,
no thinking that. September seventh, at eight thirty five, you're
going to walk in there and expect a ticket. These
things are going to sell out quick, so if people want,
(09:52):
if people want to find out more, I'll tell him
right now, fifteen dollars per ticket. But how can they
book the different options available?
Speaker 5 (10:02):
There is a website. If you go to Mineral Gold
Fire Department on the Facebook and you look on there
for the Ride the Rails, it's on there and you
can fill out a Google form, or you can call.
There's two different numbers you can call and they'll pick
up and then take your order. Once they have your
(10:22):
names and things, then you have a choice of paying
with cash, check, Venmo or PayPal. Some of the older
people don't know how to do Venmo or PayPal.
Speaker 2 (10:33):
Well wait a minute, I don't consider myself older, but
how do you do that? How do you do that?
Speaker 7 (10:39):
Again?
Speaker 2 (10:42):
Well, it's okay, So and this is nice too that checks,
and I believe this is a vanishing habit for people.
They can actually pay cash.
Speaker 5 (10:53):
Yes, wow, Yes there was a drop off place. So
if they call and say, hey, I don't have any
place you know, can I just off some money? And
it's like sure, we have them local drop offs part
that we can do and we just tell them where
it is and they go ahead and do that. And
that's an option for people that's really local.
Speaker 2 (11:12):
No, this is I think it's.
Speaker 5 (11:13):
A great thing. They can stick the money in the
mail for a check. They can do the Venmo of
the younger people kind of sort of or people that
or not to.
Speaker 2 (11:23):
Your profiling, Jennifer.
Speaker 4 (11:25):
But I am not.
Speaker 7 (11:26):
I am not.
Speaker 3 (11:27):
But if you do Venoir paid, I'll go ahead. And
if you don't, we have options for you too.
Speaker 2 (11:33):
Okay, and we'll give you the the two phone numbers.
We'll give us some give a little time on this,
so you're ready to write things down eight one five,
five four to two six two eight seven or.
Speaker 5 (11:47):
Three h nine nine four five three four six eight.
Speaker 2 (11:53):
And again to find out more in case you missed
any of that stuff. And we understand the mineral and
gold fire department facebook page. You can find out more.
But no waiting until September seventh, because.
Speaker 5 (12:05):
We're now, I suggested.
Speaker 2 (12:06):
No, we're less than a week away, so get after
this now. And if people, by chance they are going
to be out of town that weekend or for whatever
reason they can't make it out there, they could still
make a donation this way too, and just.
Speaker 5 (12:20):
And help out the fire department.
Speaker 2 (12:22):
Will there be other things going on while people are waiting.
Speaker 5 (12:25):
There is some other vendors that is going to be there,
So there is I do believe, sausage and biscuits. The
firefighters are getting I think about ninety five dozen donuts.
Speaker 2 (12:37):
Wait a minute, are you expecting police there too or what?
Speaker 5 (12:42):
So we're going to get donuts there, and that is
just going to be donation only. That's part is going
to be donation only. So if you want one donut,
you can donate a buck. If you want a donut,
you can donate five bucks. That doesn't matter. Yes, we're
not asking for a certain amount. We're just going to
say please give.
Speaker 2 (12:59):
And I love it too, like Danny had brought up too,
where this is great because everybody supports the firemen and
the fire women and especially when we start to talk
about volunteer fire departments. But then also the train lovers
not and the train fans for the big trains. I mean,
there are two different sections of people. Sometimes they're together,
(13:22):
but there are a bunch of people that want to
be a part of this in one way, shape or form.
Speaker 5 (13:27):
Exactly, and with their firefighters. A lot of those are
first responders also. So we had some older people saying,
I don't know if I can get up there, you know,
and stuff, and it's only a couple steps that's all
you'd have to do to get into the train. So
handicapped wise, we can't take a wheelchair, but we can
get the older people up in there if they needed.
(13:48):
We have assistance available. And then some other people had
asked if there was air conditioning, and they actually do
have air conditioning on this once the train is running.
Other than that, the air conditioning is just kind of
not going full speed kind to say, but once the
train gets going, there will be air conditioning. And there
(14:08):
is restrooms. That was a big major thing offso that
there is restrooms to use.
Speaker 2 (14:12):
Also September seventh, and now we only have room on
the nine o'clock ride from Mineral to Tiscoa and it's
an hour and a half round trip. And again to
find out more or they have you could do cash, check,
venmo or PayPal, whatever you're comfortable with. But ways for
people to find out right now or to book their
(14:35):
seat or just make a donation. Where can they go?
Speaker 5 (14:37):
Google min Are gold Fire Department facebook page and there
is a link there that they can go fill out
the form or they can call the two phone numbers.
Speaker 2 (14:46):
Since you did a great job on it, why don't
you give both those numbers now?
Speaker 5 (14:51):
Okay three oh nine nine four five three four six
eight or the other number is eight one five two
six to eight seven.
Speaker 2 (15:03):
You got to keep us posted on because there will
be people just taking that ride completely forgetting that they're
helping out the Mineral and gold Fire departments. They're just
enjoying the memories exactly.
Speaker 5 (15:13):
And people are like, I've wanted to go on a
train forever, and it's like, this is your opportunity. Get
in there, do it, book it and we can get
to on there at the nine o'clock. And that is
not just a new train, this is one of the
old trains.
Speaker 7 (15:25):
You know.
Speaker 5 (15:25):
I don't know the date on it. That was one
thing we didn't know, but I would say go for it. It's
a ride that I don't think you would ever, you know,
be disappointed with.
Speaker 2 (15:35):
September seventh, Mineral seven departs from Mineral and goes to
Tisco and then makes it on back. Jennifer, thank you
so much for letting us know about this.
Speaker 5 (15:46):
Thank you so much for you guys.
Speaker 6 (15:48):
If you or your organization would like to be featured
on Quad City Forum, please visit the contact page and
our station website.
Speaker 1 (15:55):
Now back to bat Luke and Danny Linnhowe.
Speaker 2 (16:01):
Getting a chance to talk to Valerie Rumler. Valerie who
has wears many hats. She's a jack of all trades.
Are you a master of none or just jack of
all trades?
Speaker 4 (16:11):
Valerie Cat I'll go with a jack of all trade.
Speaker 2 (16:13):
There we go. That's what we're gonna a Molin high
grad knows many things, has many positive things that she
brings to the table. Certainly in VAL's case, that's certainly
something that we can count on. But Valerie does, among
other things, a big part, maybe not the only person
doing this, because volunteers are such an important part of
(16:36):
any kind of an organization, but certainly with the American
Foundation for Suicide Prevention or AFSP, big event that's coming
up in September. Tell us about that, Well.
Speaker 4 (16:49):
We are still doing it again this year. Our venue
is going to be at Wharton field House in Moling,
and we're going to be probably one of the first
to be on new field right in track. Yeah, they're
just remodeling it and I'm being told everything should be
on schedule and I will be able to use their
(17:13):
venue for my event.
Speaker 2 (17:15):
Well, this is a fantastic because not only is Browning
Field getting work, then I believe they were also doing
something over at Orton field House. But it still is
a matter of you know, when you've been around like
the field has been and the fieldhouse has been occasionally,
it needs a little help, a little cosmetic help, and
(17:37):
maybe something a little bit deeper than that. But the
main thing is we're expecting all systems to go. Really
by that point, they're going to be playing football, so
we have to feel that they're done. But that's, you know,
beside the point. Really, this is about something that is
is a very it still is a chapter in a
(17:58):
lot of people's lives. Somebody has passed away and completed suicide.
They need support and they should not be looking at
this in any darker of a lens than they should.
And that's really what the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
(18:19):
does in a lot of ways, not only working as
a fundraiser, but just trying to help out these families.
Speaker 4 (18:27):
Yes, they're bringing awareness and they're also they do a
lot of education, so they advocate to educate the community
as well.
Speaker 3 (18:36):
Well.
Speaker 2 (18:36):
How many times have we seen in when something like
this happens to a family that they don't know where
to turn or they want to turn inward.
Speaker 4 (18:47):
Right, and definitely turning inward is a lot of what
they do because they feel ashamed or the stigma that's
out there in the community. But by educating the community
and letting them know that they're there are ways to
educate the community to prevent this from happening. It's not
going to happen overnight, just like research on cancer, it's
(19:09):
not happening overnight. So it's out there to educate and
bring awareness to the community. The walk is there to
let the community know and let them come forward and
know that nobody's alone in this race.
Speaker 2 (19:26):
Well, it also just lets them realize too not only
can they talk about it, but how many times is
the grieving process stunted because they feel they just don't
know where to turn. So as we look at this
this big event, it's September twenty first. Now they say
here Whartonfield House, but really it's Browning Field is where
(19:48):
you're going to see it. And is this a rain
or shine kind of event or is it will there be?
Could there be a rain date?
Speaker 4 (19:57):
No rain date. It is a rain or shine. We'll
have tents there and we'll have little pop up tents
around for people to stand under, maybe want to get
wet to walk around the new track. But yes, it'll
be rain or shine.
Speaker 2 (20:12):
Well that's the beauty of September weather. Once you get
into the really the latter half of September, the morning
could be terrible and the afternoon is fantastic, and then
there's snow by nightfall. So you really never know what's
going on. But some of the things that people maybe
if they've gone to some of the past AFSP events,
(20:33):
the Walk for Darkness, are there other things that are
added this year that people would want to check out.
Speaker 4 (20:45):
We are going to have a knock on wood, We're
going to have Sunny's Coffee Shops going to be have
a little pop up there. Okay, never really had any
food pop ups. We just have tables that are set
around for different organisations to advertise. But the Moulling Booster
Club has always been faithful and helpful handing out, giving
(21:09):
having food for the people there. So we had the
free water and that was really all we had. So
Sunny's is offered to come and do a pop up.
So it's Sunny's Coffeehouse that's out in Cole Valley on
the way to Cole Valley. I should say that's great.
Speaker 2 (21:26):
And even if there's somebody that hang on, say we
get hang on, yeah, go ahead, come on back. I
got a guy he's checking out things. Is everything? Okay, okay,
you got it? Sorry, thank you man. You know this
is even though this is browning Field and the Molling
Boosters are a part of it. I certainly don't want
(21:48):
anybody thinking as they're hearing this, going, well, this is
only for people that are part of Molling school system.
Speaker 4 (21:56):
No, no, this is available for the whole community. We
want to bring as much awareness to the community and
we have all kinds of information brochures, that show you
how you can educate yourself. I mean, you're not going
to get educated there, but you're going to get to
read brochures and know how to sign up.
Speaker 2 (22:16):
To do that and help out the organization because even
though you were bringing up cancer a few minutes ago,
much like cancer, suicide touches more people than most people realize.
Speaker 4 (22:31):
Yes, yes, And the interesting thing is we weren't up
in the era there where cancer was don't talk about
type things. So as I was growing up, they did
talk about cancer. How long did it take for people
to open up and do all this with all their
fundraisers that helped them to know that they weren't alone
(22:52):
and that not to be afraid to talk about it.
Speaker 2 (22:54):
Yeah, it takes a while for that snowball to really
start to gain steam and help out. Well, it's certainly
the case here. So if people want to find out
a little bit more and we would gather now there
can be possibly they can do some fundraising right now.
But what can they do right now since we're still
by the time this interview airs, at least for the
(23:16):
first time, will be about a little lesson a month
away because the event is September twenty first, so what
could people do to maybe raise some money and awareness
on their end? What could they do right now?
Speaker 4 (23:28):
Well, if you go to AFSP dot org and look
for community walks, that's going to be the simplest way.
Speaker 2 (23:36):
Okay, so let me give that again. AFSP dot org
a correct f SP dot org.
Speaker 4 (23:44):
Got it, Yes, And then you would go to community
walks and then what it will do is walk you
through to find your local community walk and then you
just look for Illinois and then it will give you
the quad Cities Illinois out of Darkness Walk to go
ahead and sign up as a team or donate or
(24:05):
whatever you'd like.
Speaker 2 (24:07):
And that is again give that. So once they go
to AFSP dot org, go to community walks, and then
you want to go to Illinois because there probably are
some other chapters close by that you might get a
little confused. They all do great work, but we want
to make sure we get them to the right spot.
Speaker 4 (24:26):
Yeah, and our name is claud Cities Illinois out of
Darkness Walk.
Speaker 2 (24:31):
Okay, got it? And are there any other things that
people should know about other than probably even though there's
organization in all of this event, and we have certain
things that we're going to be doing certain times for
certain things. This is also an event where you don't
have to worry. There's not going to be a test here.
There's just going to be people coming together and just
(24:52):
showing solidarity and trying to help others correct.
Speaker 4 (24:57):
There will be no commitment. I mean, even if you
were to walk up to come in and sign up
the day of and donate the day of, that's acceptable.
You can walk in. We're not expecting everybody to have
to pay to come in, just to come and be
a community if that's what so be it you want
to do, so there's no pressure on having to donate,
(25:22):
but it would be helpful.
Speaker 2 (25:24):
Of course it would be. We're talking to Valerie Rumler
with the AFSP or the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
Their big day is September twenty first at Browning Field,
so there's a lot of other I mean, it's just
amazing exciting too to think of all the changes that
that part that not only the field, Wharton and even
(25:47):
Browning Park a little bit to the west of browning
Field has changed just in the last couple of months really,
so you could be a part of it as you
do a little gathering, even though you can kind of
drive by and see a lot of it happening right now.
But September twenty first stop by and the event starts
at one. But if they want to go to the
website to find out more right now, Valerie, why don't
(26:09):
you give them that website one more time as we're
heading out?
Speaker 4 (26:13):
Okay, if you go to AFSP dot org and look
for community walks. When you click on community walks, you'll
click on for Illinois, and when you get to Illinois
you'll find out the Illinois Walks and our name is
Quad City, Illinois. Out of Darkness Walk Boom.
Speaker 2 (26:33):
How much time did this take you to get going here?
How many? How many hours? And again I keep wanting
to go back to you doing all of it, but
oh goodness, volunteers involved? How many? How many people? Hours
are you dealing with there?
Speaker 4 (26:51):
We kind of kicked off a little early this year
because we're doing fundraisers, so we kind of kicked off
in April and tried to keep up on everybody with
un raising and stuff like that. I probably have a
good committity, a good committee of at least eight people
that helped me out, and on the day of I
(27:12):
have found more community people willing to come and help out,
which gives me bigger ideas on how to have the
committee help the people that are coming in. Like I
got Quad City or QC narratives. He's a young adult group.
(27:32):
They're going to donate their time to help my event
work as well. So I think community members.
Speaker 2 (27:41):
I think that's amazing. How many times people maybe don't
want to start initially, but you will see people near
the end, Okay, can I help you with this? Yeah?
Maybe more. I don't want to call them worker bees
because that seems dismissive, but so many other people that
want to Okay, you need that rock moved, I'm going
to move that rock and to help you out, and
then once the day is done, they'll help with cleanup
(28:03):
and then they're off to help out some other people.
So that's really the great thing about the Quad City area.
Speaker 4 (28:09):
Yep, for sure. And WQAD is donating a lot of
airtime for us.
Speaker 2 (28:16):
I've noticed that during the month of August they had
you kind of set up with their three degree guarantee
and that most times that means they're going to give
away a lot of money and every penny is going
to help big time. So if people want to kind
of take that page from what Channelate is doing, just
want to make a donation right there AFSP dot org
and look for the donate button.
Speaker 4 (28:38):
Yes, definitely look for the donate button.
Speaker 2 (28:41):
Why don't we give that website one more time?
Speaker 7 (28:43):
Okay, you go to AFSP dot org and when you
get there, you'll go to community walk and then when
you click on those you'll find you'll find the state
that you're in, So you type in Illinois and then
when you get there, our walk name is Quad City's
Illinois Out of Darkness Walk.
Speaker 2 (29:05):
And as we wrap up the Quad City Forum today,
a couple of events that are happening within the next week.
On Friday, the fourth annual Chip In for Seniors golf
outing at Glen's Creek all helps out KSI to find
out more KSEI Seniors dot org. That's Kseiseniors dot org.
And then this coming Saturday, the sixth, the tenth annual
(29:26):
Get Hooked Fishing derby helping out the Boys and Girls
Clubs of the Mississippi Valley find out more. BGCMV dot org.
That's BGCMV dot org.
Speaker 1 (29:36):
You've been listening to Quad City Forum a weekly community
service program produced by iHeartRadio. If you were your nonprofit
organization would like to be featured flease, visit the contact
page in our station website, or contact Quad City Forum
in carab iHeartMedia, Quad Cities three five three five East
Kimberly Road, Davinports, Iowa five two eight zero seven
Welcome to Quad City Forum, a weekly community service program
produced by iHeartMedia to look at the issues and opportunities
that exist in our community. Now here's your hosts for
Quad City Forum, Nott Luke and Denny Linnhowe.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
We have Lola Vandwali here today to talk about all
things Quad City Veteran Outreach Center centric here today and
right off the top, Lola, I think about the number
times of people don't want to see some of our buildings,
you know, be bulldozed down. I think using the old
Buchanan School, it was a match made in heaven for
(00:38):
what you get. And really you guys came to it
just because you had outgrown your other spot.
Speaker 3 (00:44):
That's correct. We are now, you know, jumping from thirty
five veterans in twenty sixteen to over forty seven hundred
veterans that use our services on a monthly basis. This
school is a perfect fit.
Speaker 2 (00:56):
It all started really out of just your inspiration for your.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
Dad, that's correct. I wanted to do something in his memory.
And he was in the Guam Islands at the age
of sixteen and a half for World War two, and
he talked about how the villagers would carry them food
and stuff on the mountaintop when their rations didn't come
in and I thought we can do something here. And
it's become so much more. It has become a place
(01:20):
for our veterans. They not only go there, but they
also give back cutting, hair services, volunteering. It is definitely their.
Speaker 2 (01:28):
When I see the food pantry, our veterans when they
come in there. In some cases, they don't have to
pay for some of this stuff.
Speaker 3 (01:35):
Oh, they don't pay for anything when they enter our center,
whether it's haircuts, whether it's library, DVD exchange for their
full groceries each month out of the grocery store, the
daily mart weekly, they pay for nothing.
Speaker 2 (01:46):
For people that want to play handicap accessible basketball, you've
got that set up too. Again. The perfect thing of
a school being repurposed has fit almost to the tea
for what you guys do there.
Speaker 3 (01:59):
That's exactly why we wanted the school was for our
adaptive sports program. We play wheelchair basketball, wheelchair lacrosse, and
wheelchair pickaball. We're very proud to say we have the
first competition lacrosse wheelchair team in the state of Iowa
and in the Quad City, headed by Bob Worrez was
a dwnpoor firefighter.
Speaker 2 (02:17):
Yeah, I'm sorry, but lacrosse can get fairly violent here.
So everybody still has a good time even though they're
keeping the competitive juices going.
Speaker 3 (02:29):
Right, that's for sure. I've played with them, you know.
Our community is welcome to come in and play with them.
They have extra chairs and I've played with them and
it's a lot harder than it was.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
That's the beauty of this. And for a lot of
people that maybe don't know where you're at, or if
they want to take a tour, why don't you give
them some ideas on what they could do for that.
Speaker 3 (02:49):
Oh, please come to forty five fifteen North Fairmont to
the Old Buchanan School. We'd love to give you a
VIP tour the facility. Let you shake hands with the
veteran and see what we do. As you know, our
facility is handled by one hundred percent volunteers. No one
in the facility is paid at all. Everything they do
is out of the goodness of their heart and volunteering,
(03:09):
and we'd like the whole community. I tell everybody stop
in and see what we do.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
Even if you're not a veteran, stop in because there
still are benefits absolutely for everybody on this There are
a lot of I guess you would say when you
see Quad City Veteran, there probably are a lot of
Maybe some people think this is part of the VA,
and even though there are connections, this is not connected
to the VA in any way, shape or form.
Speaker 3 (03:36):
It is not. This is a private outreach center and
it is not connected to federal or state or anything
like that. We serve everybody, and we invite all the community.
We invite the veterans, we invite their families, anybody that
wants to be there and participate, they can on some level.
Speaker 2 (03:50):
And I see also the job placement stuff too. There
are so many veterans that have maybe fallen in between
the cracks that they really don't know where to start
to get their momentum. Going the Quad City Veteran Outreach
Center is the perfect place to go. Whether you live
in Iowa and have been for a long time or
in Illinois, you guys are ready.
Speaker 3 (04:08):
We handle both sides of the river and we have
all kinds of resource programs. No matter what our veterans
are looking for, whether it's housing, a job, or whether
they're just coming in to have coffee. You know, I
hear that all the world's problems are solved in thirty
minutes at our coffee cards in the morning. And so yes,
whether you're just a coffee camaraderie, you want to donate
or you want to volunteer, that the center has a
(04:30):
place for you.
Speaker 2 (04:31):
I would say thirty minutes. Sometimes it's well before thirty
minutes is up, you've probably solved at least two maybe
you solve two problems there in that thirty minutes. Come
for the coffee, stay for the camaraderie at the Quad
City Veteran Outreach Center. Another neat thing this is in
fundraising obviously is happening all the time. But if people
want to join the honor wall that you guys have
(04:53):
set up, you could do that.
Speaker 3 (04:54):
That's correct, and you can honor someone in memory of
someone or honor of someone. And we're going to fill
all the halls with all the plaques of all our
veterans from all over. It looks wonderful. And we've had
a lot of companies come in for Veterans Day and
say we're going to buy a plaque for every veteran
that works for us. It's been quite an honor for
them and then their families come in and look at it.
(05:14):
It's a great.
Speaker 2 (05:15):
Place qcvetsoutreach dot com to find out more on that.
That's QC vets outreach dot com. One other thing that
it seems like another perfect match. Sometimes the harder you
work as the luckier you get. The Gary Mitvia connection
has really worked out. He's done some other work at
your website. But he's also isn't Gary a part of
(05:36):
the Forever Families film?
Speaker 4 (05:38):
He is?
Speaker 3 (05:39):
The Forever Family's idea came up with me right in
Italy a few years ago. I was driving through the
countryside and I saw an American flag and I said, man,
we need to stop and see what that's about. And
that grew into me bringing back the story and asking
Gary if you'd be a part of this with us.
There are tens of thousands of veterans buried in Europe
that you know, a lot of people don't realize that
(05:59):
I need to bring the story back to our veterans
and our people here that will never have the opportunity
there to go see it. And when you go to
places like Margarden, Netherlands, you know there's ten thousand veterans
names and graves there and the people of their country
adopt that grave, they take care of it, and they
pass it down from generation to generation. And there was
over a five year waiting list to get an American
(06:22):
grave and the government finally shut that down because it
is just a part of these families heritage. So not
only did Gary interview these families that adopt the graves,
but we also brought back two special stories from a
volunteer at our center that had been looking for a
family member for over fifty years, and also a pilot
from Louden that was a hero honored over there brought
(06:45):
these stories back to their family. And so the Forever
Family's documentary is just an amazing story for the Quad
Cities and veterans everywhere.
Speaker 2 (06:54):
Now, is there a way to see it over at
the Outreach Center or is that chill out in the
award circuit right now?
Speaker 3 (07:01):
We did just win Best Documentary in Cans, France for
the US France International Festival.
Speaker 5 (07:06):
Go.
Speaker 3 (07:07):
We'll be premiering it here in the Quad Cities in
October at the Picture House that we're dealing with them
right now to premiere it. But yes, we were very
honored that it wants the best documentary. Very honored. They
also honored all our veterans that were a part of it,
and we're very pleased to be able to bring this
story back.
Speaker 2 (07:26):
Pretty much seven days a week. Is it possible for
veterans and their families to stop on buy.
Speaker 3 (07:31):
Yes, we're open for tours Monday through Thursday from nine
to three, but we also have times weekends, nights when
we're there and on the weekends for our events, and
so whenever they want to get in, we'll make sure
somebody shows them.
Speaker 2 (07:43):
And again to find out more on the great work
that you do. And you're not the only one. I know.
There's a lot of people behind the scenes. But if
they want to find out more what do they do?
Speaker 3 (07:52):
They can call us at and just go to www
qcvtsoutreach dot com or call the center. It's five six three,
five nine four seven eight two. We have an amazing
group of volunteers. Without those volunteers and our veterans, the
center wouldn't be possible.
Speaker 6 (08:08):
If you or your organization would like to be featured
on Quad City Forum, please visit the contact page on
our station website.
Speaker 1 (08:16):
Now back to bat Luke and Denny linnowe.
Speaker 2 (08:20):
Very excited about this talking to Jennifer Blackirt about the
antique train ride we ride the Rails event supporting the
Mineral and Goal Fire Department. Now the event, by the
time this interview airs, it's a week away, and Jennifer,
when we first talked about this, we knew it was
a non traditional way of raising money. Now we just
want to know how's that going.
Speaker 5 (08:41):
It's going really good. We have two out of the
three already booked ten thirty and the noon is all
booked up, So we have the nine o'clock left and
we have about one hundred and fifty give or take
a few there on of how many people we need
to get booked.
Speaker 2 (08:57):
Jets, How did you guys come up with this?
Speaker 5 (09:00):
Well, one of our firemen basically is part of the
train that does the rails there, Okay daily he works
for the train right and on that like his boss,
I do believe, contacted us and said, hey, you know,
we're going to try to raise money for you guys.
Would you accept this? And it's like, oh, yes, why
(09:21):
wouldn't we? Why would we turn this down? So it
was a great opportunity for us for them to offer
it to us and this is how it got started.
Speaker 2 (09:31):
Well, if you wanted to get our attention, Pat loves
trains and I have a soft spot for fire people,
So I mean to that match made in Heaven for
people that want to be a part of this. No waiting,
no thinking that. September seventh, at eight thirty five, you're
going to walk in there and expect a ticket. These
things are going to sell out quick, so if people want,
(09:52):
if people want to find out more, I'll tell him
right now, fifteen dollars per ticket. But how can they
book the different options available?
Speaker 5 (10:02):
There is a website. If you go to Mineral Gold
Fire Department on the Facebook and you look on there
for the Ride the Rails, it's on there and you
can fill out a Google form, or you can call.
There's two different numbers you can call and they'll pick
up and then take your order. Once they have your
(10:22):
names and things, then you have a choice of paying
with cash, check, Venmo or PayPal. Some of the older
people don't know how to do Venmo or PayPal.
Speaker 2 (10:33):
Well wait a minute, I don't consider myself older, but
how do you do that? How do you do that?
Speaker 7 (10:39):
Again?
Speaker 2 (10:42):
Well, it's okay, So and this is nice too that checks,
and I believe this is a vanishing habit for people.
They can actually pay cash.
Speaker 5 (10:53):
Yes, wow, Yes there was a drop off place. So
if they call and say, hey, I don't have any
place you know, can I just off some money? And
it's like sure, we have them local drop offs part
that we can do and we just tell them where
it is and they go ahead and do that. And
that's an option for people that's really local.
Speaker 2 (11:12):
No, this is I think it's.
Speaker 5 (11:13):
A great thing. They can stick the money in the
mail for a check. They can do the Venmo of
the younger people kind of sort of or people that
or not to.
Speaker 2 (11:23):
Your profiling, Jennifer.
Speaker 4 (11:25):
But I am not.
Speaker 7 (11:26):
I am not.
Speaker 3 (11:27):
But if you do Venoir paid, I'll go ahead. And
if you don't, we have options for you too.
Speaker 2 (11:33):
Okay, and we'll give you the the two phone numbers.
We'll give us some give a little time on this,
so you're ready to write things down eight one five,
five four to two six two eight seven or.
Speaker 5 (11:47):
Three h nine nine four five three four six eight.
Speaker 2 (11:53):
And again to find out more in case you missed
any of that stuff. And we understand the mineral and
gold fire department facebook page. You can find out more.
But no waiting until September seventh, because.
Speaker 5 (12:05):
We're now, I suggested.
Speaker 2 (12:06):
No, we're less than a week away, so get after
this now. And if people, by chance they are going
to be out of town that weekend or for whatever
reason they can't make it out there, they could still
make a donation this way too, and just.
Speaker 5 (12:20):
And help out the fire department.
Speaker 2 (12:22):
Will there be other things going on while people are waiting.
Speaker 5 (12:25):
There is some other vendors that is going to be there,
So there is I do believe, sausage and biscuits. The
firefighters are getting I think about ninety five dozen donuts.
Speaker 2 (12:37):
Wait a minute, are you expecting police there too or what?
Speaker 5 (12:42):
So we're going to get donuts there, and that is
just going to be donation only. That's part is going
to be donation only. So if you want one donut,
you can donate a buck. If you want a donut,
you can donate five bucks. That doesn't matter. Yes, we're
not asking for a certain amount. We're just going to
say please give.
Speaker 2 (12:59):
And I love it too, like Danny had brought up too,
where this is great because everybody supports the firemen and
the fire women and especially when we start to talk
about volunteer fire departments. But then also the train lovers
not and the train fans for the big trains. I mean,
there are two different sections of people. Sometimes they're together,
(13:22):
but there are a bunch of people that want to
be a part of this in one way, shape or form.
Speaker 5 (13:27):
Exactly, and with their firefighters. A lot of those are
first responders also. So we had some older people saying,
I don't know if I can get up there, you know,
and stuff, and it's only a couple steps that's all
you'd have to do to get into the train. So
handicapped wise, we can't take a wheelchair, but we can
get the older people up in there if they needed.
(13:48):
We have assistance available. And then some other people had
asked if there was air conditioning, and they actually do
have air conditioning on this once the train is running.
Other than that, the air conditioning is just kind of
not going full speed kind to say, but once the
train gets going, there will be air conditioning. And there
(14:08):
is restrooms. That was a big major thing offso that
there is restrooms to use.
Speaker 2 (14:12):
Also September seventh, and now we only have room on
the nine o'clock ride from Mineral to Tiscoa and it's
an hour and a half round trip. And again to
find out more or they have you could do cash, check,
venmo or PayPal, whatever you're comfortable with. But ways for
people to find out right now or to book their
(14:35):
seat or just make a donation. Where can they go?
Speaker 5 (14:37):
Google min Are gold Fire Department facebook page and there
is a link there that they can go fill out
the form or they can call the two phone numbers.
Speaker 2 (14:46):
Since you did a great job on it, why don't
you give both those numbers now?
Speaker 5 (14:51):
Okay three oh nine nine four five three four six
eight or the other number is eight one five two
six to eight seven.
Speaker 2 (15:03):
You got to keep us posted on because there will
be people just taking that ride completely forgetting that they're
helping out the Mineral and gold Fire departments. They're just
enjoying the memories exactly.
Speaker 5 (15:13):
And people are like, I've wanted to go on a
train forever, and it's like, this is your opportunity. Get
in there, do it, book it and we can get
to on there at the nine o'clock. And that is
not just a new train, this is one of the
old trains.
Speaker 7 (15:25):
You know.
Speaker 5 (15:25):
I don't know the date on it. That was one
thing we didn't know, but I would say go for it. It's
a ride that I don't think you would ever, you know,
be disappointed with.
Speaker 2 (15:35):
September seventh, Mineral seven departs from Mineral and goes to
Tisco and then makes it on back. Jennifer, thank you
so much for letting us know about this.
Speaker 5 (15:46):
Thank you so much for you guys.
Speaker 6 (15:48):
If you or your organization would like to be featured
on Quad City Forum, please visit the contact page and
our station website.
Speaker 1 (15:55):
Now back to bat Luke and Danny Linnhowe.
Speaker 2 (16:01):
Getting a chance to talk to Valerie Rumler. Valerie who
has wears many hats. She's a jack of all trades.
Are you a master of none or just jack of
all trades?
Speaker 4 (16:11):
Valerie Cat I'll go with a jack of all trade.
Speaker 2 (16:13):
There we go. That's what we're gonna a Molin high
grad knows many things, has many positive things that she
brings to the table. Certainly in VAL's case, that's certainly
something that we can count on. But Valerie does, among
other things, a big part, maybe not the only person
doing this, because volunteers are such an important part of
(16:36):
any kind of an organization, but certainly with the American
Foundation for Suicide Prevention or AFSP, big event that's coming
up in September. Tell us about that, Well.
Speaker 4 (16:49):
We are still doing it again this year. Our venue
is going to be at Wharton field House in Moling,
and we're going to be probably one of the first
to be on new field right in track. Yeah, they're
just remodeling it and I'm being told everything should be
on schedule and I will be able to use their
(17:13):
venue for my event.
Speaker 2 (17:15):
Well, this is a fantastic because not only is Browning
Field getting work, then I believe they were also doing
something over at Orton field House. But it still is
a matter of you know, when you've been around like
the field has been and the fieldhouse has been occasionally,
it needs a little help, a little cosmetic help, and
(17:37):
maybe something a little bit deeper than that. But the
main thing is we're expecting all systems to go. Really
by that point, they're going to be playing football, so
we have to feel that they're done. But that's, you know,
beside the point. Really, this is about something that is
is a very it still is a chapter in a
(17:58):
lot of people's lives. Somebody has passed away and completed suicide.
They need support and they should not be looking at
this in any darker of a lens than they should.
And that's really what the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
(18:19):
does in a lot of ways, not only working as
a fundraiser, but just trying to help out these families.
Speaker 4 (18:27):
Yes, they're bringing awareness and they're also they do a
lot of education, so they advocate to educate the community
as well.
Speaker 3 (18:36):
Well.
Speaker 2 (18:36):
How many times have we seen in when something like
this happens to a family that they don't know where
to turn or they want to turn inward.
Speaker 4 (18:47):
Right, and definitely turning inward is a lot of what
they do because they feel ashamed or the stigma that's
out there in the community. But by educating the community
and letting them know that they're there are ways to
educate the community to prevent this from happening. It's not
going to happen overnight, just like research on cancer, it's
(19:09):
not happening overnight. So it's out there to educate and
bring awareness to the community. The walk is there to
let the community know and let them come forward and
know that nobody's alone in this race.
Speaker 2 (19:26):
Well, it also just lets them realize too not only
can they talk about it, but how many times is
the grieving process stunted because they feel they just don't
know where to turn. So as we look at this
this big event, it's September twenty first. Now they say
here Whartonfield House, but really it's Browning Field is where
(19:48):
you're going to see it. And is this a rain
or shine kind of event or is it will there be?
Could there be a rain date?
Speaker 4 (19:57):
No rain date. It is a rain or shine. We'll
have tents there and we'll have little pop up tents
around for people to stand under, maybe want to get
wet to walk around the new track. But yes, it'll
be rain or shine.
Speaker 2 (20:12):
Well that's the beauty of September weather. Once you get
into the really the latter half of September, the morning
could be terrible and the afternoon is fantastic, and then
there's snow by nightfall. So you really never know what's
going on. But some of the things that people maybe
if they've gone to some of the past AFSP events,
(20:33):
the Walk for Darkness, are there other things that are
added this year that people would want to check out.
Speaker 4 (20:45):
We are going to have a knock on wood, We're
going to have Sunny's Coffee Shops going to be have
a little pop up there. Okay, never really had any
food pop ups. We just have tables that are set
around for different organisations to advertise. But the Moulling Booster
Club has always been faithful and helpful handing out, giving
(21:09):
having food for the people there. So we had the
free water and that was really all we had. So
Sunny's is offered to come and do a pop up.
So it's Sunny's Coffeehouse that's out in Cole Valley on
the way to Cole Valley. I should say that's great.
Speaker 2 (21:26):
And even if there's somebody that hang on, say we
get hang on, yeah, go ahead, come on back. I
got a guy he's checking out things. Is everything? Okay, okay,
you got it? Sorry, thank you man. You know this
is even though this is browning Field and the Molling
Boosters are a part of it. I certainly don't want
(21:48):
anybody thinking as they're hearing this, going, well, this is
only for people that are part of Molling school system.
Speaker 4 (21:56):
No, no, this is available for the whole community. We
want to bring as much awareness to the community and
we have all kinds of information brochures, that show you
how you can educate yourself. I mean, you're not going
to get educated there, but you're going to get to
read brochures and know how to sign up.
Speaker 2 (22:16):
To do that and help out the organization because even
though you were bringing up cancer a few minutes ago,
much like cancer, suicide touches more people than most people realize.
Speaker 4 (22:31):
Yes, yes, And the interesting thing is we weren't up
in the era there where cancer was don't talk about
type things. So as I was growing up, they did
talk about cancer. How long did it take for people
to open up and do all this with all their
fundraisers that helped them to know that they weren't alone
(22:52):
and that not to be afraid to talk about it.
Speaker 2 (22:54):
Yeah, it takes a while for that snowball to really
start to gain steam and help out. Well, it's certainly
the case here. So if people want to find out
a little bit more and we would gather now there
can be possibly they can do some fundraising right now.
But what can they do right now since we're still
by the time this interview airs, at least for the
(23:16):
first time, will be about a little lesson a month
away because the event is September twenty first, so what
could people do to maybe raise some money and awareness
on their end? What could they do right now?
Speaker 4 (23:28):
Well, if you go to AFSP dot org and look
for community walks, that's going to be the simplest way.
Speaker 2 (23:36):
Okay, so let me give that again. AFSP dot org
a correct f SP dot org.
Speaker 4 (23:44):
Got it, Yes, And then you would go to community
walks and then what it will do is walk you
through to find your local community walk and then you
just look for Illinois and then it will give you
the quad Cities Illinois out of Darkness Walk to go
ahead and sign up as a team or donate or
(24:05):
whatever you'd like.
Speaker 2 (24:07):
And that is again give that. So once they go
to AFSP dot org, go to community walks, and then
you want to go to Illinois because there probably are
some other chapters close by that you might get a
little confused. They all do great work, but we want
to make sure we get them to the right spot.
Speaker 4 (24:26):
Yeah, and our name is claud Cities Illinois out of
Darkness Walk.
Speaker 2 (24:31):
Okay, got it? And are there any other things that
people should know about other than probably even though there's
organization in all of this event, and we have certain
things that we're going to be doing certain times for
certain things. This is also an event where you don't
have to worry. There's not going to be a test here.
There's just going to be people coming together and just
(24:52):
showing solidarity and trying to help others correct.
Speaker 4 (24:57):
There will be no commitment. I mean, even if you
were to walk up to come in and sign up
the day of and donate the day of, that's acceptable.
You can walk in. We're not expecting everybody to have
to pay to come in, just to come and be
a community if that's what so be it you want
to do, so there's no pressure on having to donate,
(25:22):
but it would be helpful.
Speaker 2 (25:24):
Of course it would be. We're talking to Valerie Rumler
with the AFSP or the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
Their big day is September twenty first at Browning Field,
so there's a lot of other I mean, it's just
amazing exciting too to think of all the changes that
that part that not only the field, Wharton and even
(25:47):
Browning Park a little bit to the west of browning
Field has changed just in the last couple of months really,
so you could be a part of it as you
do a little gathering, even though you can kind of
drive by and see a lot of it happening right now.
But September twenty first stop by and the event starts
at one. But if they want to go to the
website to find out more right now, Valerie, why don't
(26:09):
you give them that website one more time as we're
heading out?
Speaker 4 (26:13):
Okay, if you go to AFSP dot org and look
for community walks. When you click on community walks, you'll
click on for Illinois, and when you get to Illinois
you'll find out the Illinois Walks and our name is
Quad City, Illinois. Out of Darkness Walk Boom.
Speaker 2 (26:33):
How much time did this take you to get going here?
How many? How many hours? And again I keep wanting
to go back to you doing all of it, but
oh goodness, volunteers involved? How many? How many people? Hours
are you dealing with there?
Speaker 4 (26:51):
We kind of kicked off a little early this year
because we're doing fundraisers, so we kind of kicked off
in April and tried to keep up on everybody with
un raising and stuff like that. I probably have a
good committity, a good committee of at least eight people
that helped me out, and on the day of I
(27:12):
have found more community people willing to come and help out,
which gives me bigger ideas on how to have the
committee help the people that are coming in. Like I
got Quad City or QC narratives. He's a young adult group.
(27:32):
They're going to donate their time to help my event
work as well. So I think community members.
Speaker 2 (27:41):
I think that's amazing. How many times people maybe don't
want to start initially, but you will see people near
the end, Okay, can I help you with this? Yeah?
Maybe more. I don't want to call them worker bees
because that seems dismissive, but so many other people that
want to Okay, you need that rock moved, I'm going
to move that rock and to help you out, and
then once the day is done, they'll help with cleanup
(28:03):
and then they're off to help out some other people.
So that's really the great thing about the Quad City area.
Speaker 4 (28:09):
Yep, for sure. And WQAD is donating a lot of
airtime for us.
Speaker 2 (28:16):
I've noticed that during the month of August they had
you kind of set up with their three degree guarantee
and that most times that means they're going to give
away a lot of money and every penny is going
to help big time. So if people want to kind
of take that page from what Channelate is doing, just
want to make a donation right there AFSP dot org
and look for the donate button.
Speaker 4 (28:38):
Yes, definitely look for the donate button.
Speaker 2 (28:41):
Why don't we give that website one more time?
Speaker 7 (28:43):
Okay, you go to AFSP dot org and when you
get there, you'll go to community walk and then when
you click on those you'll find you'll find the state
that you're in, So you type in Illinois and then
when you get there, our walk name is Quad City's
Illinois Out of Darkness Walk.
Speaker 2 (29:05):
And as we wrap up the Quad City Forum today,
a couple of events that are happening within the next week.
On Friday, the fourth annual Chip In for Seniors golf
outing at Glen's Creek all helps out KSI to find
out more KSEI Seniors dot org. That's Kseiseniors dot org.
And then this coming Saturday, the sixth, the tenth annual
(29:26):
Get Hooked Fishing derby helping out the Boys and Girls
Clubs of the Mississippi Valley find out more. BGCMV dot org.
That's BGCMV dot org.
Speaker 1 (29:36):
You've been listening to Quad City Forum a weekly community
service program produced by iHeartRadio. If you were your nonprofit
organization would like to be featured flease, visit the contact
page in our station website, or contact Quad City Forum
in carab iHeartMedia, Quad Cities three five three five East
Kimberly Road, Davinports, Iowa five two eight zero seven
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