QC Forum - 9-28-25

Episode Transcript

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, Hot Luke and Denny Lynnhowe.

Speaker 2 (00:15):
We have Lori Lightpolled on the phone.

Speaker 3 (00:17):
Development Director NAMI Greater Mississippi Valley. First off, Lurid, thank
you for taking time to talk to us today.

Speaker 2 (00:24):
But I have to.

Speaker 3 (00:26):
Wonder do you have people get kind of thrown off
what NAMI is all about because when you first see it,
I think it could be something with a real estate
place or it could be with Nabi Zoo. And I'm
just wondering what NAMI means. What it must be an
acronym it certainly is.

Speaker 4 (00:46):
Sonami Greater Mississippi Valley is a forty six year affiliate
of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, which is our
country's largest grassroots mental health organization that's static to building
better lives for the millions of Americans that are affected
by mental illness. You know, Statistically speaking, one in five

(01:08):
US adults experience mental illness every year, and one in
six youth ages six to seventeen years old experience a
mental health disorder annually. But it's important to note that
less than half of them receive treatment. So they are
living with mental health conditions without support, without treatment, and

(01:29):
not on a road to recovery well.

Speaker 3 (01:31):
In other words, they've fallen between the cracks absolutely, and
so we have to The organization is trying to go
out there. How how do you find some of these
people or how do you help Don't want to make
it sound so flippant. How can you help those people

(01:52):
when they are kind of falling between the cracks?

Speaker 4 (01:55):
Yes, and what NAMMY does is provide free, nationally developed
nami's national headquarters are in Arlington, Virginia. There are about
six hundred or so affiliates across the country. But we
provide that nationally developed, no cost education and support group

(02:16):
programs for people in our region who live with mental
health conditions. And just as importantly, they're families and friends
their entire support circle.

Speaker 3 (02:25):
There is an isolation with some of this too, where
in the family, like some other mental just mental illness
in general, where families and the people retreat, they.

Speaker 4 (02:40):
Tend to kind of circle the wagons. And I think, well,
I know, we know that there is even though many
people are more comfortable talking about mental health these days,
ever since the pandemic, and especially our young people, they're
very aware of their mental health, but there's still digma
attached to a mental health condition and mental illness. In fact,

(03:05):
if many of our families advocate for referring to mental
illness as a brain disease, you know, when you think
of it that way, you know, it makes it a
little bit easier to have those conversations about a person's
mental health and you know what they're doing to treat

(03:25):
it so and how we can support people who are
living with mental health conditions well.

Speaker 3 (03:32):
And there again, the people that are right there are
sometimes they just don't know where to turn. I mean,
they can be family and friends, but even the person
that person does it first off dealing with the the
would the term be self loathing that would be happening,
or just thinking I'm in this I'm in this room

(03:56):
all by myself.

Speaker 2 (03:56):
What have we got to do? What can I do?

Speaker 4 (03:59):
Yes? And that's where Nami comes in. We work alongside
mental healthcare providers. We have a really strong mental health
care provider system in the Quad Cities. Lots of people
who are you know, in organizations who are ready and
willing every day to help people deal with mental health conditions.

(04:21):
But what families and people who are living with a
condition find at NAMI is just as soon as they
walk in the door to one of our programs, whether
it's our hour and a half Family and Friends seminar
or our eight week family to Family education program, as
soon as they walk in the door, they find a

(04:41):
ready made support group. And that's the education programs. We
also have support groups who meet regularly, so they find
people who are in similar situations, whether they're living with
the condition or their family member or loved one, friend,
coworker is. You know, they find people who can so
support them, who've been in some similar situations and know

(05:04):
that they're not alone.

Speaker 3 (05:06):
Yeah, able to right away a support group that probably
doesn't feel like a support group, it's just okay again,
almost probably feel like their attitude is improving as soon
as they can get in touch.

Speaker 5 (05:22):
Absolutely.

Speaker 4 (05:24):
You know, people come families come to our programs feeling lost, broken, alone, frustrated.
You know, they often just don't know where to turn.
And so even once they get into treatment or their
loved one gets into treatment, you know, that's one step
in the process. The other step is to be to

(05:46):
become educated about how to support their loved one or
you know, how to live with your mental health condition.

Speaker 3 (05:53):
And that's what NAMI can do exactly now website, I
mean I can, I would gather starts it off. But
is there a website If people need to find out
a little bit more right now, Yes.

Speaker 4 (06:05):
Yes, absolutely, they can go to NAMI GMV for Greater
Mississippi Valley dot org. And if they want to check
out our program events calendar, they can just go directly
to that at NAMIGMV dot org slash events.

Speaker 3 (06:23):
As with all the great work you do, this costs
money and so fundraising is paramount in all of this along.
You know, talk about fighting things on three or four
or maybe twenty different fronts. Money always needed and sometimes
with some of the funding that could be disappearing, sometimes.

Speaker 2 (06:46):
You probably at no me.

Speaker 3 (06:47):
It's it probably ends up being NonStop fundraising too. And
you've got a big event that's coming up. Talk about
a fundraiser here in just a few days, by next weekend.

Speaker 4 (06:58):
Yes, our WI event is Saturday, October fourth. Pre walk
events start at eight am and the walk is at
nine point thirty. It's out at the Bend Expo Amphitheater
and Park, and this is our third year in a
row there. It's just a great location for a walk.
It's a flat course.

Speaker 3 (07:18):
But were you're saying it just for just for people
like me, They're like, okay, now there's no hills. There's
hills over inishmo Leen there. I should I can see
them over by the Bend, but we're just staying in
the flat course. You bet.

Speaker 4 (07:32):
And it's a one mile lap, so people can take
one lap or two laps, or if they want to
do a whole five k, they can do three laps.
We give them a strand of beads like Marty garb beads.
As they finish each lap. There's United Township High School
cheerleaders at the finish line to welcome them back. And
it's just it's a really fun event to step up

(07:56):
and advocate for mental health in our community. And yes,
fundraise is important. That's my full time job here with
NAMI Greater Mississippi Valley, so we look to Namiwalks for
NAMMI Walks is our biggest source of unrestricted funding for
our programs. So the more money we raise at NAMI

(08:17):
Walks every year, the more programs we can deliver in
our region. And that's eight counties surrounding the quad Cities.
So five counties in eastern Iowa Scott of course, Clinton, Jackson, Muscatine,
and Cedar, and then three counties in western Illinois too,
Rock Island, Henry and Mercer. So we cover a pretty

(08:37):
big area. And you know, our programs are where people
live so that they can be more easily accessible.

Speaker 3 (08:45):
It seems like the band Expo has been a godsend
because and we have a lot of great facilities, but
that area is just almost it's almost like they built
that part for Nami and the Namie walks.

Speaker 4 (09:00):
You know, it's funny you should say that because I
truly believe that now because thanks to the City of Asmolin,
there are now sidewalks for most of our route. There's
just one short stretch where we have to barricade the
streets and walk in one lane of a street. Otherwise
we're on these nice new sidewalks for the entire route right.

Speaker 3 (09:20):
Well again, so if people want to be a part
of it, what do they have to do or is
it just and I would gather walking up is okay too.

Speaker 4 (09:30):
On Saturday it is okay too, but we would love
to have people. It takes about five minutes to register online.
We'd love to have people. Go to our walk website.
It's Namiwalks dot org slash Greater Mississippi Valley. It takes
about five minutes. Like I said, sign up. There's only

(09:52):
six days to go till Saturday the fourth.

Speaker 3 (09:54):
So and by the time, and not to scare you
at all, we're talking to Laura I pulled from the
NAMI Walks development director there.

Speaker 2 (10:05):
But by the time this interview airs, Laurie, it will
be less than that. It'll be on Sunday. So we're
gonna that now.

Speaker 3 (10:10):
We're that number is getting big, that date is getting
big in the window.

Speaker 4 (10:15):
It certainly is. So the countdown has started. So take
five minutes and sign ups on our walk website. It's
very intuitive, easy to do. People who raise, and it's
amazingly easy to raise money. Everyone can get behind the
mission of mental health enhancement in our community. So if

(10:37):
you raise or donate one hundred dollars, you get an
event T shirt and you know we would whether you
can be at the walk or can't be there on
Saturday because you have other commitments. We'd love to have
you donate to the mission and be there in spirit with.

Speaker 3 (10:53):
Us website one more time as we usher you out
the door here, Laurie.

Speaker 4 (10:58):
All right, just go to NAMMI walks with an f
dot org slash Greater Mississippi Valley.

Speaker 1 (11:06):
If you or your organization would like to be featured
on Quad City Forum, please visit the contact page and
our station website. Now back to Pat Luke and Danny Linnhowe.

Speaker 3 (11:18):
Patty McCrae, executive director at Quad City Animal Welfare Center,
on the line today and Patty, busy stuff as always
going on with the Quad.

Speaker 2 (11:27):
City Animal Welfare Center.

Speaker 3 (11:29):
Your place seems to be so creative. I don't know
if it's you that comes up with the ideas. I
love five dollars Friday.

Speaker 6 (11:36):
Oh sure, yeah, well that was me.

Speaker 5 (11:38):
So yeah, well there you go.

Speaker 3 (11:40):
All right, I'm glad you're taking I'm glad you're taking
a bow for that way to go.

Speaker 6 (11:44):
I am going to take a bow for that. That
was me. But I have a wonderful staff and very
creative staff. So five dollar Friday is on Facebook, and
you know it's so easy. All you have to do
is just donate five dollars. Every little bit helps absolutely,
and hopefully that's affordable and easy for people. You just
have to go online and do it. It's really beneficial

(12:06):
to us and help so much.

Speaker 2 (12:08):
Another neat idea.

Speaker 3 (12:09):
And again you don't have to keep saying it's your
idea or somebody else's. But I love this just to
play on words with when I think of dogs or
just in general pets.

Speaker 2 (12:19):
You have a Yappy Hour.

Speaker 6 (12:20):
Oh that's a fun event too. So that's going to
be Friday, October tenth, and it is from five to eight.
It's actually at icons Martini Bar and that's in downtown
Rock Island. It's super fun. We're going to have raffles,
silent auction. You can come have some cocktails. There's also
going to be a food truck there called Doggy Fresh

(12:43):
and it's hot dogs and all kinds of really comfort
type food. And so that's it's going to be just
a fun evening. Lots of animal people there. You can
come and just have you know, some drinks, have some
food and bit on some of the silent auction and
get some raffle tickets.

Speaker 3 (12:59):
So events, what about this movers for much.

Speaker 6 (13:02):
Yeah, that's a really great event too. So that's I
think this is probably our second or third year partnering
with them, I can't remember exactly, but yeah, they're a
great group and they they take up a great collection
for us. You know, we always need supplies. The dogs
and cats got to eat. We always have to have

(13:23):
litter and cleaning supplies. So when we partner with businesses
like that and they take up collections, it is just
it's phenomenal. It is so helpful and we appreciate them
so much.

Speaker 3 (13:35):
And there certainly are other ways for people that are
listening this morning. If they want to make a donation,
easy way, they could do it right now as they're
listening to you, Patty, right.

Speaker 6 (13:46):
Right, they could definitely go do that five dollars Friday.
If you're not able to donate, If you are able
to volunteer, we have a volunteer orientation the first Wednesday
of each month at five point thirty. If you're able
to foster, we're always looking for foster homes, you know, kittens, puppies.

(14:07):
Sometimes we just need to get maybe an adult dog
out of the shelter for a week or two. They're
not doing well, maybe they're not eating they're not adjusting.
Getting them into a foster home really does help them acclimate,
just even you know, spending some time here at the
shelter with the animals. And if you're not able to

(14:28):
do that, maybe you could just share our posts on
Facebook with your friends and family.

Speaker 7 (14:34):
You know, it's a great way to keep involved with
a great community. And that is I see your guys'
posts all the time, and I want to if it
were my job, I would be like adopting them all,
try to take them all home.

Speaker 6 (14:49):
Yeah, well, well I have a house full of of
I'm just gonna say that.

Speaker 7 (14:53):
So, yes, and we always do, of course, Patty want
to keep our animals healthy and up to date on
all of their vaccinations, and so that's why I believe
you've partnered with the Humane Society of Scott County for
that vaccine clinic that's coming up.

Speaker 5 (15:11):
Yeah.

Speaker 6 (15:12):
Yeah, So this actually came about because we were seeing
so much parvo a few years ago in our area
and I mean it was it was actually, I mean,
this is detrimental. This was actually killing dogs in our area.
So it is so important that you vaccinate your dog
yearly with the distemper shot and then also we wanted

(15:34):
to give the rabies vaccines as well. So Scott County
and I met, we decided we wanted to do this
free event. Saint Anthony's Catholic Church in Davenport agreed to
let us hold the event there. They're lovely people, they're
wonderful and it's going to be a free event for dogs.

(15:55):
So it'll be free distemper and rabies and we're going
to have we'll have two hundred and fifty of each.
So it's last year. I think we did about two hundred,
and we were busy. It was It was wonderful and.

Speaker 3 (16:11):
It could end up being kind of instead of standing
them only, it could be standing pet only. Because we
talked about two fifty, I mean that that'll fill up
that you'll go through that stuff fairly quick and in
some cases too.

Speaker 2 (16:24):
That was something else that we saw. You did the
mobile clinic.

Speaker 3 (16:28):
It seemed like you maybe had that before. But this
is another way to take care of people. The reduced
rates that so many people want to take care of
their pets, but times get tight and they sometimes start
sacrificing or cutting corners and our little furry friends always
well not always, but we'll be affected by that.

Speaker 5 (16:48):
Yeah.

Speaker 6 (16:49):
Yeah. The goal is to make affordable healthcare for pets
so that you can have that healthy pet. Their pet
will live away long, happy life with you, and that's
really what we want. So we are really excited. That
event is called Vas and Wags and it's a free

(17:10):
vaccine clinic and it's actually going to be Saturday, October fourth,
and it's going to be from ten am to noon.
We're going to have wonderful volunteers there, you know, helping people.
If you need that. We do ask that you have
your dog on a leash. That would be really important.

(17:31):
We don't want any free roaming dogs. Please keep the
dog on a leash. But we want to encourage everyone
to come. There will be a line. I will guarantee
you that. But again, we'll have two hundred fifty vaccines
and we want to help as many people as we can.

Speaker 2 (17:47):
It's exciting.

Speaker 3 (17:48):
So by the time this interview airs, we're talking about
next weekend that you want to be a part of it.
You also have a little bit farther down the road.
Everybody loves that. The Quad City Storm are about ready
to start.

Speaker 2 (18:00):
You have a storm night.

Speaker 3 (18:01):
That'll be involving it'll be kind of a fundraiser and
just a good family night.

Speaker 5 (18:07):
Yeah.

Speaker 6 (18:08):
Yeah, that's a really fun event. That's going to be
the first time that we've actually partnered with the Storm,
so we're really looking forward to that. That's actually going
to be Sunday, November two. So you can go on
our Facebook page and there is a link that you
can use to purchase the tickets and actually you can

(18:29):
take your dog to this event, so that might be
a fun way to spend time with your dog and
know that a portion of the ticket sales will come
back to our shelter.

Speaker 3 (18:38):
So instead of bark at the park, which they'll do
with the River bandit's in a lot of baseball park,
it's bark at the rink. Maybe that's got to we've
got to work on that kind of stuff. But the
main thing is what's coming up with the Vacs and wags.
It's next week and again people could find out more
at the website too, right.

Speaker 6 (18:57):
Yes, yes, our website is is www dot QCA WC
dot org. So that's just our initials Quad City Animal
Welfare Center.

Speaker 1 (19:11):
If you or your organization would like to be featured
on Quad City Forum, please visit the contact page on
our station website. Now back to bat Luke and Danny Linnhowe.

Speaker 3 (19:22):
Valerie Rumler, who is like involved in everything, it seems like.

Speaker 2 (19:28):
But two big things that we always seem to talk
to her about.

Speaker 3 (19:31):
The big Suicide Awareness Walk, the event that happens over
at least the last couple of years that I've known about.
It happens over at Browningfield. And then also the drug
take back Day and that'll happen a couple of times
during the year. We've got a big one coming up
here in a little bit. But since I brought up
the walk, how did it go? Weather cooperated?

Speaker 5 (19:54):
The yepp, the weather cooperated? The walk was fabulous. There
was a lot of part participants, very hectic that day,
but it was a good one.

Speaker 3 (20:04):
It's a good kind of hectic. Yeah, that's nice. I
guess it would be. It would be more difficult if
you were just standing there and nobody was there and
then you were just trying to figure out, you know,
how to get all the stuff back in the car.
So that's great, And just even though that is kind
of in the rear view, if people still need to
find out how they want to help out your organization.

Speaker 2 (20:27):
Do you want to give that website?

Speaker 3 (20:29):
And I kind of popping that on you, but do
you want to maybe just bring up that website again
just in case people want to help for next year
or just help in some way shape or form these
next couple of months.

Speaker 2 (20:42):
Yeah.

Speaker 5 (20:42):
Yeah. We we have a Facebook following page which has
our email on it, but we are promoting to get
more committee members and volunteers on The email is the
Quad Cities IL Walk at gmail dot com if anybody's
in interested in volunteering. Most of the people are following

(21:02):
our page on the Quad City Illinois Suicide Prevention Out
of the Darkness. I can't even tell you what order
those words are in, but you'll be able to find it.

Speaker 3 (21:12):
Yeah, you go start this search and it'll it'll pop
up eventually.

Speaker 2 (21:17):
So okay, great, Now that we want to.

Speaker 3 (21:20):
Make sure that we at least make people aware that
that website is out there and there is a place
to support and there's a great spot to go to.
But now we talk about we shift gears in a
completely different way. On the drug take Back Day that's.

Speaker 2 (21:37):
Coming up in the latter part of October.

Speaker 5 (21:41):
Yes, we have it's a national as well, so our
drug take back day here in the Cloud Cities is
going to be October twenty fifth, from ten to two
at I would almost want to say one hundred percent
of the police station's offered here, but we kind of
just wait for them to initially find somebody that sits
with us, so we don't get notification till closer to

(22:04):
the walk to the time. But if you went to
the DEA dot gov and ask for your zip code,
you would be able to find all the different police
departments that are.

Speaker 3 (22:19):
Offering and while you're waiting, because again you can go
to what's that website again.

Speaker 5 (22:26):
D EA dot gov. Since it's a national it'll list
anyone in the United States by zip code to tell
you where they're going to be at the police station's And.

Speaker 3 (22:39):
I like that because as user friendly, put in your
zip code and then it'll it'll pop up whichever one
is closest geographically. Great idea, so that that'll be the day,
even though it's national, the day will be it's a Saturday,
but what.

Speaker 5 (22:53):
Day, October twenty fifth, and it will be from ten
to two at any police station that you will see
listed on the DEA.

Speaker 3 (23:02):
Okay, and that's great to know that date. But now's
the time for a lot of people to start going
throughout their house and finding that medication that probably that bottle.
Even though you're supposed to go through them all, sometimes
you don't and that bottle just ends up in a drawer,
It ends up over here, and you forget about it,

(23:24):
and you don't want to do a sweep now and
get ready for October twenty eighth.

Speaker 5 (23:30):
Correct, we want everybody to look through. We don't collect
liquids or needles, but collecting anything else bottle in awe,
there is no the anonymity there is if the name's
on the bottle, nobody looks through it checks it out
because it gets sent somewhere else to be burned and

(23:52):
nobody looks.

Speaker 3 (23:53):
And that's a good point that you're bringing up there,
because sometimes people will I've done this before and probably
overdoing it, but I'll scratch off the label because I
just don't want anybody else to see it.

Speaker 2 (24:05):
But is that proper to lead the label so.

Speaker 3 (24:08):
They at least know what kind of pills they are
or do they know they just get dumped.

Speaker 5 (24:13):
Yeah, it just gets dumped. Nobody looks at the bottles.
A lot of people do dump their bottles into a
plastic bag, which is fine as well saves a little
bit more room when they're dumping them into get burned.
But the bottles and all are no problem. Just throw
it in there nobody. We don't inspect them, we don't
look at them. We just make sure there's no liquid

(24:34):
and needles. And then it gets dumped and sealed by
the police department because they're the ones that transport it,
so we don't inspect anything. The police don't inspect anything.
It goes to a burn unit and there it is
disposed of.

Speaker 3 (24:51):
DA take back days October twenty eighth, and again that's
important twenty fifth. Like I said, like I said, I
think I said to twenty eight twice.

Speaker 2 (25:00):
So now I'm glad. I'm glad we're back on that.
Don't worry, we'll let it this out there, Bellerie.

Speaker 3 (25:06):
But on the twenty fifth, it's a great idea for
people to much like the commercial, on one of the
exercise places where it's a judgment free zone. Some people
will see some of the drugs they have and think, oh,
I don't want anybody, especially at a police station. I
don't want them thinking, hey, wait, this is my stuff. Yeah,

(25:29):
you're not gonna have to worry about that. But it
also is making your house or your apartment or condos safer.

Speaker 2 (25:34):
Two.

Speaker 3 (25:35):
So the little ones or even people that are aware
what that drug does, don't get it into their system
when it's not for their system.

Speaker 5 (25:46):
Correct, yep. And it says a lot of people that
might I can't even think of the word. I had
it on the top of my head. Where you're leaving
yourself open to thievery and people trying to drug, drug taking,
drug seeking type thing exactly.

Speaker 3 (26:07):
And I have to apologize once I screwed up the
data initially, then that threw you off. You have to
come back and get me and try to save me.
And you were off your train, your train of thought.
That's what we're going to We're going to rationalize that
out there. But again, just to make sure I have
learned the date, it's October twenty fifth, that you want
to be a part of the drug take Back Day

(26:29):
here in the Quad City area. But again for people
that are just tuning in, now's the time, right Valerie,
to start finding those pills, getting them ready for the
big day. Because you will see certain stores, certain places
will have where you can dump the drugs, you can
you know, put them in.

Speaker 2 (26:50):
But the problem that I've.

Speaker 3 (26:51):
Seen and i'm I'm, I'm what do I want to
call it? I'm kind of generalizing here, but a lot
of times those little receptacles are jammed.

Speaker 2 (27:04):
They're jammed or full or broken or yeah right.

Speaker 3 (27:07):
And you can't and they're really not properly emptied during
the time. So it's a great feature that nobody can
ever use. So this is the time to get after
it and get ready to go on October twenty fifth,
And it is amazing where if you open up certain things,
now's the time to do the sweep, just to make
sure you're ready.

Speaker 5 (27:27):
Yep, yep, for sure. And it's rain or shine, got it.

Speaker 3 (27:31):
So if they need to find out more, first off,
they're cleaning right now as they're talking, they're listening to you.
They're cleaning things out or going through and making sure
that they get some of those pills and go, oh,
I forgot I had that. But where can they go
on the twenty fifth? What's the website leading up to
that to find out where they're And probably they could

(27:52):
check something this weekend and then by the time the
big day comes around. There could be some other locations.

Speaker 2 (27:59):
Pop up up.

Speaker 3 (28:00):
So what is the name of the website so people
are ready to go.

Speaker 5 (28:05):
So it's on the DA dot gov website by zip code.
I know the rock On County. Oh goodness, I could
be wrong, but rock onand County Courthouse is where the
drug take back is happening there. They don't have it
at the Rock Island Police station. And then they have

(28:26):
the Molling one for sure in the East Mulling one
for sure I know now. But if you go in
buy zip code UNDERDA dot gov you will find a
local police department that is sponsoring that.

Speaker 2 (28:39):
And again the date is.

Speaker 5 (28:43):
October twenty fifth on a Saturday, from ten to two.

Speaker 3 (28:51):
Valerie Roumler, I can't wait for the next time you're
helping out another great cause. It always gives us a
chance to talk. Keep up the great work that you're doing,
young Legs and for everybody else listening, Drug take Back
Day October twenty fifth. Website again is to find out
where you go.

Speaker 5 (29:11):
DA dot gov.

Speaker 7 (29:14):
And wrapping up the forum today, not everybody's going to
be out running the marathon, so and even when you
get done with the marathon, you might be able to
include this in your day fall flea market. It all
helps out the Kiwanis Club of esmo Lean and Silvis.
It's over at the Rock Island County Fairgrounds today from
eight until three. Three dollars donation at the gate helps
all their great programs, so check it out if you can.

Speaker 1 (29:36):
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