Twelve groups in the Diocese of Davenport are receiving grants from the local share of the Catholic Campaign for Human Development and Operation Rice Bowl collections of 2009-10. The announcement comes after the CCHD/CRS Board reviewed grant requests June 24 at St. James Catholic Church in Washington.
Catholic Campaign for Human Development grants are awarded to groups within the diocese that work to effect long-term change for a more just society. Organizations receiving grants from the CCHD collection:
• Quad City Interfaith, Davenport, $5000 for support of leadership training for clergy, lay adults and youth in order to build local leadership, and to empower low-income people and effect systemic change
• Extend the Dream Foundation, Iowa City, $2,500, for matching funds to establish a revolving micro-lending fund to help low-income and disabled adults start up their own self-employment projects
Operation Rice Bowl grants are awarded to organizations that provide direct service to alleviate hunger and poverty within the diocese. This year, $10,300 was available from the 25 percent local share of rice bowl collections. The total collected in the diocese was $41,200. Organizations receiving grants:
• Café on Vine, Davenport, $1,000 for operating expenses
• Bag of Blessings, Muscatine, $400 to purchase food to fill backpacks of students in need over weekends during the school year
• Friendly House, Davenport, $1,000 to purchase food for the Holiday Basket Program
• Project Renewal, Davenport, $1,500 to purchase food for the summer youth program and healthy snacks for the after-school program
• Sacred Heart Clothing Center, Davenport, $1000 to help with relocation expenses of the free-clothing center run by the parish
• Loaves and Fishes, Muscatine, $500 to help purchase food and supplies for free meal site
• St. Mary parishes, Lone Tree and Nichols, $700 to help fund hot meal delivery for elderly parishioners and other emergency food needs
• Diversity Center of Iowa, Muscatine, $1,000 to fund a monthly meal for Hispanic senior citizens
• St. Mary’s Parish, Centerville, $800 to help fund a free lunch site for adults who attend with their children during the summer
• Helping Hands Food Pantry, Knoxville, $2,400 to help with food and renovation costs of food pantry and homeless shelter
