The Quad Cities Community Foundation and nine other area families and organizations are joining forces to launch a new matching gift campaign to benefit community members seeking food assistance through River Bend Food Bank.

The River Bend Food Bank Hunger Relief Fund at the Quad Cities Community Foundation will collect community donations to help meet the growing demand for emergency food assistance across the region, the foundation announced recently.

“Even before recent disruptions in federal programs, food insecurity in the Quad Cities region had reached a four-year high—impacting more than 137,000 people in the area,” according to a foundation release. “Now, with uncertainty surrounding future federal support and additional benefit cuts on the horizon, families across the Quad Cities community are facing greater challenges in putting food on the table.”

Every dollar donated right now to the new fund will be matched 1:1, up to $250,000—providing 2.5 million meals for people experiencing hunger in their 23-county service area throughout eastern Iowa and western Illinois. One hundred percent of donations will be delivered to River Bend Food Bank.

The Community Foundation, the region’s leading philanthropic partner, connects people who care deeply about the QC with causes that matter, working to strengthen communities through grants, leadership, and collaboration, the nonprofit said.

The $250,000 match is made possible thanks to donations from Marie H. Bechtel Charitable Trust, Doris and Victor Day Foundation, Reggie and Jeff Goldstein, Hubbell-Waterman Foundation, Jewish Federation of the Quad Cities, Modern Woodmen of America, Kent and Judi Pilcher, Quad Cities Community Foundation, Regional Development Authority, and Russell Group Inc.

“This is a moment for the Quad Cities to show what community looks like,” said Sue Hafkemeyer, president and CEO of the Community Foundation. “In the Quad Cities, we know our neighbors and partners step up when our community needs it—and we need it right now. Thanks to the generosity of local funders, every donation from our community will go twice as far to help families facing hunger right now.”

Chris Ford, president and CEO of River Bend Food Bank, said the effort comes at a critical time.

“Food insecurity impacts 13.2% of our population. We’re deeply grateful to the Community Foundation, every funder, and every donor who is stepping forward to make sure no one in our region has to go without a meal,” Ford said. “This effort will help meet today’s needs and prepare us for the challenges we know are coming.”

The community can donate to the matching gift opportunity on the Community Foundation’s website at www.QCCommunityFoundation.org.

Donations can be made by check, credit card, stock, or cryptocurrency. Checks should be made payable to “Quad Cities Community Foundation” with “Hunger Relief Match Fund” in the memo line.

Donors who hold donor advised funds at the Community Foundation can contact Anne Calder, vice president of development at the Community Foundation, to notify her of their gift or pledge. Calder can be reached at annecalder@qccommunityfoundation.org or 563-326-2840.

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Jonathan Turner

Jonathan Turner -- who has called the Quad Cities home since 1995 -- has decades of experience as a professional journalist and pianist. His experience writing for daily newspapers, public radio and local TV encompasses a wide range of subjects, including the arts, politics, education, economic development, historic preservation, business, and tourism.

Jonathan most loves writing about music and the arts (which he now does as a freelancer for the River Cities Reader and Visit Quad Cities). He has a passion for accompanying musicals, singers, choirs and instrumentalists, including playing for QC Music Guild's 2023 productions of RENT and SWEENEY TODD. He is assistant music director and accompanist for the spring 2025 Music Guild show, ESCAPE TO MARGARITAVILLE. He wrote an original musical based on The Book of Job, which premiered at Playcrafters in 2010. Jonathan penned a 175-page history book about downtown Davenport, that was published by The History Press in 2016, and a travel guide about the QC published by Reedy Press in 2022.

The Quad Cities Community Foundation and nine other area families and organizations are joining forces to launch a new matching gift campaign to benefit community members seeking food assistance through River Bend Food Bank.

The River Bend Food Bank Hunger Relief Fund at the Quad Cities Community Foundation will collect community donations to help meet the growing demand for emergency food assistance across the region, the foundation announced Wednesday.

“Even before recent disruptions in federal programs, food insecurity in the Quad Cities region had reached a four-year high—impacting more than 137,000 people in the area,” according to a foundation release. “Now, with uncertainty surrounding future federal support and additional benefit cuts on the horizon, families across the Quad Cities community are facing greater challenges in putting food on the table.”

Every dollar donated right now to the new fund will be matched 1:1, up to $250,000—providing 2.5 million meals for people experiencing hunger in their 23-county service area throughout eastern Iowa and western Illinois. One hundred percent of donations will be delivered to River Bend Food Bank.

The Community Foundation, the region’s leading philanthropic partner, connects people who care deeply about the QC with causes that matter, working to strengthen communities through grants, leadership, and collaboration, the nonprofit said.

The $250,000 match is made possible thanks to donations from Marie H. Bechtel Charitable Trust, Doris and Victor Day Foundation, Reggie and Jeff Goldstein, Hubbell-Waterman Foundation, Jewish Federation of the Quad Cities, Modern Woodmen of America, Kent and Judi Pilcher, Quad Cities Community Foundation, Regional Development Authority, and Russell Group Inc.

“This is a moment for the Quad Cities to show what community looks like,” said Sue Hafkemeyer, president and CEO of the Community Foundation. “In the Quad Cities, we know our neighbors and partners step up when our community needs it—and we need it right now. Thanks to the generosity of local funders, every donation from our community will go twice as far to help families facing hunger right now.”

Chris Ford, president and CEO of River Bend Food Bank, said the effort comes at a critical time.

“Food insecurity impacts 13.2% of our population. We’re deeply grateful to the Community Foundation, every funder, and every donor who is stepping forward to make sure no one in our region has to go without a meal,” Ford said. “This effort will help meet today’s needs and prepare us for the challenges we know are coming.”

The community can donate to the matching gift opportunity on the Community Foundation’s website at www.QCCommunityFoundation.org.

Donations can be made by check, credit card, stock, or cryptocurrency. Checks should be made payable to “Quad Cities Community Foundation” with “Hunger Relief Match Fund” in the memo line.

Donors who hold donor advised funds at the Community Foundation can contact Anne Calder, vice president of development at the Community Foundation, to notify her of their gift or pledge. Calder can be reached at annecalder@qccommunityfoundation.org or 563-326-2840.

Sean Leary Director of Digital Media

Sean Leary is an author, director, artist, musician, producer and entrepreneur who has been writing professionally since debuting at age 11 in the pages of the Comics Buyers Guide. An honors graduate of the University of Southern California masters program, he has written over 50 books including the best-sellers The Arimathean, Every Number is Lucky to Someone and We Are All Characters.