This fall, seven organizations will have more money to help the homeless in the Quad Cities. Wednesday, the local non-profit, "In From the Cold," announced $8,000 in grants, for agencies like Vera French, the Salvation Army, and Family Resources.
"In From the Cold" President, Harvey Wiley, says this is the 24th year the organization has raised money to support homeless service providers.
"We're helping with $500 or $1500, it doesn't sound like much but it makes a big difference," Wiley says. "Like one agency uses that money to pay back utility bills. Something nobody else in the world is going to do."
Wiley says the announcement Wednesday morning kicked off the fundraising drive for the annual Mayors Hunger Luncheon next month.
The organization has raised more than $300,000 over the years, but it's been increasingly difficult to find support.
"I guess when it got started in 1992, they used to pull in 20-grand in an event," he says. "Now our board's a bunch of non-profits."
Local mayors and community members pay $25 for a seat at the hunger luncheon. Wiley says at the meal, "we eat simply, so others can simply eat."
In From the Cold's annual Mayors Hunger Luncheon will be held November 2nd, at the Golden Leaf Banquet Center in Davenport.