Individuals Deliver Food Drive Outcomes & Receive Aid from the community
This year, people with disabilities banded together all across the Quad Cities to serve their community through the Quad City Disability Awareness Coalition. They collected food for the MLK Food Drive and delivered those items to local food pantries across the Quad Cities, giving back and supporting their community.
People with disabilities live on tight budgets and rely on support from SNAP Benefits and Medicaid to get by. Yet, they gladly give back to their community. Offering their help to make sure no one faces food insecurity alone.
The results of their efforts are in, and it is truly impressive the difference that individuals with disabilities can make when given the chance to give back to their community.
Check out the impressive numbers:
530 Families Served
21 Participating Drop-off Sites
62 Participating Volunteers
Serving 11 Local Food Pantries
During the most recent government shutdown, people with disabilities served by The Arc were suddenly cut off from their SNAP benefits. This disruption meant that individuals who already live on limited incomes were left without the resources they rely on to meet one of the most basic human needs: food.
In response, The Arc stepped forward—immediately and without hesitation—to fill the gap. But because these emergency supports could not be reimbursed due to the lapse in federal funding, The Arc turned to the community for help. And the community answered.
Thanks to generous emergency support from United Way of the Quad Cities and the Quad Cities Community Foundation, The Arc was able to ensure that no one went hungry during the shutdown. These funds made it possible to purchase groceries, provide meals, and maintain the stable, supportive environments that the people we serve count on every single day.
Many individuals served by The Arc live on tight budgets, stretching every dollar to make ends meet. Yet, even with these challenges, they are active community members who give back through volunteerism, employment, and everyday acts of kindness. It is profoundly meaningful that the broader community reflects this same spirit of reciprocity, stepping in when people with disabilities face barriers that no one should have to face alone.
The support we received ensured that individuals maintained not only access to nutrition but also the dignity, security, and peace of mind they deserve. It is a powerful reminder that when we take care of one another, our entire community becomes stronger.
Thank you to the United Way of the Quad Cities Area and the Quad City Community Foundation for supporting people with disabilities!
