The ongoing effort to alleviate hunger here at home, and mixing history with the haunts you'll only find in the cities.

On this Halloween weekend, we will look a little deeper at the ghosts that are still roaming the streets of the cities.

That's just ahead.

But first, we are in the home stretch of the 2025 Student Hunger drive, where food donations that add up to hundreds of thousands of meals really makes a big difference to the food pantries that exist throughout eastern Iowa.

And western Illinois.

Now, the food drive is nearing its 40th year, dating back to the depths of the ag equipment recession of the 1980s here in the cities.

So what's different today?

We're joined by the Riverbend Food Banks president and CEO Chris Ford and the organization' community engagement director, Jayna Gallagher.

Chris and Jayna, thank you so much for joining us.

We always talk about the energy of the student hunger drive, and I always think it's interesting because other cities try to replicate this because it was a germ of an idea back in the 1980s, and it just has so much energy, even today.

It does.

Pete Pullman actually started student hunger drive.

That's right.

Yeah.

So we're in third year 39, and we officially kicked off on September 29th.

And for six weeks, these kids will be creative, inventive, and they will be hosting various fundraising events throughout the campaign.

You may see them in front of grocery stores soliciting, food and funds.

But yes, they they continue to amaze me with how creative they get in their events, hosting haunted houses, utilizing their football games.

They're using the community, for the sport.

And we're talking about three quarters of a million meals more than that.

I mean, we got up to 800,000 meals as a record.

Yeah.

You know, because you want to talk about it.

I do, I do.

We challenge these student to raise enough funds and food to provide a million meals, which seems really lofty.

It is certainly not attainable.

Unattainable.

And I have no doubt that we will likely meet that this year.

Well, Chris, explain to me what a million meals is.

I mean, it's hard to figure out.

Exactly.

Wrap your mind around that.

Yeah.

I mean, when you think about a community or a service area where we're trying to feed 137,000 people, a million meals goes a long way.

I would ask people to think about not having those million meals.

And I think it is, certainly has much more of an effect that way.

So the student hunger drive has always been the largest event that we've had, and certainly couldn't do what we do without the students.

What about the timing?

Because I think the second biggest fundraiser is that still with the US Postal Service, that's like in late spring, like.

We do a postal drive.

We also do Women Fighting Hunger event.

Yep.

Those are two of the other events that we do have.

Yes, but this one comes just before the holidays.

And so how critically important is it at this time of year to be getting, you know, 700,000 into a thousand, perhaps even a million meals?

Yeah, I think I think you make a very appropriate comment there.

Certainly in November and December, our times when families are gathering, meals are had together.

Food needs to be provided.

So this certainly is a key source of that.

Well and you look at your warehouse before and after because I, you know, I've been in warehouses, before you moved to your Davenport location when it was in Moline, and you would see what it looked like before you had the student hunger drive, and then you saw it afterwards, and it was simply night and day.

Yeah.

I think loading day is probably one of the funnest days.

For employees at the food bank.

And I would say one of the things, you know, that Jayna and I agree upon about the student hunger drive is that it actually energizes our organization.

We see that, transformation of students and their excitement and activity that they have.

And that translates to our employees.

And then culminates in that loading day where we basically shut down our operations.

And for one full day, we're just unloading food and again, getting to see the kids come and be excited and participate.

And, so, yeah, it is just a great time.

Is is also a hug educational component to this.

You're, you're you're you're also teaching, young teens, about, food insecurity.

We are so there is an educational component to the whole campaign.

And this year we reimagined ho that has looked in years past.

I spent most of September going into the schools and teaching a lead to feed educational piece, do a little bit of programing.

We give a state of the food bank, right?

We want them to.

There are brand ambassadors for six weeks.

They need to understand how vital it is, what they're doing in our community.

So we we do educate them about Snap benefits, not only what they are, what they provide.

You know how great of a tool that is for fighting food insecurity?

But what are the ramifications of of federal funding cuts to that program and how it translates into what they do for us for six weeks?

So it is, an educational piece, bu it also instills philanthropy.

I mean, these are changemakers, and these kids use this campaign as a jumping point to move into what they're doing after college.

They use this on their college resumes like it really is.

It does carry with them after they leave high school.

I know I was I did want to touch on that in particular because it is changing.

We're up to almost 40 years of the student hunger drives.

So some of these people that were in the first hunger drive in 50 to their 60s.

And so do you think these lessons last beyond high school?

Absolutely.

I mean, I think we could, you know, challenge any number of our, our volunteers at our pantries who likely have participated in student hunger Drive.

We know for a fact that a former Bettendorf student went on to help start a college pantry at Iowa State University, so it does carry with them.

Explain to me, Chris, the need right now.

We're seeing cutbacks.

We know that Snap benefits are always in play.

There's no farm bill.

That is, been approved yet, and that's such a vital part, or a massive part of that bill.

There's so much uncertainty for so many people right now.

Yeah, uncertainty is a great word.

I think that's the word I would pick.

If you ask about the current situation right now, we are at a four year high in terms of food insecurity rates.

So in our service area, that's about 13.2%.

So explain that to me again, a four year high.

Yeah.

So that takes you back to the pandemic.

Yep.

Right into, righ after the pandemic, I believe.

All right.

Yes.

So roughly, again, 137,000 people, you know, in a 23 county service area.

And.

When you're talking about food insecurity, I mean, it's a it' a clever word that people use, but they don't necessarily know what that means.

It generally mean you're not necessarily certain where your next meal's coming from.

That is absolutely correct.

In the simplest form, you don't know where your next meal is coming from.

Yes.

And so we're seeing numbers as high, if not higher.

Then once the pandemic was over.

That is correct.

Numbers across the nation are high.

Every single one of our 23 counties has the highest, food insecurity rate.

And so obviously, overall, we're still experiencing, the issues that come along with that.

And it's always the case of those 23 counties in in eastern Iowa and western Illinois, so many of them, if not the majority of them by far, are rural counties.

And food access is very difficult.

We always talk about food deserts as well.

Food access is very difficult in rural areas.

Yeah, absolutely.

And I think, when you talk about you mentioned snap before, and when you talk about rural areas, most people have the misconception that food insecurity is highest in like metropolitan areas.

It's actually not true.

About 80% of the leading, areas where food insecurity is the highest are in rural areas.

So when you put that combined that together with the fact that most of those people in those areas are on a Snap program, and then you take away Snap funding, the formula you begin to see is the eliminatio of independent grocery stores, lack of economic activity and the creation of food deserts.

So it is a full circle cycle that comes around.

And we are very concerned about that because obviously, where our service area lies in the country, a lot of our areas are rural areas.

And you really talk about a domino effect.

Absolutely.

The other thing is that the people that may not understand it's called a food bank for a reason.

You are the distribution center under.

You are all of those food pantries that may be in a small city library and maybe in a church basement.

It may be at a shelter or a location.

Are you seeing an all volunteer too?

So are you seeing problems at that level of being able to sustain these food pantries?

Even if there is food, there may not be the volunteers or sometimes even more importantly, the space.

I think all those things are consideration.

Certainly volunteers are aging out.

People who have typically run those pantries, are getting older, and not necessarily don't have the haven't backfilled the volunteers to be able to run that I think consistently we hear funding funding is an issue.

So we are working collaboratively now with a lot of those organizations to try to help them raise funds, You talk about space.

A lot of them don't have, you know, the amenities that they need.

We do work with several manufacturers, though, where we can provide not only refrigerators, but also freezers.

So there's a lot of things we can do to build capacity.

But I would say it i an extremely tough, situation.

Right now for our hunger relief partners.

Do you think the students get that?

Do the students?

Because, I mean, some of them may be receiving food or some of their friends that they may not have ever realized that before?

Yes.

And that is part of that lead to feed, component.

We have over 75 school pantries.

So we know that these students are maybe personally utilizing our services or have a classmate when there are 1 in 6 students facing food insecurity.

It is very likely that their classmates are aware of that.

Because if you talk about the mix, I think a lot of people also a lot of kids might just get involved because it's a fun thing and you do want it to be a fun thing.

But but it is so much more.

It is so much more.

And I think those numbers are really tangible for these young adults to understand.

1 in 8 adults and 1 in 6 children facing food insecurity.

When you break it down like that, that is a little more palatable for them.

So and I like to stress to them, because it has been expressed to me, some of these high need schools, you know, it's har for them to ask their students to bring in food or money when they know, in fact, that they are the ones in need.

But I encourage them to change the narrative a little bit in that that is why what they're doing is so vital.

They are helping their classmates, their own community.

And you know how great of a joy is tha to be helping your classmates?

And, of course, so much of the food that's donated is nonperishable.

So you do like to also see the monetary donations go to allows you to buy other things that are greatly in need.

Yeah, absolutely.

Financial donations are important.

Really?

Because it allows us to buy nutritional food, food that's donated to us we are very grateful for.

But we can't control the nutritional value of that food.

And we think it's really important that people not only receive food but receive nutritional food.

So when people support us financially, that gives us the flexibility to buy what people need.

And let's be honest, at this point right now, to what extent is there the education process on the other end?

The people that are giving the children that are collecting, they're learning, the people that are receiving, are they learning as well, because there's been such a push to make sure that the food that is being delivered and the food that's being consumed is higher quality, is more healthy, is more beneficial to children.

Yeah, I would say I can't answer for sure, if they're learning from that.

But what I can tell you is that they are grateful, anytime I visit any of our pantries, the amount of thank you's and gratitude that I see from people, makes me understand why I come back to work each day.

The fulfillmen there is is pretty incredible.

So I do think, I'm not sure about the learning side, Jim, but definitely the, the gratitude side.

And let's talk a little bit more about those people who do receive help at food pantries throughout our area.

And as you well know, I mean, there's there's people that that think that's not for me, you know, that's just, I would never accept food like that.

How important is it for people just almost to break down that barrier and say you this is not a question of pride.

Yeah, I think that is the stigma that has been fought for years and continues to be fought.

Is that, food pantries are, you know, you can't go there for help.

I think it was maybe a generational thing.

And I think through the education of kids and program like the Student Hunger drive, as we begin to educate and tell people it's okay to reach out for help, it is becoming more acceptable.

The final finale rally is November 6th.

The big loading day, I believe, is November 7th.

And right, I said, yeah, it's right the day before.

Of course, now is the day after.

There is so much energy and excitement.

I love finale Day.

Yes.

You got to be looking forward to that as well.

I cannot wait, my cheeks were sore a week after the kickoff, so I am already anticipating an incredible evening.

That is a night we will come together and announce how many meals were raised from the students, but also part of our million meals match initiative that we launched this year, where we're asking our community to come alongside these students and also raise enough money to provide a million meals.

So we are a little over halfway there and I am so excited to be able to share the news on final of what our community has also done alongside these students.

Do you think you're going to do it?

I know we can do.

I know you're going to do it.

One more thing is where I know we're in the middle of the 39th.

You must be planning already.

From 1986 to 2026 for the 40th anniversary of student hunger drive.

It is.

The wheels are in motion.

It is a cause for celebration.

You know, I think Pete Pullman showed up last year.

I know his daughters are involved with the schools still, so they're the.

There's nothing definite set in stone.

But we have a lot of community supporters who definitely want to be a part of that, and we hope to do it up big long.

Chris, I just think that this was created in 1986 at the depth of the, I'll just say the depression for the farm, implement business in this area was so hard hit.

And the events, I mean, Festival of Trees started in that period of time to raise money for the arts.

Student hunger drive started in that.

And we're still seeing the need even today, some 40 years later.

Yeah, I think that's definitely disappointing.

I think as an organization, that's one of the challenges we're taking on.

We're trying to find out, we're actually implementing a new system in our, hunger relief partners called Link to Feed.

And we're simply askin questions on why are you here?

And I think for so many years, food banking was about giving people food.

Now it's become let's ask the question, why are you here?

Can you not pay a utility bill or do you have medical bills?

Is it a housing issue?

We have great relationships with other nonprofits so we can get people the help they need.

And that's the only way we're ever going to shorten the line.

So I'm really encouraged, that our organization is actively pursuing that strategy.

And I hope, you know, 3 to 5 years from now, as we begin to have all that data to be able to utilize that, we will begin to see an end, to four year highs in food insecurity rates.

And the students will be a big part of that.

Absolutely.

Our thanks to Riverbend Food Banks President and CEO Chris Ford and the organization's community engagement director Jayna Gallagher, just ahead, pulling back the curtai to find out about those ghosts that lurk in the cities.

But first, events that won't give you a fright thanks to visit Quad City.

Check out the things to do this week in the Quad Cities.

Celebrate science, inventions, art, and history as you explore the amazing museums and our regional destination.

Next river cruise season is almost over, so make sure you spend an evening on board.

Then head to the.

Speakeasy in the circa 21 Dinner Playhouse to watch The Rocky Horror Show, then get ready for the Fall Harvest Festival.

Enjoy live music food, and family friendly fun.

Finally, celebrate the day of the dead at the figgy Art Museum.

There will be music, food, and dates.

For more events like these, check out our events calendar at visit Quad cities.com.

The city's has a history that is unique, of course, to this area, and there are plenty of ghost stories that go along with it.

It has been a passion of Minda Powers-Douglas for years now.

She created a haunted history and joined us to tell us the tales of the lost souls from the past.

You're obsessed.

You're so.

When did you get interested in ghosts?

Oh my gosh.

Forever.

Yeah.

Forever ago.

I. So you're a believer.

Oh, yeah.

Yeah, there's no doubt.

Yeah.

Getting angry at a ghost.

Really?

It really solidified it.

Because that ghost.

Really?

Oh, she'd done me wrong, but, since I was kid, I've alway loved ghost stories and books.

I mean, I even now, like, I'm looking through the books.

I work at a library.

I'm like, okay, where are the horror books and where the one I always want the best ghost story I can find.

Looking back, I realized that an imaginary friend of mine was probably a ghost.

So shout out, Robin, wherever you are.

And the group that you have is called QC Haunts in history.

Yes.

Yeah.

And I think that's really interesting because when you take a look at history of the Quad Cities it is rich.

Oh yeah.

And it is body.

Oh yeah.

Because yes.

Yeah.

We, we could talk a. Yeah.

You know Bucktown and what that was in Davenport.

Yes.

And we could talk about the gangster and looney era in.

Yes, Rock Island.

So let's do that.

Let's talk.

Looney.

Era, because that was.

Where.

The gangsters ran the city.

Oh, yeah.

The two competing newspapers.

There was gunfire between them.

The gunfire at the police station breaking out, prisoners there.

It was a lawless period of time.

And those ghosts are still walking the streets of Rock Island.

They are.

I actually tell people I have a ghost guarantee for the Rock Island tour, because the second you say John loonies name when you're down there, his henchmen come out.

Say, what are you doing?

Talking about our boss.

And they follow the tour around to a certain point.

They go about halfway through and then they're like, yeah, because you're not going t talk about it much after that.

But they they're still working.

They there's one story where I'm talking about how this, poor gentleman was thrown out a window by them and they're laughing out the window at us.

I'm like, you're still dead.

Yeah, you're still stuck in there.

You're stuck.

And you think it's funny that, you know, we're talking about you.

But, I know all this because I had some really amazing mediums that, volunteered for the tour one year.

It was just all of a sudden, this group of people, wonderful group of people, came together as volunteers.

And we had a ton of fun.

It was a lot of fun.

But, yeah, the gangsters are all there.

John Looney doesn't mak his presence known very often, but he's there.

Sometimes the the the henchmen are there.

Connor looney, he's, he's there, unfortunately.

And and you're saying one of the most, haunted buildings that you've ever been in is actually on the one way in rock Island?

Yeah.

It used to be the old YMCA.

It's the warehouse.

Yeah.

Big brick building.

Yeah.

Still, what do you.

Mean, you you.

How is that the most haunted?

I guess per square foot.

I mean, at least for me.

And, just understanding.

What's going on over there?

There?

The medium that I know, who's been in there?

Her name is Linda, and she does.

She knows a lot about the history of the building as well as the the haunted aspects of the building.

But, you know, she'll look down the hallway and there's all these heads popping out of the rooms because they're all still there.

You know, I like to go.

I don't know, ghosts exist.

Why are they stuck in time?

Why are they scaring the bejesus out the way?

You know, I don't know.

I think in, in certain situations, like, there's a number of the, the ladies of the evening who are stuck in, in that building because they're afraid the there's a lot of the, the thugs, the henchmen that that kind of keep them there.

They scare them.

So their souls are still there.

They're they're kind of stuck.

There's also some very, kind tools there.

There's a little boy that's there.

My daughter's got some.

She's got a lot of sensitivities, so I've got a bunch of pictures of her being in there, and she's holding her hand out to the side.

She's she's holding his hand, and she feels a little fingers on her hand.

And then we sat down once, and she's like I think he's sitting on my lap because she could fee just like a little tiny ghost.

But right there.

So what could you get?

You give tours, of course, to adults, but you have children's tours too.

Yeah, I do.

Not as body.

No.

I leave the brothels out.

Okay.

Those.

Yeah.

And the gun fire.

I just go with some other, some other ones.

But.

And the tours.

Because we're talking to you during the Halloween season.

Of course.

This season.

Yeah, but I mean, they'r around all the time, you know?

Yeah.

Yeah.

You're giving these tours throughout the year.

So if somebody's interested in getting a tour, learn some interesting history.

Oh yeah.

It's all history.

Yeah.

Learning all about that.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Tell me, how do.

They contact.

Their qchunts.com.

And go on there.

Yeah.

People just, I do them on demand.

So if there's even right now I have tours on the weekends.

But if somebody said, hey, I can't do the weekends or I can't, do, you know, a certain time of the day, I'll schedule something for them during the week or Sunday afternoons, anything like that.

I. And you go to the river.

It's not just.

Yeah, yeah.

The Illinois Quad Cities and there's some scary people in Davenport too, right?

There are probably a lot of scary people in the Bucktown area.

I haven't even gone down there.

I'm not sure if the German-American, History Center goes that far with their tours, because they do one as well.

But I'm over at the village of East Port, and there is a number of, that ones like Civil War and.

Beyond, because of the training that was going o across the street at the park.

So that of course, it be a place where you would see some civil war.

Yeah.

And unfortunately they're stuck there too.

I think some people get stuck.

And then there, there's another spirit in downtown Rock Island at Rib Co, and he likes to be there.

Not probably right now since it's been closed for a while, but, it was his happy place, and that's where he went to after work.

Is this good place?

It's always a good place.

Yeah.

So if you're a ghost where do you want to be stuck?

Stuck in one place?

Oh, I got trapped in my knees.

Would probably be good.

I don't know, I wouldn't be down in down in downtown Rock Island just because those the thugs are the way back.

So annoying.

Thanks for sharing your stories with us.

You're welcome anytime.

Our thanks to Minda Powers Douglas from QC Haunts and History for joining us, and you can contact her at QC haunts.com.

Our foundin fathers had a spark of an idea that created a nation.

And as we worked the 250th birthday of Independence Day, we're asking fellow citizens about their civic spark, what makes their career a part of the fabric of the cities.

Here's State Senator Mike Halpen with his civic spark.

Yeah, I do what I do because I'm trying to help people on a day by day basis and try to make their lives just a little bit easier with the problem that they're trying to deal with that day.

And I think it's important to do that.

In addition to the legislative side, it's important that we uphold these institutions of democracy that have served us so well for the last 250 years.

And I don't want to be the guy that weakens that.

I don't want to be the guy that that gave up on our democratic traditions that we've established through, through war and and blood and tears.

I want to be the guy that continues that tradition of, being a place where anyone can speak their mind and one can petition their government, and everyone has the right, right to vote and to decide what that government is going to look like.

Our thanks to State Senato Mike Halpin of the Quad Cities on the air, on the radio, on the web, on your mobile device and streaming on your computer.

Thanks for taking some time to join us.

As we talk about the issues on the city's.