FRATERNAL DISASTER RELIEF FOR FLOOD VICTIMS
Western Catholic Union - Quincy, Illinois
Royal Neighbors of America - Rock Island, Illinois

06/26/2008


WESTERN CATHOLIC UNION
      “Whatever, Whenever, Wherever”

“This is an example of America at its best.”

U.S. Senator Barack Obama said this to hundreds of volunteers in Quincy, Illinois, who were gathered to fight the flood of 2008.

Just a few feet away as Obama made that statement, Steve Looten was one of many Western Catholic Union members joining the sandbagging effort. Every hour, hundreds of volunteers responded to the call for help. As many as three million sandbags might be needed, and it takes an entire community to get the job done.

They all came to help, the old and young, rich and poor. “When people come together from all walks of life, every age, every background, pitching in together to deal with challenges, there is no problem we can’t solve when we work together,” Obama said.

It is the call fraternal benefit societies answer every day.

“It is our mission,” Western Catholic Union (WCU) national president Mark Wiewel said. “Jesus said to love your neighbor. Help other people. It’s not a matter of thinking about it, but doing.”

“One of my favorite bible verses is James 2:14. It states that it is not enough to have faith without deeds.”

WCU members scattered up and down the threatening river. Some walked along the levees to help build them up. Some served food to volunteers. Some delivered food to neighboring towns. Many other members joined the city-wide sandbagging operation. Whatever, whenever, wherever.

The sandbaggers didn’t know who they were helping, or where their bags were going, but they knew they could be making a difference in protecting a home, business, or farm land from disaster.

WCU member Becky Warning filled sandbags with her husband, 10-year-old son and 7-year-old daughter. “My kids are into God’s word, too, she said. “They know that God asks us to help others. They don’t question it. Through the WCU we are also able to do a lot of little stuff nobody even knows about.”

WCU members often conduct fundraisers to help support many charities in their communities. Their bake sales, chili dinners, golf tournaments, charity walks, raffles, and many other activities help provide necessary aid to churches, schools, food pantries and many other charities.

“You can make a difference in anybody’s life,” said WCU member JoAnn Witte. “Whether the need is big or small doesn’t matter. Our WCU members want to help.” She was joined by her two daughters who are quickly adopting the Western Catholic Union lifestyle.

“They know that if you see something that needs to be done just jump right in and help. Don’t wait to be asked,” she said.

The battle to fight back the river continued. The next day her daughters grabbed their gloves and headed toward the river. They knew there was a shovel waiting, and a big sand pile that needed to be worked.

“It is why we exist,” Wiewel said. “Our organization has been providing for the less fortunate for over 130 years.”

Obama called this volunteer effort “America at its best.” That is also a way to describe the heartfelt efforts by all fraternal benefit societies nationwide. Charity comes from the heart, and Western Catholic Union members pass generosity from generation to generation.

“My children look at this and say ‘My dad is fifty and he was out helping fill sandbags!’” Wiewel said. “If there is ever another opportunity, I hope they’ll know it’s their turn to do it.”

About Western Catholic Union
Founded in 1877, Western Catholic Union is a fraternal benefit society headquartered in Quincy, Illinois. Its mission is to attend to the fraternal, financial and spiritual well-being of its members by offering them the greatest number of social and spiritual opportunities possible, and to keep members safe and secure with the best insurance products available. For more information, visit www.wculife.org.



Royal Neighbors’ Bucket Brigade is Ready to Deliver Help to 
       Flood Victims

Royal Neighbors of America is sending a caravan to Keithsburg and Gladstone, Illinois, on Friday, June 27, to distribute critical supplies to flood victims and volunteers. This Bucket Brigade is being led by members of area Royal Neighbors chapters, as well as Home Office employees.

Royal Neighbors’ Bucket Brigade is delivering ready help to victims of the recent floods by filling buckets with cleaning supplies, gloves, hand sanitizer, batteries, etc. Royal Neighbors of America members across the country are joining the Bucket Brigade by sponsoring buckets. Anyone interested in sponsoring clean-up and donation efforts can send a tax-deductible donation to The RNA Foundation, 230 16^th St., Rock Island, IL 61201. Each $25 donation fills a Bucket Brigade bucket with the needed supplies.

“At Royal Neighbors, giving back is what we’re all about,” said Cynthia Tidwell, President/CEO. “We want to do as much as we can to help our neighbors get through this trying time.”

About Royal Neighbors of America
Royal Neighbors of America is a non-profit fraternal membership organization with a more than 100-year history of helping women and their families. The organization insures lives, supports women, and serves communities by offering insurance and annuity products. Its members also participate in a variety of locally based volunteer opportunities and are eligible to apply for many member benefits such as scholarships and disaster aid. Headquartered in Rock Island, IL, Royal Neighbors serves more than 230,000 members and is licensed to do business in 42 states and the District of Columbia. For more information about Royal Neighbors, visit www.royalneighbors.org.