The new Iowa charity called QUARTERS FOR QUARTERS calls for the organized collection of coins (quarters) to help provide sleeping quarters for homeless families with children. It is especially being established to assist with child bedding for single mothers who have little ones to care for.

As a volunteer to a church program in Clear Lake for at risk kids, I can attest to the fact that right here in North Iowa we have a significant number of children who don't have their own beds, let alone a bedroom of their own. I've witnessed youngsters having to make do on the living room couch, after everyone is done watching TV, and then trying to be attentive at school during the day.

These needed funds for the variety of individual cases will be collected at hundreds of retail locations, in large company break rooms, and in the office/lounge of private businesses. It is proposed that the collection receptacles be recycled half-gallon and gallon water or milk containers. An information label will be placed on each container and will explain the function and process of the on-going fund drive.

Each county should have several volunteers who will gather up the collected coins on a regular basis. Businesses should not be responsible for lost or stolen receptacles. To encourage their participation further most of the funds collected in a certain area (county) will remain in that local area for charitable assistance, there.

This initial development of the charity campaign will need the backing or sponsorship of an existing non-for-profit organization. Lodge 187 of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows in Clear Lake has voted to have the (local) program run under it's fiscal umbrella and to provide some free time volunteer assistance. We are even pursuing a few grants to find seed money to help get the project rolling and the collection receptacles in place. I will personally over-see a publicity campaign to ensure that the community/state at large knows about the new charity and to push forward its success.

Various agencies, churches and school personnel will help us identify who the most needy children are, through the school systems. Collected monies will then be used to provide the basic bedding (and lodging if need be) with recipients needing to sign a simple letter of agreement not to sell any donated bed within two years. As a fairly new member of Lodge 187 I see the need for just such a charity program to both enhance the awareness of I.O.O.F goals and to assist in attracting new members. I invite you to help me make this a state-wide project.

- Gregory Schmidt