Educational Events
On January 22, 1973, the U.S. Supreme Court legalized abortion on demand through
all nine months of pregnancy. Proponents suggested that legal abortion would
bring an end to poverty and abuse and that women would be free to participate
more fully in society. But legal abortion promised what it could not give.
As a witness to this tragic event and to better educate the public about the
sacred dignity of all human life, Quad City Right to
Life sponsors educational events with national and international guest
speakers. We have featured experts on a wide range of life related topics.
While abortion remains an important issue, our speakers also address euthanasia,
assisted suicide, stem cell research, cloning and more.
Resale Shops
QCRTL owns and operates Life's Little
Treasures Resale Shop in Bettendorf, Iowa and Treasure Kids
Resale Shop in Davenport, Iowa. The shops raise funds for the
organization by selling items that are donated. They offer quality adult and
children's clothing, shoes, baby items, household items, antiques, books,
toys and various other items at great low prices.
Working with other social service organizations, the shops provide needy
clients with items at a discount or at no cost at all, depending on the
circumstances. Young women contemplating abortion are offered gift certificates
or coupons through area pregnancy assistance organizations. Many items from
the shops are donated to other charitable organizations such as women's
shelters, the Salvation Army and Habitat for Humanity. We send men's suits
to pastors in Columbia and offer gift certificates to immigrants through
local relief organizations.
Funds raised from the resale shops have enabled QCRTL
to make financial and gift in kind donations to other area pro-life organizations
including those that offer assistance to women in crisis pregnancies.
There is an education area at both locations that provides literature and other
pro-life information at no charge. High school and college students find the
material helpful for research.
Lifechain
For the last 13 years, rain or shine, we have sponsored a local Lifechain on the first Sunday in October. Concerned
citizens of all ages form a chain while holding signs, which read Abortion Kills Children and
Jesus Forgives and Heals. Many churches and youth groups participate
making it the Quad Cities largest pro-life prayer gathering of the year.
Over 850 cities across the United States and Canada participate in
National Life Chain Sunday that is sponsored
by the Please Let Me Live Ministry in Yuba,
California.
The Lifechain puts a spotlight on the brutal
violence that preborn babies suffer every day because of Roe v. Wade. It is a
peaceful and powerful witness of the pro-life community standing together
praying for our nation and for an end to abortion. It is a visual statement of
solidarity by the Christian community that abortion kills children and that the
church supports the sanctity of human life from the moment of conception.
Library and Other Resources
We maintain a library with a variety of videos, tapes, books, literature and
files of pro-life information available to the general public. We also stock
pro-life merchandise such as t-shirts, mugs, bumper stickers and lapel pins.
We assisted students who need material for research and anyone else needing
information on life issues.
Display Booth
QCRTL display booths are a great opportunity to
inform the public about our organization, allow them to sign up for our
newsletter and educate them on life issues. Many people stop to view the fetal
models, which are especially popular with children. The display has been at
many venues over the years including fairs, malls, concerts, church events
and rallies. For over 20 years, we have hosted a display booth at the
Mississippi Valley Fair where we have won several awards.
Newsletter
We publish and distribute a quality 4 - 8 page quarterly newsletter. The
newsletter is free by request and full of cutting edge pro-life information
that you won't see in the mainstream media. We cover a variety of local and
national life and family related issues.
Speaking
QCRTL provides speakers to many local venues. While
most requests are for someone to speak about abortion, we also speak on various
other life issues such as euthanasia and assisted suicide. Examples of our
speaking opportunities include: Jr. High and high schools, college campuses,
churches, church youth groups, clubs, bible studies, group homes for youth,
Rotary clubs and events being held by other pro-life groups. We have received
wonderful responses to our presentations and have been invited back to many
places to speak again.
Legislative Information and Voter Guides
QCRTL works to keep up with pro-life legislation
including local, state and national concerns. We notify pro-life supporters
when to contact elected officials about important issues. We also survey
candidates running for office questioning them on their positions regarding
a variety of life issues. We then publish the results of the survey in our
newsletter as well as distribute them through other means.
