At a close-knit church in Rock Island, Illinois, members of Chapter 20029 meet to work on a volunteer project every quarter. The members refer to themselves as the Word of Life Royal Neighbors Chapter. They support the church in a big way but have also impacted change in the community since the chapter began in 2018.
Chapter President Geri Kruckenberg has been leading the chapter since the beginning. “I love volunteering and knew people at church who were already volunteering,” shared Geri. “When we heard Royal Neighbors supports our volunteer efforts with funding and we get to use those funds for even more volunteering – we signed up!”
At Word of Life Church, chapter members are affectionately known as faithful servants. Members prep and serve the monthly meals for men’s and ladies’ nights. They also serve funeral dinners for families and friends who have lost a loved one. Several members are called the “youth group Grandmas” for making every meal special for family night.
The chapter meets quarterly to share stories, brainstorm upcoming projects, and work on their current project. Geri takes feedback from everyone in the chapter, and the members vote on the upcoming projects. “I love hearing our member’s ideas for new projects and putting those ideas into action,” said Geri.
In the fall, chapter members were busy making winter ponchos and shawls for the Black Hawk Area Special Education District. Thoughtfully constructed ponchos were created to make it easy to get on and off while using a wheelchair.
Outside of church, the chapter serves the community in many ways, including serving meals at a local shelter, supporting small local organizations, and volunteering at a youth summer camp. Several chapter members provide rides for seniors, collect essential items for new moms, and donate warm clothing to local school districts.
There is no project too big or too small for the members of Chapter 20029. “We keep our ears open for needs in the community,” shared Geri. “We recently helped a single woman furnish her first apartment. Royal Neighbors allows us to determine how to make the most impact with our funding and bless our community.”
Through their faith in God and one another, Chapter 20029 is living out Royal Neighbors values in everything they do.
