Author: mikeadams

RFM Receives Award from Riverbend Growth Association

Wood River, IL – The RiverBend Growth Association’s (RBGA) Young Adults Committee awarded Riverbend Family Ministries with $3,300.

 

“The students selected Riverbend Family Ministries because they knew the money would go to help those most in need in our community,” said Alex St. Peters, RBGA’s Young Adults Committee Co-Chair.  “The students recognized the important work that RFM does on a daily basis, and they wanted to help out the best way they could.”

 

The Young Adults Committee (YAC) consists of representatives from RBGA member schools and mentors from the RBGA membership. This committee focuses on the importance of guiding our young adults to give back to their community through outreach within the nonprofit organizations in the RBGA membership.

 

“We were so fortunate to be selected by this group of incredible young adults,” said Tammy Iskarous, Riverbend Family’s Executive Director.  “Their dedication and passion for community will change the trajectory of generations to come. We are blessed to have them as partners in assisting our families in crisis.”

 

Iskarous said they’re so thankful to the Growth Association for putting this group together and walking alongside them as they navigate their last two formative years of high school.  During their service project back in February, they helped us move some things from our current building into our new facility across the street.

 

“After we had finished, we started talking about all the services in our building, one of the RBGA youth members asked: “If you were to win the grant what would you do with the money?”  Without hesitation, I told the group 100% would be spent on housing, utilities, and food for our families in crisis,” said Iskarous.

 

“Little did we know that a week later our world would be turned upside down due to the Covid-19 pandemic,” said Iskarous. “How timely this grant is right now as we navigate to help so many families in our area with these needs.”

Support RFM during Giving Tuesday!

#GivingTuesday the groundbreaking global generosity movement, announced #GivingTuesdayNow, a global day of
giving and unity, set to take place on May 5, 2020 as an emergency response to the unprecedented
need caused by COVID-19. The day is designed to drive an influx of generosity, citizen engagement,
business and philanthropy activation, and support for communities and nonprofits around the world.

You can use this global opportunity to bless your neighbors here in the Riverbend area through your financial gifts.

  • $26 will buy a train ticket to send someone to detox and rehab
  • $31.60 will empower one youth to make safer choices each week
  • $50 will buy a bus pass for someone needing to provide for their family
  • $65 will purchase a hotel voucher for a family in crisis
  • $100 will provide safe housing for one week
  • $120 with underwrite one month of Christian counseling
  • $150 will help keep the lights on
  • $200 will help keep a family housed
  • $316 will help a 12-17 successfully complete the Youth program
  • $450 will pay deposit for family in crisis
  • $1200 will provide services for one child to feel safe
  • $1500 will move someone from homelessness to housing

RFM’s Response to COVID 19

I would like to take this time to just simply say thank you for the support you have given RFM and the organizations it holds. We really do appreciate the investment you have made in the lives of our families… Especially right now.

Right now we all find ourselves in a time of uncertainty and a new normal. Let me tell you some of the things we have done as we have navigated to best serve our families in crisis and be a light to this community.

*What’s happening for us right now.
Although we may not actually be in the building, every single organization under the roof of RFM has found creative and safe ways to still provide services for our families in Madison County that are in crisis.
*How those we serve are being impacted.
As you can imagine, many of our families are concerned with how they will come out on the other side of this pandemic. Will they have a job, will they be able to pay their bills, will their child/youth/families be able to still receive the tools to feel safer and healthier? and so on and so on… None of us can answer most of those questions because none of us have never been through any of this before… We don’t have the answers… But this is what we do know at RFM

  • *What we’re focused on in the short-term.
    -we are checking phones everyday and triaging immediate needs of food,shelter, and utilites
    -Therapists are seeing the kiddos through telehealth and actually connecting in ways that feel safe in a scary uncertain time.
    -our youth and recovery groups are checking in with their groups to do sessions and make sure they are doing well.
    -our advovates are still connecting with kiddo in fostercare
    -food is being delivered to those in need
    -some of our most vulnerable homeless are being found temporary shelter
    -recovery is being found for those in need.

It’s because of you that we can continue to operate. So today I just wanted to say thank you. Know that when the world seems to be shut down, your investment is still making an impact.

Here at RFM there is hope… There is healing… and there is a community coming together that is strong and will get through this. Thank you for being that community.

Be blessed knowing you are such a blessing to others today

Tammy Iskarous
Riverbend Family Ministries
Exec. Director