Riverbend Family Ministries held its grand opening on Friday at their new location at 144 E. Ferguson Ave. in Wood River.

Riverbend Family Ministries Executive Director Tammy Iskarous was beaming on Friday at the grand opening event.

“We are finally in the whole building, and today is a celebration of a bunch of non-profits coming together to do incredible work and be able to move from the 7,000-square-foot building to this one,” Iskarous said. “For 14 years, we helped families in crisis and ran out of room. In 2019, we bought this building – little did we know the world was going to shut down with the COVID-19 Pandemic. Then construction was going to take a little longer and it is now finished.

“It seemed like we would never get this building open and I could not be more proud of this building or more thankful and for all the organizations across the board who do such hard work and work with families in crisis due to violence, addiction, homelessness. It has been this community that has supported this since the beginning of 2007 and to have everybody in the same room is pretty overwhelming.”

For more information on Riverbend Family Ministries, contact (618) 251-9790 or email rfminformation@gmail.com.

Visit their website at riverbendfamilyministries.com.

In 2006 conversation with friends started at a table in our current location that was then TR’s Café. The thought was what if we pulled small nonprofits that were doing great work together under one roof, we could share all the operational cost that most times, prohibits a small nonprofit from growing. In August of 2007 we celebrated the grand opening at 131 E Ferguson Ave, Wood River with 3 small nonprofits. After knocking out as many walls as we could, we still quickly ran out of room. In 2019 we purchased a building (where the conversation first started) with 8 nonprofits and no room to do services. Covid shut down the project for 2 years, however, we are so thankful for the commitment we have seen from area business and trades to complete this large project. In 2021 we moved into the lower level of the new 24,000 sq. ft. building located at 144 E Ferguson Ave. Wood River and continued renovations. “This expansion has been a vision for a long time, and to see it come to fruition is such a blessing”, said Executive Director Tammy Iskarous. “So many trades, volunteers, and community groups have come together to get this expansion completed. I cannot begin to thank them enough”. With the enlarged space we are going to be able to expand current services, add new organizations, conduct county wide trainings, serve more individuals, and families in crisis. RFM now has 10 nonprofits all under one roof that have become family and holistically wrap around our families in crisis due to violence, addiction, homeless and poverty…which is unlike any other organization we know.

Today we are pleased to announce the completion of this project and have planned our grand opening for April 14th 11-1pm with the ribbon cutting at 12. We are so excited to be able to showcase all the various organizations that provide incredible services and pour into our families every day. Tours of the facility will be available before and after the ceremony. A light lunch will be available and RSVPs would be appreciated. Please call 618-251-9790.

RFM opened its doors in August of 2007. Since that day we have worked diligently to provide a place of hope and healing for residence in the Riverbend Community. Those strong roots have sprouted into greater opportunities to serve our neighbors. We invite YOU to be part of this growing movement of HOPE. For a dozen years, Riverbend Family Ministries has served the community from its location in downtown Wood River. They have grown to the point that more space is needed, and plans are now underway to move to a larger location across the street at 144 E. Ferguson Avenue.

RFM founder and Executive Director Tammy Iskarous owned a business, TR’s Café, in that same building before launching the ministry. She tells The Big Z this will enable them to expand their ability to serve.

THE WHY
*More space for each organization to provide services
*Opportunity for additional training and education
*More individuals and families served and strengthened
*The ability to add additional services and organizations to our team

Work on the new building is expected to begin soon. A fundraising campaign is now underway. The goal is to raise $550,000.
You can find out how to give at http://riverbendfamilyministries.com/

This year’s dinner will recognize twelve years of providing service to Madison County, highlighting achievements, and celebrating accomplishments made because of those who have supported Riverbend Family Ministries (RFM). Key stakeholders from RFM and the community will provide remarks, followed by inspirational words and testimony from the founder and Executive Director, Tammy Iskarous.

“We’ve watched lives change and generations of families be put on a new path of life, all under our roof,” said Iskarous. “We know when our families are safer, they become healthier and our communities become stronger.”

Riverbend Family Ministries has been a staple to Madison County for twelve years. Providing programs like Refuge that provide services to children (0-11 years-old), helping prevent childhood exposure to violence and abuse. One of their newer programs, Amare, that offers services and programs aimed at supporting and educating individuals, families, and communities affected by drug and alcohol addiction. Another one housed at RFM, the Youth Development program geared towards youth, (12-17 years old) that teach skills to empower youth to make safer choices, avoid abusive behaviors, learn nonviolent alternatives and share what they’ve learned with their peers.

Rated one of the top five nonprofits in Madison County, Riverbend Family Ministries has helped change families and lives that may not have had an opportunity if these services and programs were not made available.

“We understand that we cannot do this alone,” said Iskarous. “It takes staff, volunteers, other agencies, the judicial system, our community leaders and a facility to change the lives of those who find the courage to seek our assistance.”

Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. and dinner will be served at 6:00 p.m. Attendance is free to the public. RSVP by visiting www.rfmcelebrationdinner.eventbrite.com.

www.rfmcelebrationdinner.eventbrite.com

RFM_2019_Annual_Dinner_Press_Release_UPDATE

Rockin’ for Recovery

Music Fest and Fundraiser for Amare

WOOD RIVER, IL (June 25) – Music Festival and fundraiser, Rockin’ for Recovery will help raise funds to help support Amare, a riverbend nonprofit, and their mission to help the individuals and families they serve. The event is set for September 7^th at 4:00 pm, at the St. Louis Regional Airport grounds.

The community event will be equipped with: food trucks, a bounce house, face painting for kids, washers and bags for adults, resource booths, and, most importantly, live music.

Headliner for the event is the band, Exile. Their hits are; “Kiss You All Over,” “I Can’t Get Close Enough,” and “Woke Up in Love.” Exile is working on their 55^th year of touring with all of their original members and will bring experience and a musical legacy that the band calls “it’s a miracle.” They have had 11 no. 1 hits and have written songs for the country superstars, Alabama.

Opening for Exile will be the 1990’s heartthrob and well-known artist, Bryan White. White has had 6 no. 1 hits like “Sittin’ on Go” and “Rebecca Lynn.” He also recorded a duet with Shania Twain on her country hit “From This Moment On.”  He has written songs for country legends Sawyer Brown and Diamond Rio.

Local band, Soul Cracker will also be present to offer the crowd throwbacks like the 1994 Peter Gabriel hit “Sledgehammer.”

The event is also in honor of National Recovery Month, which is held every year in September to celebrate those in recovery, how they accomplished it, and that recovery is possible. Amare serves the entire Madison County area, working to help those in or seeking recovery from drug and alcohol addiction, their family, and the community; they are the first Recovery Community Organization and Association of Recovery Community Organizations member in Madison County and the third in the State of Illinois, providing advocacy for recovery, awareness, education, and recovery support services like peer recovery support, recovery coaching, treatment navigation, and much more. Amare is also a member of the Metro-East Recovery Council and will introduce the newly formed council to the public at this historical event.

Amare’s Rockin’ for Recovery will be free admission to the public and is anticipated to have a crowd of more than 700 people. Sponsors so far include: Bickle Electric Contracting Co., Inc., River’s Edge Entertainment, Riverbend Family Ministries, and Callis Entertainment. If a business is interested in sponsoring, contact Amare’s Executive Director, Ty Bechel, at 618-780-4843. Vendors interested in registering a booth may contact Jason Farley at 618-623-5875. Volunteers interested in helping may contact Sharon Chapman at 618-414-0028. To stay up-to-date on event developments, visit Amare’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/amarenfp.com.

Sponsorship Information

For more information or to purchase a sponsorship please contact Crystal Diver at crystalndiver.casa@gmail.com