At Riverside, we’re grateful for the opportunity to be involved in various community service activities and events. We’d love for you to be part of this work. Here’s how you can contribute:

FISH Food Bank

Kylin Elliot and Paloma Williams helping shoppers fill their baskets at FISH Food Bank

This nonprofit, with locations in Hood River, Cascade Locks, Odell, and Parkdale, provides food assistance to those in need throughout Hood River County and Mosier. As a partner agency of the Oregon Food Bank, there are several ways to contribute:

  • Donate cash and food supplies (collected at Riverside)
  • Volunteer to staff the food bank for one week each month

To sign up or learn more, contact Judith Poage.

 

 

Supporting Our Immigrant Brothers and Sisters

Gorge faithful protesting immigrant detention at the regional jail NORCOR in The Dalles.

In The Dalles, the Northeast Oregon Regional Correctional Facility (NORCOR) houses immigrants detained by ICE. Riverside provides support through visitation and donations to their phone fund, as NORCOR charges high rates for detainees to call family or attorneys.

There are several ways to help:

  • Contact Pastor Vicky to volunteer for visitation
  • You can also donate through the Immigrant Relief Fund, set up by the Gorge Ecumenical Ministries (GEM). This fund is designated to help our immigrant neighbors as they navigate the legal system, are struggling to make ends meet because of the pandemic or while their spouse is being held by ICE. This fund is also available to help Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients with renewal fees, which are $495 every two years, as well as help with legal filing fees for other immigrants with financial need.
  • Donate to the Immigrant Relief Fund, which helps immigrants with legal fees, financial hardship, and DACA renewal costs. Contributions can be made online.

Pockets of Plenty Offering

Each month, during Sunday services, we take up the Pockets of Plenty offering to support a web of community connections. The offerings are organized by our Justice and Witness Team and have supported organizations like:

  • FISH Food Bank
  • Helping Hands Against Violence
  • Peace Village
  • NORCOR phone fund
  • Pastor’s Discretionary Fund
  • Rowena Wildlife Clinic
  • The Warming Shelter

We’ve also contributed to national campaigns such as One Great Hour of Sharing and Strengthen the Church.

 

Regular Vigils

Join us regularly at the State St. Salmon fountain to stand in solidarity with causes that matter. Our vigils have supported movements like Black Lives Matter, the fight against climate change, and social justice issues. Riverside’s youth are also active participants in Fridays for Future, a monthly vigil dedicated to climate action.

Free Community Thanksgiving

In partnership with FISH Food Bank and Spirit of Grace Church, Riverside hosts a free Thanksgiving dinner every year. We need volunteers to help prepare and serve food, as well as donations to cover food costs. To lend a hand, please contact the Riverside office. Our commercial kitchen allows us to nourish not only our congregation but the entire community.

 

 

Royal Ewing Garden

Riverside’s backyard has been converted into a raised-bed vegetable garden that supports numerous food-related events at Riverside, including the Thanksgiving dinner. The garden needs volunteer planters, weeders, waterers, and harvesters. If you would like to help, please contact Kathryn in the church office.