Riverside Church understands that the church does not exist exclusively for itself, but rather Jesus has reached out to us so that we can reach out to others!  Thus, we strive to share Christ's love in tangible ways in our community, our state, our nation and around the world.

SHORT-TERM MINISTRY OUTREACH:

Throughout the year, opportunties arise for Riversiders to participate in short-term ministry opportunities throughout the world.  Some examples include:

Step Aside was last summer's workcamp in Barbour County, West Virginia.  Riverside sent almost a dozen high school youth and adult sponsors who worked with approximately 165 other kids and adults from across the country.  The workcamp was through "Heart and Hand," a ministry of the Methodist Church.  H & H serves the county with a food shelf, a used clothing/appliance store and accepts applications to have work done on people's homes.  Each night the kids were challenged in their faith and for many, it was a life changing experience.  Each year's workcamp offers an opportunity to serve and to share the love of Jesus with the host site family. 

COMMUNITY MINISTRY OUTREACH: 

VEAP - To help provide emergency food assistance to our community, Riverside collects food and personal hygiene donations on the first Sunday of each month to be distributed through VEAP.  In the spirit of Christian love, Volunteers Enlisted to Assist People (VEAP) helps those individuals in our community who cannot financially, physically, or emotionally provide for their own well-being. VEAP is a Human Service Agency with programs focusing on the problems of hunger (Food Services), ongoing effects of poverty (Personal Support Services), as well as isolation and disability (Transportation Services).  VEAP serves MN residents in the communities of Bloomington, Edina, Richfield, and that portion of Minneapolis which is south of 50th Street and west of Cedar Avenue.  For more information visit: http://www.veapvolunteers.org/programs.html

St. Stephens Shelter - The Men's Ministry of Riverside Church supports St. Stephens by preparing and serving the evening meal one Saturday evening a month.  Volunteers are always welcome and you can do so by contacting Kevin VerMeer at 952.888.4988 or riverside@riversidechurch1.com

Meals on Wheels - From time to time, Riverside members volunteer to deliver meals to community residents through the Meals on Wheels program.  Meals on Wheels delivers hot, nutritious meals Monday-Friday to homebound residents of Bloomington from 11:15-12:45 p.m.  Cost is $3.50, or sliding scale based on ability to pay.  Frozen meals available for weekends or holidays for $3.25.  Contact Meals on Wheels at 952-948-3032 (24-hour voice mail).

Urban Ventures - Urban Ventures Leadership Foundation is an organization of servant leaders focused on helping our community's residents and businesses develop their assets and capacities in ways that help build a livable and sustainable neighborhood.  UV's Mission is to build successful community in South Minneapolis.  For more information visit: http://www.urbanventures.org.  Riverside Church supports Rev. Tim Overweg, Director of Youth Leadership Development for Urban Ventures.  The goal of Youth Leadership is to develop students who by their senior year in high school are so committed to Jesus Christ that they can survive and thrive in any environment.  You can learn more about Tim's ministry at: http://www.heartlandsynod.org/PIPpages/Urban.html.

NATIONAL MINISTRY OUTREACH: 

Jackson County Ministries - This Reformed Church in America ministry, based in Annville, Kentucky places a strong emphasis on service to high-risk youth through the CLAY (Christian Living Activities for Youth) program, which reaches out to young people who are having problems with the law or at school; and Barnabas Home, Inc., which provides residential youth treatment services for twenty-two boys through a contractual arrangement with the state of Kentucky.  JCM offers other services to youth through summer Bible camps and a community center at Annville.  Learn more by visiting http://www.rca.org/mission/america/appalachia/jcm.php