Angel Tree is a ministry of Prison Fellowship and it provides Christmas gifts to the children of men and women who are incarcerated. Riverview has a long history of sponsoring children through the Angel Tree program. In 2023, our congregation impacted the lives of 40 children and their caregivers.
Riverview partners with Neighbors, Inc. to provide food and clothes to those in need in Northern Dakota County. We have an ongoing food shelf collection area and drop off bins for gently used clothes which are given to Neighbors for distribution. Donations can be left here on the church campus. Annually in March, Riverview also holds a focused food drive for Neighbors and we encourage our congregants to “Pack the Pews” with bags of groceries for Neighbors.
Riverview partners with six other local churches to form the Cornerstone Jail Ministry under the leadership of Pastor James Bzoskie, to bring the gospel to men and women in the Dakota County Jail. Riverview leads a Sunday morning worship service at the jail every eight weeks and also provides support for a weekly Bible study at the jail on Wednesday mornings.
Starting in January 2018, Riverview was pleased to begin a partnership with New Life Family Services in the greater Twin Cities area. New Life compassionately opens their doors and hearts to women and men who may be experiencing an unplanned pregnancy and are considering abortion. Through practical and Christ-centered spiritual counsel, they provide education and support with the hope each client will make a life-affirming decision for their child. New Life also runs a licensed adoption agency, post-abortion counseling, and parenting classes.
Riverview has partnered with Union Gospel Mission Twin Cities in St. Paul for many years. Founded in 1902, Union Gospel Mission (UGM) is a Christian ministry dedicated to serving people who are facing homelessness, poverty, or addiction in our community. By meeting physical, spiritual, emotional, and educational needs, UGM Mission is changing lives! The Mission helps people rebuild their lives by providing a variety of time-tested and proven life-changing programs. Over the years, Riverview has run "Socks & Undies" drives for UGM as well as other hands-on support activities.
For over 10 years Riverview has partnered with Operation Christmas Child. Over a 100 boxes have been donated by the congregation each year for the last five years. All these shoeboxes are then delivered to the OCC Processing Warehouse for distribution to children all over the globe.
Riverview is a supporter of Village Creek Bible Camp. Groups of adults and children regularly attend camp sessions and retreats using the camp's facilities tucked away in the northeast corner of Iowa. Members and friends of Riverview also regularly help with the staffing and physical maintenance of the camp. Click below for more information about Village Creek.