This year, the Roxana students are blessed to find themselves working with RFM as their RiverBend Growth Association Young Adults Committee’s non-profit partner. Riverbend Family Ministries is a place where anyone from any background can walk through their doors and feel welcomed. RFM was founded in 2007 and has continued to grow to become a home to many nonprofit organizations: Client Service Department, Refuge, Amare, Casa of Southwestern Illinois, Mountains to Molehills, Group Interventions, Every Survivor Counts, and NAMI Southwestern Illinois. RFM serves as a shelter, a food pantry, a source for funds, therapy, and even a home, although these are only a fraction of all that RFM does for our community.
The morning that the Young Adults Committee was at Riverbend Family Ministries, the YAC got to see small snippets of what RFM does as a nonprofit for the community and got to be a part of their processes. The YAC helped RFM sort toys and presents, wrap toilet paper to go in baskets of home goods for families at the Riverbend Family Ministries Community Christmas event, and pull up decorations to festivize the RFM building.
The Roxana representatives thought that the Riverbend Family Ministries organization was a wonderful, kind group to work with. While at RFM, Tammy Iskarous, the Executive Director of Riverbend Family Ministries, expressed why she started RFM. She stated, “I’ve always had a heart for mission and people, and I saw that there were small nonprofits doing some really good work, but they were doing it on their picnic tables or ping pong tables. And I thought, ‘What if we brought them all together under one roof?’ We could do a lot more”. Tammy found what she loved and put it into action, not thinking of herself but of what others truly needed. This ultimately led to creating a place where the people in need in the community can come to find aid through many nonprofits, and it is now known as Riverbend Family Ministries. It has continued to serve our community based on the idea of one individual: “Imagine how much we could do together?”
Tammy also stated how their program has continued to grow. She said, “We adopt 130 families from this community who we feel just need a break”. When they were first starting their Community Christmas in 2008 and 2009, they adopted just six families. RFM’s love and care for the community has allowed this program to grow exponentially, enabling RFM to serve more families every year. Even when meeting anyone from RFM, their mission is obvious: to serve and provide for the community and to ensure whoever walks out of their doors leaves with a smile on their face.
The Roxana students had a blast working with RFM as their nonprofit. These students are: Senior Representatives- Anthony Hardin and Noah Smith. Junior Representatives- Keira Perjak and Bailey Schallenberg Decker.
Noah Smith is a senior representative from Roxana Senior High School participating in activities such as Band, Chamber Choir, Vocal Ensemble, Troupe 556, Student Council, FCA, and much more. After High School, Noah plans to attend an undecided university to study in Veterinary Sciences, where he plans to continue his career in the Marching Band.
Anthony Hardin is a senior representative at Roxana and a part of the following clubs and sports: Cross Country, Track, Band, and Student Council. His after-high-school plans are to attend Missouri S&T to continue his education and athletics.
Keira Perjak is a junior representative who is involved in her school as the Band treasurer, sings in Choir, is the student council executive board secretary, is in the vocal ensemble, is a member of Roxana’s Thespian troupe 556, and more. She is undecided about the school she will be attending at this time, but intends to eventually attend law school to become a lawyer for abused or harmed women in need. She also plans to continue her love of music and the performing arts along with what she’s going to pursue.
Bailey Schallenberg-Decker is a junior representative from Roxana High School. She participates in many activities such as Cross Country, Track, Band, Student Council, Best Buddies, and more. After high school, Bailey plans to attend a four-year college to earn a bachelor’s degree, then continue to a 3-year physical therapy program to become a physical therapist.
These students have a wonderful place to call home too—Roxana Senior High School, which was founded in 1941 in the St. Louis Metropolitan area and in the industrial region of the River Bend. It neighbors the tenth-largest oil refinery in the United States, Phillips 66, formerly named Shell Oil Refinery. This is where Roxana High got its school mascot: the Shells.
Approximately 520 students attend Roxana High School each year. These students aim to become functioning members of society, both online and in the real world. They also strive to respect those affected by diversity and to end these social issues. The climate of this school is built on pillars of Respect, Dignity, Forgiveness, and Understanding.
There are many excellent athletic opportunities, as well as facilities for performing or practicing. Roxana also offers an outstanding performing arts program for students to express their love of the arts and their talents, including choir, band, and drama club. Roxana also offers many other clubs and organizations for students to join, including the Spanish Club, Scholar Bowl, Saturday Scholars, the REEF (the Roxana student section), and more. The school also has a wide range of activities for everyone to enjoy and become a part of.
The Roxana students loved working with Riverbend Family Ministries and learning how they serve our Riverbend community. At our RBGA meeting, RFM expressed to the YAC how important all nonprofits are to their community and how equally important volunteers are to their programs. Exploring what it looks like for students to volunteer at different non-profits has been very important to the YAC, and we’ve been able to enjoy the experience of working with nonprofit organizations all throughout the Riverbend community.
-Once A Shell, Always A Shell.