Riverbend ROCKS appreciates all who have joined us on this journey
Our Roots – It was the words of one little girl in 2008, telling us that “there was nothing in her neighbourhood that she could afford to go to“, that inspired us to begin this journey of “building a community where diversity is celebrated, neighbours know one another, and all children and families flourish.”
Riverbend ROCKS’ Community Partners
| 2010 | Riverbend Community League: Founding Partner; Providing free Community League memberships; Sponsoring Gym Nights; Waiving Peanut Butter and Jam fees; Donating $10,000 to support complex garden infrastructure. Riverbend Public Library: Founding Partner; Providing Outreach programs including Parents and Tots; Free space for Programs. Riverbend Junior High School: Free space for after-school and summer programs |
| 2012 | TRAC: Fiscal agent for 8 years; Donations from TRAC 10K. TRSA: Free community soccer and referee training. |
| 2013 | Riverbend United Church: Community Suppers Partner; Free program space; Coordinating WECAN Program. Brander Gardens Elementary School: Free space for After-School, Summer and Music Programs; Initiating Food Hamper and Clothing Drives. |
| 2015 | Cobs Bread Riverbend Square: Weekly donations of bread and baked goods to support families and the After-School Program. |
| 2016 | Brander Community Gardens: Building and maintaining the Complex Community Garden |
| 2020 | Tempo School: Initiating Winter Clothing and School Supplies Drives. |
| 2021 | SW Edmonton Farmers Market: Weekly produce donations to support families during July and September. |
In Gratitude – We express our gratitude to our School Trustees, City Councillors and MLAs who over the years have championed our work and raised their voices as advocates for families in need.
Thank you to our Funders past and present: the City of Edmonton; the United Way of the Alberta Capital Region; REACH Edmonton; and the Government of Canada.
Since 2010 Brander Gardens ROCKS, now Riverbend ROCKS, has been privileged to be a part of this Community and to have been invited to share in the successes and challenges of so many families. We have been deeply touched by the strength, resilience and heart of all of you! Our experiences of “building Community together” have brought all of us joy.
Family Fun Day 2010 
All aboard at Fort Edmonton Park 
Eager volunteers for weekly distribution of
Cobs Bread goodies
Preparing a delicious feast for a Community Supper. One of the best parts of building community together is the friendships we have made along the way. 
Adapting to Covid19 – We pivoted to assist
families by providing more one-on-one and
food security support, running our Summer
Program outdoors under tents, starting an
in-home Tutoring Program, and arranging
for door to door visits from a doctor and
pharmacist to provide information and
answer questions for the vaccine-hesitant.
Enjoying reading together after a performance
by our amazing drummers and dancers
at the Devonshire Care Centre
We’re cool like that! – Outing to youth events
organized by the City of Edmonton.
Summer staff member Keenan getting ready to share his talents at a Community Supper in the Complex. 
Learning to ski at Snow Valley. 
The Complex – Known to us as the “Complex”, this 98-unit social housing multiplex is run by CIVIDA on City of Edmonton land and is home to about 350 residents of Brander Gardens.
It has been a part of our community since the 1970s.
Saying our annual thank-you and goodbye to
University of Alberta medical students who have
been supporting our Tutoring Program since 2014
Assuring Santa they have been good all year at our annual Christmas party at the Riverbend United Church. 
So proud to receive our certificates from the annual
Summer School of ROCKS.
How exciting to visit this exhibit at the AGA and see the art of Judy Robinson – our friend, mentor and neighbour. 
A shout-out to our Water Warriors for watering the
Complex Garden every Wednesday.
So much excitement as we get ready for soccer season. Thanks to TRSA and Sports Central for making this possible. 
Face painting at our first Family Fun Day in 2010. It was at this event that parents told us that what they wanted most, were supports and programs for their kids.