Riverbend ROCKS’ annual Holiday Gathering spreads cheer throughout the community and brings together neighbours for shared experiences
By Fisher Smith, Coordinator – Child and Youth Programming, Riverbend ROCKS
Riverbend Reaching Out to Community and Kids Society (ROCKS) is a local nonprofit organization that connects families living in the Brander Gardens Civida complex and surrounding areas to accessible opportunities that promote social inclusion, community connection and an enhanced quality of life.
On December 5, we had the pleasure of hosting our annual Holiday Gathering at Riverbend United Church. Open to all, attending the event has become a tradition for many of our community members. This event is a cornerstone of our ongoing community engagement.
This year, we brought out a wonderful array of activities and goodies for attendees, some of which were generously donated. We prepared crafts for the children, including felt ornament making and paper gingerbread house construction, along with board/card games for the youth and adults. An impressive food display was prepared by the ladies of our community through our Women ROCKS program and its partnership with Amity House. Lastly, we had our very own Santa Claus, who, of course, brought with him gift bags for all of the children and youth in attendance.
Community building is a central part of our mission, and we believe that large events in which community members come together to share meals and experiences are foundational to this goal. We host numerous events and gatherings throughout the year, including Summer Gatherings, Back-to-School, Giveor- Take Bazaars and Holiday Gatherings. These activities also serve as an outreach opportunity for our other programs, such as our Tutoring Program, Youth and After-School Programs and Women ROCKS.
We want to thank all of the community members who came out on such a cold day for our event, our volunteers from the University of Alberta Medical School Program, Norquest Settlement Studies Program, and our board members who helped ensure the program ran smoothly. Thank you also to Chase the Chill for providing beautiful, hand-knit scarves and toques which were distributed to our attendees. Special thanks to Riverbend United Church for providing such a wonderful site for the event.
As we wrap up the holiday season and enter the new year, we are very excited for all that will come in 2026!
Community members enjoyed all sorts of crafts and activities at the Riverbend
ROCKS annual Holiday Gathering on December 5, 2025.