RHC Leads the #GivingTuesday Initiative in the River Valley

The Riverview Hope Campus has joined #GivingTuesday, a first of its kind effort that will harness the collective power of charities, families, businesses, and individuals to transform how people think about, talk about, and participate in the giving season. Coinciding with the Thanksgiving holiday’s kick off to holiday shopping, #GivingTuesday will inspire people to take collaborative action to improve their local communities, give back  to the charities and causes they support, and  help create a better world. Taking place December 2, 2014, the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, #GivingTuesday will harness the power of social media to create a national movement around the holidays dedicated to giving similar to how Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday have become that are synonymous with holiday shopping.

Follow Riverview Hope Campus on Facebook and Instagram to join our efforts of an #UNselfie holiday season.  An #UNselfie is a “selfie” with a caption, or a message on a card in the picture, explaining how or why you are being unselfish and giving this year. It is encouraged that participants always use the hashtags #UNselfie and #GivingTuesday when using these forms of social media interaction and pledging. These can be posted to Facebook, Instagram, and/or Twitter. Those who are interested in donating to the Riverview Hope Campus’ #GivingTuesday initiative can visit www.riverviewhopecampus.org .  To donate to another favorite charity, visit their website.

The Riverview Hope Campus joined #GivingTuesday as a means to bring to the forefront of the ever generous people of the River Valley, the needs of area non-profits and to foster a sense of giving throughout the holiday season.

“This is not just about the Riverview Hope Campus,  this is about people remembering the reason for the season and supporting those less fortunate.” says Debbie Everly, Director of Homeless Programs for Fort Smith.

The Riverview Hope Campus is a project of the Old Fort Homeless Coalition. The primary goal of the campus is to serve as a cumulative rehabilitation approach with a coordination of services for the needy all at one location. Phase I of the project includes the acquisition of the former Riverside Furniture Plant One and a 35,000-square foot renovation of the building to establish a 75-bed low barrier shelter. This will house the chronically homeless with a mat on the floor, meals, and showers. We will encourage those guests staying at this emergency shelter to participate in the on-campus day program. Phase one will also include a cafeteria and commercial kitchen, laundry area, classrooms, medical clinic, counseling rooms, barber shop, kennels for pet companions, bulk storage, personal storage areas, and a worship center.