‘Swift Completion of Their Appointed Rounds’: Letter Carrier Lives Up to Postal Motto in Working River of Refuge Program It’s not unusual for River of Refuge families to enter the program after feeling like they have overstayed their welcome while living with a relative. It’s also not uncommon for them to get so comfortable here…

River of Refuge Celebrates Record Number of Graduating Families The calendar had already turned, but on one evening earlier this month, River of Refuge staff and families celebrated 2025. The Feb. 4 gathering marked the graduation for 10 families that completed the program last year. That group was among 15 families that graduated last year,…

Unlikely Source Provides River of Refuge Families with Cozy Gifts If you were to guess the group that has donated handmade quilts, scarves and hats to River of Refuge, what would it be? Chances are men serving time at the state prison in St. Joseph, Missouri, would not be one of the first thoughts that…

Bring on the Scissors and Tape: River of Refuge Parents Ready Kids’ Christmas Presents It’s a long way from the North Pole, and there are no elves to be found, but for one evening every year, the large meeting room at River of Refuge becomes something of a holiday workshop. That’s the time, about two…

River of Refuge Extends Stay for Mom Recuperating from Brain Surgery Anita Corwin moves into an Independence, Missouri, apartment next month, and loves her work as a supervisor at a hotel on the Country Club Plaza. At 36 years old, and the mother of three boys, she has overcome a family history of addiction that…

River of Refuge Parents Gain Conflict Resolution Skills It seems as if vitriol and strife are all around us, but River of Refuge families are learning how to manage disputes in their households and elsewhere via an anger-management-based curriculum. Debbie Bayless and Ryan S. Harvey are leading the seven sessions now being taught during Monday…

East Kansas City Church Has ‘Huge’ Impact on ROR Pantry When two Kansas City, Missouri, churches merged a little more than a decade ago, the members decided that the Greek word for fellowship captured the spirit of the congregation. One way Koinonia Bible Church, at 7020 Richmond Ave., carries out that mission today is as…

Husband and Wife Team Draw on Personal History in Leading ROR Parenting Class Assisted by his wife, Sebrina, Michael Jones is the lead pastor of Grace Connection Church in Independence, Missouri, and runs Render’s Hope Community Development Corp, a nonprofit based at the church that helps at-risk youth. The blended couple has eight children and…

Saying Goodbye Can Be Toughest Part of River of Refuge Program No matter how daunting it can be for parents to enter the River of Refuge program, it can be even scarier to exit: Graduates must apply the principles they have learned without the support of the staff and other families living here. The time…