Be on mission in your backyard

Love people right where you live!

Looking for some neighbors to serve?

IHELP - Interfaith Housing Emergency Lodging Plan

is a program comprised of about 5 southwest valley churches, each who provide a meal and a safe place to sleep for up to 12 adults who are currently without a home. These guests go through a screening process and are connected to the program’s licensed Social Worker, who helps to facilitate their getting back to an independent lifestyle.

Dates: Every other Friday at The Refinery, and Thursdays at another IHELP church partner location

Locations: The Refinery Christian Church

Who can serve: Adults, Students, and children all ages 

Every other Friday the Refinery hosts up to 12 guests at our campus. Guests arrive at 4pm, we provide dinner for them at 6pm, lights out at 10, then leave by 8am on Saturday morning.

There are several ways you can serve:

• Greeting/Checking guests in
• Providing dinner/breakfast for guests
• Overnight monitors
• Morning checkout and clean up

Volunteers providing food at The Refinery:

• Drop off food by 5:30pm
• Feel free to stay, eat dinner, and talk with the guests. 
• You’ll be notified concerning how much food to prepare before the event. 
• You’re encouraged to bring something for breakfast that our guests could eat or take with them. This is not required but definitely appreciated. 
• You may freely speak with them about spiritual matters if they would like to. 
• The church will provide paper plates, napkins, flatware, and cups, as well as bottled water.
• You may bring other beverages (soda, tea, etc.) but it is not required.

This truly is mission work in our own backyard!

We partner with AllFaith Community Services, St. Mary’s Food Bank, and Lighthouse Fellowship to provide food boxes to families in our community. All are welcome!

On the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of every month from 8am to 10am at Lighthouse Fellowship, we distribute food boxes that include everything from cold goods like meat, cheese, and milk, to canned food, pasta, rice, vegetables, fruit, hygiene items, and more.

Dates: 2nd and 4th Thursdays of each month (dates can adjust during Holidays)

Location: Lighthouse Fellowship (Jackrabbit Trail just north of Thomas road)

Who can serve: Adults, Students and children ages 10 and up 

Volunteers will need to arrive at 7am to unload pallets of food from St. Mary’s, make the boxes up, and pass out the boxes as families drive up. Distribution lasts until 10am and will be held in the parking lot at Lighthouse Fellowship, just north of Thomas on Jackrabbit Trail. After distribution closes, volunteers will clean up the area and store materials and equipment.

You are welcome to serve quarterly, monthly, twice a month, or just whenever you want to be scheduled.

All volunteers are required to complete an Annual Civil Rights Training (either instructor led, by webinar, or by reviewing a powerpoint presentation), and fill out some paperwork for St. Mary’s Food Bank compliance. You will receive a call from one of our leaders to answer any questions and get you started. 

Thank you for your interest in serving our community through our West Valley Mobile Food Bank team!

Looking for assistance?

Community Resources

Homelessness

IHELP - INTERFAITH HOMELESS EMERGENCY LODGING PROGRAM

I-HELP is a unique, cost effective program that uses what churches have in abundance (space, volunteers, the desire to help the stranger) to provide overnight emergency shelter to those experiencing homelessness and case management to help them move from crisis to stability. I-HELP currently operates in Mesa, Surprise, and the Southwest Valley, including Avondale and Goodyear (The Refinery Christian Church is a participating location). Click here for intake hours and locations. 

Homeless Youth Connection

https://hycaz.org/resources/

HYC partners with high schools in Maricopa County and Coconino County to provide basic needs and educational resources to students in transition at no cost to the student, school, or district.

Hunger

West Valley Mobile Food Bank

https://www.allfaithcsaz.com

https://www.firstfoodbank.org (St. Mary's Food Alliance)

The Refinery Christian Church partners with AllFaith Community Services, St. Mary’s Food Alliance, and Lighthouse Fellowship to provide food boxes to families in our community on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of every month at Lighthouse Fellowship 3015 N. 195th Ave (Jackrabbit/Thomas) 8am to 10am. Food boxes include everything from cold goods like meat, cheese, and milk, to canned food, pasta, rice, vegetables, fruit, hygiene items, and more. All are welcome! Distribution for Thanksgiving will be on Wednesday, November 23rd. Questions, contact Kenny Koger: kenny.koger@therefinerycc.com.

Grief & Loss

GriefShare

https://www.griefshare.org/

GriefShare is a friendly, caring group of people who will walk alongside you through one of life’s most difficult experiences. You don’t have to go through the grieving process alone. Find a GriefShare support group or event near you. Visit or join a group at any time. And attend as many meetings as you like.

Addiction

Celebrate Recovery

https://www.celebraterecovery.com/

Celebrate Recovery is a Christ-centered, 12 Step recovery program for anyone struggling with hurt, hang-ups, and habits of any kind. Celebrate Recovery is a safe place to find community and freedom from the issues that are controlling our life.

Divorce

DivorceCare

https://www.divorcecare.org/

DivorceCare’s life-changing support groups welcome people and guide them on the path of recovery after separation or divorce. Over 1 million people have found comfort and hope through this 13-week, video-based series.

City and County Social Services

City of Avondale Family Services

https://www.avondaleaz.gov/government/departments/neighborhood-family-services/family-services/community-action-program

The mission of the Family Services division is to provide a variety of human services that educate, support and strengthen our community. Programs are in place to meet the needs of the community in the West Valley, and promote independence and self-sufficiency to individuals and families in need.

City of Buckeye Utility Assistance

https://www.buckeyeaz.gov/community/residents/utility-billing-customer-service/payment-assistance-program

Buckeye’s Social Services Program partners with Maricopa County Community Action Program (CAP), to help residents during unexpected financial challenges. 

City of Goodyear - GoodyearCares

www.goodyearaz.gov/help

Resource for Goodyear residents to get help in tough times. Residents can get referrals for vital services like help with utility bills, rent or mortgage, getting food on the table, income tax preparation and special programs for veterans or people with disabilities.

City of Surprise Resource Center

https://surpriseaz.gov/411/Surprise-Resource-Center

A one-stop shop for veteran, disability and social services offering Surprise residents connections to services that include everything from rent and utility assistance to employment support to food and nutrition resources.

Maricopa County Community Services

https://www.maricopa.gov/5682/Community-Action-Program-Offices

The Community Services Division works closely with local governments and community-based partners to help provide essential utility and rental assistance. 

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