Local Impact
Focus Areas
2RC focuses its Local Impact efforts on addressing the physical and spiritual needs of people and communities surrounding our campuses. By loving our neighbors in this way, we represent Jesus and open ways to share the Gospel through both word and deed. We primarily create these opportunities to serve through Serve Saturdays, strategic partnering with campus-specific charities, and encouraging service by individuals and/or groups.
Serve Saturdays
Three times a year, we hold Serve Saturdays where we send out our members to complete service projects in the communities around each campus. Individuals and groups can identify their own projects or select them from a list compiled by 2RC staff.
Harrison Lane Campus Partners
Harrison Lane has developed relationships with five proven charities impacting the Knoxville and Lenoir City areas. These organizations provide for families in need at our nearest school; restore men and women struggling with homelessness, poverty, mental health, and addiction; help widowed parents move forward with hope; comfort the elderly residing in nursing homes; and teach life skills to special needs young adults.
Find out how to volunteer with these partners by clicking the links to the right.
Eaton Elementary School
Address:
423 Hickory Creek Rd
Lenoir City, TN 37771
Eaton website
Contact:
Rick Robertson
2RC Local Impact Coordinator
865-235-8679 mobile
Rick.Robertson@2RC.tv
Nearly half of the students at Eaton Elementary School qualify for the free or reduced price lunch program and need our help in several ways:
When the students stay home on weekends, they can’t access the school-provided meals and they and their families often face food shortages. We help by providing about 100 backpacks filled with food each weekend.
When the students are on extended breaks—such as Fall Break, Christmas, and Spring Break—they are again at risk of running low on food. To help alleviate these shortages we buy, package, and distribute food to about 50 Eaton-selected families prior to each of these breaks.
When we distribute the food boxes for the Christmas Break, we also host a Christmas Party for the selected Eaton families. When they arrive at Two Rivers Church to pick up the food, we also provide a home-made breakfast, arts & crafts, and a free Toy Store in which the parents/guardians can “shop” for three gifts for each child.
When the weather turns cold in November, the Eaton teachers identify students that don’t have adequate winter coats. They provide us this list, we shop, and then we fit the coats to each child.
When the weather turns warm, we provide shoe store gift certificates to 100+ kids so they can get new sneakers in time for outdoor activities.
Throughout the year, 2RC volunteers mentor at-risk Eaton students through one-on-one, once-a-week, one-hour meetings during the school day. These sessions have been proven to increase self-confidence, resilience, and overall control of their emotions.
Knox Area Rescue Ministries
Address:
418 N Broadway
Knoxville, TN 37917
KARM website
KARM Stores website
Contact:
Jay Kenoyer
2RC liaison with KARM
judsonkenoyer@gmail.com
Knoxville typically has a homeless population of over 1,000 people. KARM (Knox Area Rescue Ministries) seeks to “rescue the poor and needy of the Knox area by providing recovery services in Jesus’ name. Since 1960, KARM [has pursued] this mission using the same ministry formula Jesus used: Rescue + Relationships = Restoration.” Through our partnership with KARM, we help with their mission by:
Providing growth groups and individuals to serve meals at their downtown facility
Supplying and operating the courtyard concession stand that provides water and snacks to the homeless in the area
Donating to, working in, and buying from the various KARM Stores. 100% of the profits from these stores go directly to KARM to provide meals, job training, life skills, healthcare, and more for the homeless.
For those wanting a deeper commitment, many of KARM’s ongoing ministry opportunities need volunteers such as mentors, receptionists, facilitators, teachers, and administrative support.
Widowed Parents Relief Project
Address:
Serves widowed parents
in Knoxville metro area
Contact:
Kelly Orrico
WPRP President
865.888.7274
support@widowedparentrp.org
Widowed Parent Relief Project’s (WPRP) mission is to help build an enduring support system and alleviate everyday stressors for widowed parents so they can spend more time on their family’s mental health and healing. Ways to get involved include:
Volunteer to be a Family Friend who walks alongside the widowed parent for one year, staying apprised of needs and advocating for the family in the community.
Shop for school supplies to remove this stressful activity from the widowed parent’s “To Do” list.
Shop for Christmas gifts for the children since holidays are typically a very difficult time for widowed parents.
Help with spring cleaning, outdoor projects, Spring Break activities, or providing a small treat just to say “you’re not alone.”
Help with fall projects such as decorating the house, doing yard work, carving pumpkins, or anything else the parents find taxing.
Financially support a family by helping pay for cleaning services, self care or childcare expenses, home maintenance/organization specialists, and special day gifts (birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, events, etc.)
WPRP’s website lists current needs for the families it is helping as well as the organization itself. These may include home maintenance, furniture needs, yard work, fundraising, computer expertise, and prayer requests. These are a great way to start getting involved with WPRP.
NHC Farragut
Address:
122 Cavette Hill Ln
Knoxville, TN 37934
Contact:
David Fowler
2RC Liaison to NHC
fowler.david.e@gmail.com
NHC (National Health Corporation) of Farragut provides short-term rehabilitative care to get people back home as well as serving as a long-term home for those needing assisted living care or memory care. With as many as 200+ residents, many don’t get much attention from visitors. That’s a lack we hope to at least correct as much as possible through the following activities:
Participate in periodic group activities that engage residents in a meaningful service project while also providing an opportunity for conversation and fellowship
Visit one-on-one with a resident or residents to provide some variety in their days through conversation, prayer, activities, or whatever they may want to do.
Pray steadfastly for the residents through personal prayer or in groups during prayer walks.
Play an instrument or sing at specific events or during daily activities to bring the joy of music to the residents and staff.
Riverside Coffee Shop
Address:
ABA Next Steps,
Riverside Coffee Shop
16239 Hwy 70 E
Lenoir City 37772
Contact:
Angela Lee, MEd, BCBA, LBA
Founder/Owner
(865) 816-3711
Riverside Coffee not only serves your favorite coffee with soul, it also brews up a future full of possibilities! Their unique two-year ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) program helps special needs young adults develop and practice skills that increase independence in a safe and supportive environment. Customers get delicious coffee, drinks, and light fare while the servers get experience and fulfillment. We help Riverside in these ways:
Lease the facility to ABA/Riverside Coffee at a discounted cost to enable them to focus their resources on developing, delivering, and growing their ABA program.
Frequent the shop as individuals, with friends, and for meetings as often as possible! What we spend there enables the ABA efforts to continue.
Periodically provide volunteers to help with remodeling, painting, maintenance, landscaping, and anything else we can do to support them!
Roane County Campus Partners
The Roane County Campus continues to develop relationships with proven charities impacting the Kingston, Harriman, and Rockwood areas. These organizations empower women and families facing unexpected pregnancies, provide food to those in need, care for the children awaiting placement, provision students in a nearby school, and help recovering addicts.
Find out how to volunteer with these partners by clicking the links to the right.
Life Choices Medical Center
Address:
1102 S Roane St
Harriman, TN 37748
Life Choices Website
Contact:
Kathleen Cherry
865-234-8900
Life Choices Medical Center in Harriman provides everything needed to make an informed pregnancy decision. They believe women and men have a right to get information from a resource that will not profit from the choices and pregnancy decisions they make. All its services are free and confidential. Two Rivers supports Life Choices by:
Supporting the center financially through giving from both individual and church-budget donations.
Donating to and participating in Life Choices events such as diaper drives, their annual Walk for Live, benefit dinners, baby showers, and others.
Conducting service projects for landscaping, cleaning, organizing, facility maintenance, and more.
Isaiah 117 House
Isaiah 117 Houses provide physical and emotional support in a safe and loving home for children that have been removed from their homes out of concern for their safety. Typically, they are taken to a child welfare services office to await placement. This can be a few hours to several days. These children often have nothing with them and are scared, lonely, hungry, and in dirty clothing. Isaiah 117 provides a comforting home where these children instead can be brought to wait – a place that is safe with friendly and loving volunteers who provide clean clothes, smiles, toys, and snuggly blankets. This space allows children to receive the comfort and care they need while child welfare staff can do the necessary paperwork and identify a good placement.
A new Isaiah 117 house is currently under construction in ____________. Two Rivers Church is supporting this new house by:
Donating funds to complete construction and the operation of the new house.
Training to become a volunteer (Note: all volunteers must be approved and certified by TN).
Donate Walmart gift cards, adult size male and female pajamas & clothes (only new), teen size male and female pajamas & clothes (only new), jeans in all sizes (only new), underwear all sizes (only new), or socks all sizes (only new).
Hands of Mercy Pantry
Address:
421 Devonia St., Harriman 37748
147 Court St., Kingston, TN 37763
Hands of Mercy website
Contact:
Amanda Roberts, Director
865-717-9885
handsofmercyroane@outlook.com
The mission of Hands of Mercy is to provide healthy, nutritional food to its Roane County neighbors in need by acquiring and distributing food to those who seek out assistance. It exists to serve people as agents of Christ’s love and grace. We support this organization by:
Volunteering to help at either of their pantry locations to stock, organize, pack, and distribute food to those in need.
Donating toiletries or food products requested on their website.
Help with requested service projects including organizing, cleaning, and maintaining the two pantry locations both inside and outside.
Oakdale School
Address:
225 Clifty Creek Road
Oakdale, TN 37829
Phone: (423) 369-3885
Oakdale School website
Contact:
Todd Mikelson
Todd.Mikelson@2RC.tv
Oakdale School has about 500 students in Pre-K through 12 grade. About 30% of the students participate in the free or reduced lunch program. 2RC-RC supports the school by:
Showing appreciation to the teaching and support staff
Assisting the school through various Serve Saturday projects
Helping needy students as needed (supplies, food, etc.)
Roane State Collegiate Ministry
The Baptist Collegiate Ministry on the Roane State–Harriman Campus is committed to helping students know Christ and then make Christ known. They build relationships with Christ through worship, Bible study, discipleship, fellowship, and local church participation and involvement. They then make Christ known through evangelism, missions, ministry, and enlistment of students in BCM activities.
The students come from a variety of backgrounds. Not all are Baptist. Not all are Christian. They welcome everyone who comes into the BCM. Two Rivers Church assists by:
Helping BCM and its Roane State facility through Serve Saturday projects
Financially supporting BCM as needed
Bearden Campus Partners
The Bearden Campus continues to develop relationships with proven charities impacting the metropolitan Knoxville area. These organizations help show Jesus to international students at UT,
Find out how to volunteer with these partners by clicking the links to the right.
Bridges International
Address:
2001 Lake Ave
Knoxville, TN
Bridges International website
Contact:
Nate Sullivan
nate.sullivan@2RC.tv
Bridges International is a caring community of Christ-followers committed to serve, promote social connections and engage in spiritual conversations with international students so that students become leaders internationally. We support Bridges by:
Financially supporting the Bridges International leaders
Providing the Bearden Campus for gatherings and a place of worship
FISH Pantry
FISH Hospitality Pantries provides food packages each month to over 7,000 families in the Knoxville area. They also distribute nearly 8,000 Kids BOOST food bags, especially created to address the nutritional needs of children who visit their four Knoxville neighborhood food-relief pantries. Our support to FISH includes:
Providing volunteers to help at the pantries during Serve Saturdays
Having several volunteers serve on a weekly basis to help organize donations at various pantry locations
Heritage Assisted Living
Address:
1585 Coleman Rd
Knoxville, TN 37909
Heritage website
Contact:
Nate Sullivan
nate.sullivan@2RC.tv
Heritage is a smaller assisted living facility that houses around 40 residents in a single-story building. It offers personalized care with access to caregivers 24/7, assistance with medication, and activities that enrich the lives of the elderly community.
Our support to Heritage involves:
bringing worship to them quarterly
playing games with and reading to residents
helping with transportation to appointments, outings, and trips to the store
KARM Launchpoint2
Address:
515 Renford Rd
Knoxville, TN 37909
KARM Launchpoint2 website
Contact:
Nate Sullivan
nate.sullivan@2RC.tv
While KARM’s (Knox Area Rescue Ministry) guests are waiting on housing, they are encouraged to participate in Launchpoint and LaunchPoint2, where they develop life skills so they can break the cycle of homelessness in their lives. Since July 2023, 40 guests have successfully found housing, with 21 of them graduating from the LaunchPoint programs. Specifically, 2RC is:
supporting the residents at Cagle Terrace, a housing unit near Bearden
working to form small groups to watch The Chosen and have faith discussions
creating small gatherings like breakfasts and community activities
Emerald Youth Swim Program
Address:
3124 Wilson Ave
Knoxville, TN 37914
Emerald Youth Foundation website
Contact:
Rebekah Fadeley
rfadeley@emeraldyouth.org
Emerald Youth Foundation is making a significant impact by teaching urban children how to swim, a critical life skill as drowning is a leading cause of death among children in the U.S. Disturbingly, Black children ages 10-14 are 7.6 times more likely to drown than their white counterparts. Emerald Youth aims to reduce this disparity by providing affordable swim lessons and also running a co-ed competitive swim team for 1st-12th graders.
Specifically, 2RC is:
supporting the Dr. E.V. Davidson Community Center pool with volunteers on Serve Saturdays
providing volunteers for sports events including coaching, scorekeeping, and concession stands
Bearden Elementary School
Address:
5717 Kingston Pike
Knoxville, TN 37919
Bearden Elementary website
Contact:
Nate Sullivan
nate.sullivan@2rc.tv
Bearden Elementary School is less than one mile from the 2RC Bearden Campus. It has 350+ students in Pre-K through 5th grade and about 25 teachers. 2RC is partnering with the school to support the staff and low-income families. Specifically, 2RC is:
conducting coat and food drives to help families in need
providing resources to teachers to help them help students in need
helping to build physical and spiritual support systems to aid families throughout the year
Other Volunteer Opportunities
The members of 2RC volunteer at 90+ charitable organizations within the nine-county region around Knoxville. If you or your group are looking to serve in an area outside of the campus partnerships presented above, we may be able to help you get connected. The links to the right list local organizations that address needs in areas ranging from fighting human trafficking to feeding the needy.
Click the links to the right for suggestions on where to volunteer for a cause close to your heart.
Addiction Recovery
We have experience with the following organizations working in this area. This may include volunteers working with them or vetting by our staff. Click the links to learn more about the organization and volunteer directly with them.
Email Rick Robertson, our Local Impact Coordinator, for more information.
Adoption/Foster Care
We have experience with the following organizations working in this area. This may include volunteers working with them or vetting by our staff. Click the links to learn more about the organization and volunteer directly with them.
Email Rick Robertson, our Local Impact Coordinator, for more information.
Disabilities/Special Needs
We have experience with the following organizations working in this area. This may include volunteers working with them or vetting by our staff. Click the links to learn more about the organization and volunteer directly with them.
Email Rick Robertson, our Local Impact Coordinator, for more information.
Domestic Abuse
We have experience with the following organizations working in this area. This may include volunteers working with them or vetting by our staff. Click the links to learn more about the organization and volunteer directly with them.
Email Rick Robertson, our Local Impact Coordinator, for more information.
Elderly Care
We have experience with the following organizations working in this area. This may include volunteers working with them or vetting by our staff. Click the links to learn more about the organization and volunteer directly with them.
Email Rick Robertson, our Local Impact Coordinator, for more information.
Evangelism
We have experience with the following organizations working in this area. This may include volunteers working with them or vetting by our staff. Click the links to learn more about the organization and volunteer directly with them.
Email Rick Robertson, our Local Impact Coordinator, for more information.
Homelessness
We have experience with the following organizations working in this area. This may include volunteers working with them or vetting by our staff. Click the links to learn more about the organization and volunteer directly with them.
Email Rick Robertson, our Local Impact Coordinator, for more information.
Human Trafficking
We have experience with the following organizations working in this area. This may include volunteers working with them or vetting by our staff. Click the links to learn more about the organization and volunteer directly with them.
Email Rick Robertson, our Local Impact Coordinator, for more information.
Mentoring/Training
We have experience with the following organizations working in this area. This may include volunteers working with them or vetting by our staff. Click the links to learn more about the organization and volunteer directly with them.
Email Rick Robertson, our Local Impact Coordinator, for more information.
Poverty/Food Programs
We have experience with the following organizations working in this area. This may include volunteers working with them or vetting by our staff. Click the links to learn more about the organization and volunteer directly with them.
Email Rick Robertson, our Local Impact Coordinator, for more information.
Abortion Prevention/Recovery
We have experience with the following organizations working in this area. This may include volunteers working with them or vetting by our staff. Click the links to learn more about the organization and volunteer directly with them.
Email Rick Robertson, our Local Impact Coordinator, for more information.
Prison Ministry
We have experience with the following organizations working in this area. This may include volunteers working with them or vetting by our staff. Click the links to learn more about the organization and volunteer directly with them.
Email Rick Robertson, our Local Impact Coordinator, for more information.
Refugees
We have experience with the following organizations working in this area. This may include volunteers working with them or vetting by our staff. Click the links to learn more about the organization and volunteer directly with them.
Email Rick Robertson, our Local Impact Coordinator, for more information.
Single Moms
We have experience with the following organizations working in this area. This may include volunteers working with them or vetting by our staff. Click the links to learn more about the organization and volunteer directly with them.
Email Rick Robertson, our Local Impact Coordinator, for more information.
Widowed Parents
We have experience with the following organizations working in this area. This may include volunteers working with them or vetting by our staff. Click the links to learn more about the organization and volunteer directly with them.
Email Rick Robertson, our Local Impact Coordinator, for more information.
Member Care
Our church offers numerous one-to-one and group-centered prayer and care ministries to help our members deal with difficult situations in which they find themselves. All of these need volunteers to help host, lead, or participate in the sessions and meetings. Click the links to the right to learn more about these ministries and who you should contact if you want to volunteer.
Email Danny Matthews, our Prayer and Care Pastor, for more information.
Requests for
Assistance
