River of Refuge has made a commitment to help the hidden homeless, families living in pay-by-the-week motels and unable to save enough for deposits, down payments or able to pay off debt. RoR is a nonprofit created to provide free temporary housing and other services to the working poor and help get them back on their feet.  

NEWS: River of Refuge set to open in April. 

Each month we tackle a variety of tasks which may include cleaning, sorting donations, moving bulk items, ect. An updated list will be posted several days before the event in the comment section as well as emailed to attendees.

DRESS: Wear comfortable clothing you won’t mind getting dirty and close toe shoes. You may want to bring your own work gloves and a refillable water bottle.

DIRECTIONS: River of Refuge is the former Park Lane Hospital, but we will meet in the lobby of the Doctors Offices. Google maps will take you to the wrong entrance so please view this MAP so you won’t get lost. Once you turn off Raytown Rd. you’ll need to veer to the right, go up a hill and the offices are on the left.  DO NOT go to Two Rivers, which is on the right.  You can also call me (Selena) at <a>816-582-7857</a>. 

“This dream has always been about a community coming together to help local families with children. That’s why I’m confident that as we enter the final stretch, we’ll find the extra funding we need to open River of Refuge and help these families,” said John Wiley, founder and board member of River of Refuge.

River of Refuge was conceived after John Wiley witnessed a group of children boarding a school bus from the parking lot of an old, run-down motel near his home in Raytown, Mo. Converting the vacant Park Lane Hospital from an eyesore to community asset to help working families become self-sufficient seemed like a plausible solution.

The first phase of construction began in July of 2014 with the doctor’s offices attached to the former hospital. Currently 11 family units have been finished on the 1st floor with additional units to begin construction Summer of 2016.