Messiah Lutheran Church makes donation to Project RISE

By James Grob, jgrob@charlescitypress.com

Karen Thomas and Martha Cavanaugh of Messiah Lutheran Church in Charles City hand 8th-graders Ryder Biwer and Natalie King a check for $1,111 on Thursday. The donation will go to Project RISE — which stands for “Respect, Integrity, Success, and Empowerment,” and is a student-led, peer-to-peer mentoring program where high school kids volunteer their time to help middle school kids. The student food pantry is one of several successful endeavors, and works to help get students in need things like food, clothing, toiletries and more.

The money was collected during Lenten services at the church, and both of the donors took a tour, led by students, of the middle school and the Project RISE facilities Thursday, and agreed that the students are very dedicated and Project RISE a great program for the students who need it.

“We really appreciate it,” King said. “It helps us so much, to get food and clothing for people.”