Tuesdays from 6-9pm in the Lower Atrium

Are you looking for a place to connect, play, talk, or create? Is your book club, small group, hobby group looking for a space to meet? Do you want to create a welcoming, safe space in our community for connection and conversation?

Community Night happens on Tuesdays from 6-9 pm in the Lower Atrium at Westside Church. Entrance is through the Eastside Atrium Doors.

We have lots of space and look forward to getting together and connecting. If you are interested in starting a group, joining a group, bringing a group, welcoming others, or just looking for a place to hang out on Tuesday evenings, then Community Night is the place for you.

We have a strategy board game group, an artist group, a teen-friendly DnD group, a 35-50 social group already happening. People are also welcome to just come and read or work on their own, or bring a friend and find a quiet spot for a conversation. You can stay the whole time, or drop by anytime between 6-9 pm. We have simple snacks and hot drinks for free.

“We are an open mixing place for the general public, but we are strongly committed to bringing together people who may not normally spend time together in the hope that they will become friends, seeking deeper relationships with each other and with the community. A sign I once saw in an old café window proclaimed, “There are no strangers here, just friends who haven’t met,” and that pretty much captures what we’re about.” ― Ray Oldenburg, Celebrating the Third Place: Inspiring Stories About the “Great Good Places” at the Heart of Our Communities

Often parents cannot afford to bring snacks or simple meals such as microwavable mac-n-cheese to their Family Time which are visits between parents and children who are placed in foster care. Children look forward to sharing food with their parents as it can foster a sense of normalcy and family rituals and ease the discomfort of bonding and interacting with each other in an unnatural setting.

I Heart 365 is going to help by collecting snacks for these parents and kiddos!! Donations can be dropped off at our church office Monday – Thursday 9am-2pm until October 16. Please see the list below for examples of snacks that can be donated. Thank you for your generosity!

Examples of well-liked snacks:

• Small packages of goldfish crackers
• Granola bars
• Cups of applesauce and plastic spoons
• Microwavable mac-n-cheese and plastic forks
• Crackers
• Snacks that come in squeezable tubes (for toddlers)

Fill a bag for the Free Food Market

Each month along with Neighbor Impact, we help up to 80 families at our Free Food Market. Westside Outreach needs your help to keep the food coming in! Please fill up a special Westside shopping bag with non-perishable foods, bring it back, and take another bag! Participate in this on-going project at your own pace. The bags are available at the Info Center, and filled bags may be dropped off there, as well. Thank you for sharing food with those who need a little extra help.

Every 4th Monday, 1:30pm – 2:30pm in the Student Center

With rising food costs, we are proud of our partnership with Neighbor Impact to provide a free grocery shopping experience to members of our community in need.

Please come if you need some supplementary groceries or would like to pick up groceries for a neighbor. At our Free Food Market, you can choose your own food items, and everyone is welcome! 

Here are the upcoming dates for 2023:

• July 24
• August 28
• September 25
• October 23
• November 27

We couldn’t host this event without our amazing volunteers and we are always looking for more people to join the team.

Saturday, August 26th, 11:00am – 1:00pm

This is a fun family environment that will include a hot dog BBQ and other fun surprises. No registration is needed and every child present will receive a cinch bag of age-appropriate school supplies.

If you know of a family who would benefit from receiving school supplies, or if it would help you and your family, please join us in the Westside Student Center and Family Commons.