RVCC Programs

Rockfish Gallery & Gifts

Open Wednesdays through Saturdays 11am–4pm.

The perfect place to shop for high-quality handmade gifts!
Come shop the gallery for that perfect housewarming gift (or the perfect gift for any other occasion), or get something special for yourself!  The Gallery features a wide variety of local artisan products ranging from gorgeous knitwear & fiber arts to fine woodworking, weaving, painting, jewelry, and more.

As an arts & culture program of RVCC, Rockfish Gallery & Gifts is an entirely volunteer-run organization. 

Treasure Chest Thrift Store

The Treasure Chest thrift store has been a source of financial support for RVCC since its opening in 2001. The store performs an essential service for the Community. This is a place where people can RECYCLE and FIND all types of gently used items. In our financially diverse community, this is a sound proposition from all perspectives. In addition to serving the many shoppers, store staff and volunteers serve a quieter service. Daily, people’s needs are met whether or not they can pay. Most of what is culled from the inventory goes to another organization that serves the low-income population of Nelson and elsewhere.

Mallory Creek Wildflower Garden

The Mallory Creek Native Plant Garden is celebrating its first birthday!  The initial planting took place on May 15th, 2024.  Stop by to see how it has flourished and continues to grow!

People & Pet Feeders

For the “Pet Feeder”:

Guidelines for pet food donations:

Unopened and Unexpired:

Ensure the food is in its original, unopened packaging and within its expiration date.

Non-Prescription:

Avoid donating prescription pet food, as it’s designed for specific medical needs.

Brands:

Most organizations accept all brands of cat and dog food, both wet and dry.

For the past several years, RVCC has hosted a “People Feeder”-a weatherproof cabinet for offering free non-perishable food to those in need.  Thanks to Jim and Sharon Wilson, we’ve now added a cabinet for pets too!

These stations are located just outside of the Treasure Chest Thrift Store.

Anyone who wishes to contribute may leave supplies for pets or their people.  Please make sure that your donations are not in glass containers, and have not passed the expiration date.  They must also be suitable for storage in a climate that is not temperature controlled.

Take What You Need! Give What You Can!

Below are guidelines for what should and should not be donated.

For the “People Feeder”:

20 Items Food Banks Need the Most (and Things to Skip) (Source: tasteofhome.com)

Next time you’re headed to the grocery store, bulk up your shopping list with a few of these non-perishable items from Feeding America‘s wish list. They’re the items food pantries—and your neighbors in need—can really put to good use.

  • Applesauce
  • Canned Beans
  • Canned Chicken
  • Canned Fish (Tuna and Salmon)
  • Canned Meat
  • Canned Vegetables
  • Cooking Oils (Olive and Canola)
  • Crackers
  • Dried Herbs and Spices
  • Fruit (Canned or Dried)
  • Granola Bars
  • Instant Mashed Potatoes
    Meals in a Box
  • Nuts
  • Pasta
  • Peanut Butter
  • Rice or Quinoa
  • Shelf-stable and Powdered Milk
  • Soup, Stew and Chili
  • Whole Grain Cereal

When purchasing items for a food bank, try to avoid:

  • junk food
  • items with glass or cellophane
  • packaging, which can be broken
  • things that need special equipment
  • (pop-top cans–whether for veggies, meat or fruit–a plus)

Watch “sell by” dates and avoid any expired dates

RVCC Collaborations

Jefferson Madison Regional Library Bookmobile

at RVCC on the 2nd Friday of each month, 1:30–2:30pm.

Being its own branch within the JMRL system, the Bookmobile houses a collection of around 10,000 items, including: Fiction, Mysteries, Sci-fi and Fantasy, Graphic Novels, Manga, Audiobooks, YA, Easy Readers, Picture Books, Memory Kits, as well as Non-fiction for adults, YA, and children; from this collection, the Bookmobile vehicle carries around 1,500 to 2000 items on the road, serving a current total of 38 bi-monthly stops including senior residential communities and day centers, preschools, high schools, community and recreation centers, as well as stops at public parks and community special events.

More info:  jmrl.org/bookmobile

Honey Bees at RVCC!

For the past couple of years, RVCC has been proud to host a thriving beehive managed by Siller Pollinator Company.  What began as SPC’s Adopt-A-Hive program has now grown into a program called NectarShare.

From nectarshare.com:
What is NectarShare? 

It’s part ownership in a real beehive. With NectarShare you pick your favorite beehive and purchase a share of it.  

Each share comes with: 
A personalized certificate 
A 12 oz jar of honey from the program 
Wildflower seeds appropriate for your zip code 
Information on pollinators and the program 
Monthly educational email updates on your hive 
Updates on the work of NectarShare 
Subscription to our blog: The PollenBlog 
When you select one of our hives, you’ll notice each hive is dedicated to a non-profit and their cause. We donate a portion of all shares sold to our non-profit partners.  

Your share purchase promotes: 
Pollinators 
Beekeepers 
Non-profits 
Your community 
Our community 

NectarShare makes a great gift, and its also a fantastic, low-cost learning tool if you’ve ever wanted a slow start into the hobby of beekeeping. 

All NectarShare materials are biodegradable and/or recyclable. We believe in doing good. 

To purchase, visit 
https://sillerpollinatorcompany.com/
       
Please consider supporting the bees at RVCC by joining the NectarShare program!