Eat, Drink and...Help Needy Children & Families April 3

Eat, drink and help needy children and families by printing out the above coupon and visiting Uno in the Providence Place Mall on Thursday, April 3, for lunch or dinner.

Up to 20% of your bill will be donated to Family Service of Rhode Island and its work helping needy children, adults and families across the state.

The weather looks beautiful for this Thursday.  Get out and enjoy the spring weather and help a great cause!

Change a Lifetime! Learn More March 26!

Family Service of Rhode Island has a waiting list of children from across the state needing loving homes.

Have you thought about becoming a foster parent?  These boys and girls need you!

Learn more about the joys of foster parenting on Wednesday, March 26, in our offices at 134 Thurbers Avenue, just moments off the highway in Providence.  We're holding an open house from 5 until 7 p.m.  Learn more about the event, and get directions, here.

Can't make it then?

That's okay.  Call Greg Wright at 401-331-1350 ext. 3305 or email wrightgr@familyserviceri.org.

Or learn more by visiting our foster child page.  You'll see a video and you can fill out an on-line inquiry form.

Did you know?  Foster parents receive a stipend for caring for their foster child.

Drop Off Items for Veterans in Need through Friday March 28.

Drop off personal care items and help veterans in need!

Through Friday, March 28, Family Service of Rhode Island will be collecting a range of personal care items to support needy veterans.

Items such as socks, toothbrushes, dental floss, shaving cream, deodorant, body wash, hand sanitizer and more.

Please click here for a complete list of items, drop-off locations, directions and times, as well as contact information.

Thank you!

Helping Military Families with Past, Current and Future Deployments

Dr. Erstling

Family Service of RI senior vice president Susan Erstling, LICSW, Ph.D., and Army veteran Jeanne Sherman, LMHC, will be speaking on addressing trauma for military families with past, current or future deployments on Thursday, March 13.

Dr. Erstling heads an evidence-based Family Service of RI trauma program caring for Rhode Island military families. 

The presentation is sponsored by Family Service of RI and Butler Hospital.  For more information please click here.


AIDS Project RI Seeks Restaurants, Social Media Volunteers for Dining Out for Life

It's become a Rhode Island spring tradition: Dining Out for Life benefiting AIDS Project RI.

"It's a great and caring way to celebrate the spring season," said Thomas Bertrand, MPH, AIDS Project RI's executive director.  "Step out on a Thursday night for dinner with friends and family, help people living with HIV and AIDS, and help Rhode Island achieve zero transmission of HIV."  A portion of patrons' bills is donated to AIDS Project RI by participating restaurants.

In 2014, Dining Out for Life is Thursday, April 24.  Tom and his team are currently recruiting restaurants to sign on to take part.

As of early February, nearly 20 restaurants were already slated to participate.  In Providence: Blaze Eastside, CAV, Gracie's, Hemenway's, India, Kitchen Bar, Los Andes, New Rivers, Parkside, Pizzico, 3 Sisters, The Red Fez, RiRa Irish Pub and Restaurant, and Rue De L'Espoir.  In Pawtucket, Hose Company #6 and Rasoi.  In Woonsocket, the Burrito Company.  "We're hoping to get at least 30 restaurants from cities and towns across the state to participate," he said.

For the first time ever he's looking for volunteers to help promote the event through social media. "Our job is to fill the tables at participating restaurants on April 24th.  We want to have a team to help us raise awareness via social media of the list of restaurants participating," he said.  "We want each of our restaurants to have every seat filled on that day."

Restaurants or social media volunteers should contact Amy Stein, the event's director, at 401-559-7896 or amy@aidsprojectri.org.

For more than 30 years, AIDS Project RI has provided HIV/AIDS prevention and education services, as well as assistance for people living with HIV/AIDS.  AIDS Project RI is a division of Family Service of RI.

More information is available at www.aidsprojectri.org.

Children in RI Need Loving Homes--Maybe Yours!

Have you ever thought how you might help needy children in Rhode Island?

Consider foster parenting!

Find out more at Family Service of RI's Information Open House this Wednesday, January 29, from 5 to 7 p.m. at our office at 134 Thurbers Avenue, Providence--right off 95 South with plenty of free parking!

You'll obtain all the information you'll need on how you can give a deserving child a safe and nurturing home.

Interested?  Call Greg Wright at 401-331-1350 ext. 3305 or email him at wrightgr@familyserviceri.org.

Get Ready for Valentine's Day this Wednesday Night at Alex and Ani!

Make it a special Valentine's Day and help Family Service of RI at the same time!  Join us for a night of Valentine's Day shopping this Wednesday, January 29, 7 to 9 p.m. at the Alex and Ani location in Wayland Square, Providence.

Fifteen percent of sales go to Family Service of RI.

If you can attend please contact Julie Casimiro at casimiroju@familyserviceri.org or call 401-519-2289.

Celebrate by Helping Someone in Need

There are just a few hours left in 2013!  It's a time for reflection and a time to look forward.

What better way to end one year and begin another than by helping someone in need?

For more information on how you might help, please click here.

Happy New Year from all of us at Family Service of RI!

Our Early Intervention Program Celebrates the Holidays

Family Service of Rhode Island's Early Intervention program held a holiday party the other day for dozens of children in the program--and their moms and dads too!

In addition to meeting Santa, the boys and girls had fun with holiday crafts.

Our Early Intervention program provides a range of services for children from birth to age 3 with or at risk of developmental delays.

Special shout out to Little Kids, Inc. for providing gifts!

Help a Child Smile & Stay Warm

Too often children we serve don't have the coats and gloves needed to effectively protect them from the winter cold.

Some even have holes in their shoes!

We do what we can for these boys and girls and their families, but the need is overwhelming.

Perhaps you could help a child smile and stay warm with donations of new coats and gloves, retail and grocery gift certificates, and toys too because it's the holiday season.

Please contact Julie Casimiro at 401-519-2289 or email her.

Thank you!

Rhode Island Marks World AIDS Day Over the Next Five Days

A number of World AIDS Day activities are taking place in Rhode Island starting on Sunday and continuing for a number of days.  Prevention is the theme.

For more information and a complete listing of events, please click here.

You're Invited to the State House for World AIDS Day Event

Designer Estate Clothing Sale Saturday November 23

The administration team at Whole Foods Market University Heights in Providence recently volunteered to help Family Service of Rhode Island prepare for their clothing sale as part of their team building and desire to support the community during the holiday season.

Support the work of Family Service of Rhode Island by attending a Designer Estate Clothing Sale, Saturday, November 23, 9 to noon at 404 Wickenden Street in Providence's Fox Point neighborhood.

Family Service of Rhode Island received a huge donation of women's clothing, including designer evening wear, career wear, outerwear, shoes, jewelry and accessories. 

Names like Jones of New York, Ralph Lauren and Anne Klein are included in the collection, which features mostly sizes 10 to 12.

  

For more information, please call Julie Casimiro at 401-519-2289 or email her at casimiroju@familyserviceri.org.

Your support assists in Family Service of Rhode Island’s work helping children traumatized by crime and violence, students facing educational barriers such as absenteeism and bullying, families in poverty, and many others in need in Rhode Island.

State Police Major Leads Walking School Bus

State Police Major James M. Manni led Family Service of Rhode Island’s Walking School Bus Tuesday afternoon, November 12, starting at the Mary E. Fogarty Elementary School in Providence.  It started to get very cold as the children ended the school day and had to begin the journey home.

The Walking School Bus provides routes to and from school led by volunteers.  The initiative ensures that each child, living within a mile of the school, who needs to walk arrives on time and returns home safely, even when a family member is unable to walk with him or her. 

The Walking School Bus is reducing school tardiness and absenteeism. The program also promotes a positive community spirit as volunteers and school children walk through the neighborhoods surrounding the school.

The Walking School Bus is part of Family Service of Rhode Island’s “Providence Children’s Initiative,” based at the school and providing a comprehensive, collaborative program to improve educational and social development outcomes for children and families in the South Providence neighborhood.

Family Service of Rhode Island has invited a number of community leaders to lead the Walking School Bus to raise awareness of the program and to help recruit volunteers.  Anyone interested in volunteering should call 401-331-1350 ext. 3457.

Bringing Business and Faith Communities Together to Help People in Need

Barbara Martin, LICSW, of Pawtucket, received the Rhode Island State Council of Churches’ “Partners in Faith Award” Thursday October 31 at the Council’s awards breakfast.

She  received the recognition for founding the “Partners IN Service” (PINS) program, an initiative of the Urban Core Family Care Community Partnership (UCFCCP), which is led by Family Service of Rhode Island and funded by the Department of Children, Youth and Families.

Under PINS, community partners, such as congregations and businesses, share skills and contribute household goods, clothing and other basics to families receiving wraparound social services from UCFCCP member agencies.  UCFCCP and PINS serve families in Providence, Pawtucket, Central Falls and Cranston.

“For families struggling to make financial and emotional ends meet, connection to a caring faith community or business can make all the difference,” said Margaret Holland McDuff, CEO of Family Service of Rhode Island. “Congratulations to Barbara, and thank you for bringing PINS to Family Service of Rhode Island!  Your commitment and creativity are transforming lives.”

Nearly twenty congregations, including Christian churches, synagogues and a mosque, participate along with several businesses.  Ms. Martin brought the PINS idea with her from Vermont, where she lived and worked for many years.

For more information about PINS, please call 401-639-4706.

Brighter Futures Luncheon Thursday October 24

Our 9th annual Brighter Futures luncheon is coming up Thursday, October 24, noon at the Rhode Island Convention Center.

This is a important fundraiser.  Your support will help ensure that Family Service of Rhode Island can provide individuals with the highest standard of assistance and support possible.

During the event, we honor a person or organization helping to build brighter futures for people in need in the community.  This year's Brighter Futures award recipient is Providence Mayor Angel Taveras.

Please join us and hundreds of others from across Rhode Island.  Call 401-519-2274, or email seats@familyserviceri.org, or purchase a seat on-line by visiting this page.

NBC 10 anchor Patrice Wood is our emcee, and she always does a great job!

Hope to see you there!

AIDS Walk for Life is Saturday

There is still time to join the AIDS Walk for Life, happening this Saturday, September 28!

It's the area's largest event dedicated to raising awareness and funds for HIV prevention and testing, and providing care for people living with HIV/AIDS.  It starts at 9 a.m. on the State House lawn (city side).

See us on The Rhode Show here.  Sign up here.

Tips for Speaking with a Child in the DC Navy Yard Shootings Aftermath

Parents may have questions about how to talk with a child about the DC Navy Yard shootings.

The child trauma and loss center at Family Service of RI, the state site for the National Child Traumatic Stress Network, offers some quick tips:

--Limit exposure to the media.  Be aware that children are always listening.

--If a child is asking questions about the event, reassure that he/she is safe.

--Keep adult conversations for adult ears only.

More tips and resources are available here.

Starting the School Year Right Thanks to National Grid

Back row, l to r, National Grid's Gladys Sarji; 
Family Service of RI's Adrienne Nicoloro, Tigest Gizaw; 
National Grid's Karen Jasinowski. Front, l to r,
Family Service of RI's Samantha Hightower, Candace 
Johndrow; National Grid's Shelby Doherty

Thanks to National Grid employees, many youngsters and teachers are starting the school year right!

National Grid selected a small number of nonprofits--including, fortunately, Family Service of RI--to donate school supplies to so students and their teachers will have the tools they need to succeed.

They provided us 49 backpacks filled with school supplies as well as additional school supplies. Donations were directed to Family Service of RI's Youth Success program and The Providence Children's Initiative.

Youth Success helps Providence youth, both male and female, with pregnancy, parenting and education issues.  The Providence Children's Initiative is our South Providence-based program working to improve academic, economic and social outcomes; one of its well-known efforts is The Walking School Bus.

Many thanks to National Grid and its generous employees!

Family Service of RI Board President Malcolm Farmer Remembers the Civil Rights Fight

To mark the 50 years since Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech, the Providence Journal spoke with Rhode Islanders who headed south to fight for civil rights in the1960s.

Including Family Service of RI's board president Malcolm Farmer, III.