Rhode Island State Office
1515 Elmwood Avenue
Cranston, RI 02910
(401) 490-0240
Fax: (401) 490-0185
Providence County Coordinator
Lt. John C. and
Major Gayle B. Luby
Email: John.Luby@use.salvationarmy.org
Gayle.Luby@use.salvationarmy.org
Directions: Click here
DONORS HELP THE SALVATION ARMY’S
122ND RED KETTLE CAMPAIGN SET NEW FUNDRAISING RECORD DESPITE ECONOMIC
WOES
Concerts, Contests, Celebrities, and
Corporate Retailers Connect Fundraisers to Americans
(Connecticut State Representative Tim
LeGeyt (R-17) from Avon and Canton; with Walmart store manager Fred Fuller; and
Major Brian Glasco, Greater Hartford Area Coordinator, participating in one of
several “Walmart matches.”)
ALEXANDRIA, VA – The generosity of donors in America once again helped
The Salvation Army reach a new record through its 2012 Red Kettle Campaign
– $148.7 million collected through nickels, dimes, quarters, and dollars
(and the occasional diamond ring or gold tooth). During the 122nd annual
campaign, which ran from November 22nd through Christmas Eve, The Salvation
Army incorporated concerts, contests, and celebrities in a national effort to
raise donations to help people through these harsh economic conditions. With
red kettles hosted at retailers nationwide, donations to the Army support
families and individuals in need in the communities in which the donations are
raised year-round. Of this total, in the Southern New England Division,
the Army raised $2,064,760.85, thanks to the generosity of those within both
Connecticut and Rhode Island. More information on this successful campaign...
THE SALVATION ARMY HELPING IN NEWTOWN
(Majors Dave and Eunice Champlin participating in the evening vigil.)
NEWTOWN - The tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School has had a profound impact on that small town, as well as on communities across our nation. The Salvation Army’s Southern New England Divisional Leadership of Majors Dave and Eunice Champlin, Majors Steve and Valerie Lopes, along with Danbury Corps Officer, Captain Todd Hughes, attended the evening vigil on the night of the shooting to support those who had lost loved ones. Through The Salvation Army’s Newtown/Bethel Service Unit, the Army's services of feeding and emotional and spiritual care were offered to everyone who was in need, however, other local agencies are currently providing counseling.
On Saturday, a mobile canteen truck from The Salvation Army’s New London Corps arrived to serve meals at the Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire and Rescue Company and stayed until being dismissed on Sunday. They were then put on stand-by, pending further need.
On Sunday evening, Majors Dave and Eunice Champlin also joined other clergy, representing The Salvation Army as they attended the vigil with President Barack Obama.
WHERE WOULD YOU LIKE US TO PARK?
The Salvation Army Arrives at Misquamicut Beach Ready To
Serve!
PROVIDENCE –
Frequently, the only question whichever The Salvation Army Emergency Disaster
Services’ canteen truck driver has to ask when he/she arrives at the site
of a need is… "Where would you like us to park?" It was no different at
Misquamicut Beach on Saturday and Sunday, November 10th and 11th.
The week before, Janice Pothier Pac, Associate Director of Serve Rhode
Island, called and asked if The Salvation Army could serve food for volunteers
on Saturday and Sunday, the weekend after the storm, Lieutenant John Luby,
Rhode Island State Coordinator, had to say "No… sorry we can’t.
Our truck is in the shop, with an electrical problem. " However, as Lieutenant
Luby and The Salvation Army in general never likes to say no to people in need,
the next weekend when a new crew of workers was scheduled to work, Lieutenant
Luby told Janice, "We’ll be there this weekend!" How The Salvation Army helped...
THE WORST OF TIMES
Food pantries say that demand is greater than ever
(Excerpt from NewportRI.com article by James J. Gillis. Please follow link to read full story.)
NEWPORT — Those who run local food pantries are used to experiencing hard times, but say they never have seen it this bad.
“Our cupboards are pretty bare,” said Lt. Helen Johnson, who runs the local Salvation Army mission with her husband, Kevin. “We have a lot of rice and beans and not much else. Rice and beans are fine, but we need some variety.”
The Salvation Army operates a food pantry on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m, and on Saturdays from 9 a.m to noon. It offers soup kitchens on Fridays at 5 p.m. and Sundays at 4 p.m. A pressing need...
SCORE ONE FOR THE TEAM
As Hard Work Pays Off!
PROVIDENCE - At the beginning of the summer, staff at The Salvation Army began to notice a shift in interest in their basketball program. As faithful young adult basketball "all stars" started moving on in different directions, some to school, others to work, some even to military service, there cropped up a whole new generation of young "all stars". This enthusiastic group of boys, ages 6 to 12, wanted a chance to hone their skills in a safe environment. They approached senior soldier Curtis Poland and asked if they could have their own night to play ball. For an organization always willing to provide, the answer was an enthusiastic “Yes!”
These players then met every Monday night over the summer to play and train, working hard, learning structure, respecting authority, and discovering how to play by the rules. It was not always easy. These boys were very competitive. However, by the end of the summer, staff began to see the signs of consistency, commitment, and devotion in these young men who had grown considerably. In culmination, they were rewarded with a banquet dinner. The Mobile Community Response team came out and cooked hamburgers and hot dogs for the hungry players as scripture was shared around the message of "Gods Gifts and our Responsibility," with Curtis presenting each young "all star" with his very own jersey! The boys then competed for the bragging rights for the year in one final energetic tournament. This program will reopen in January. Naturally, the kids are already talking about it!
NEWPORT CORPS SOUP KITCHEN GETS A
FACELIFT
Generosity keeps doors open, feeding hundreds
monthly!
(“This kitchen provides a great service to our
community," said Mayor Henry Winthrop, who was on hand to help christen the new
kitchen.)
NEWPORT - Local volunteers and community representatives gathered at The
Salvation Army's Soup Kitchen on Memorial Boulevard to celebrate their
newly-remodeled kitchen. More information...
SEE A STORY ON THE RI BILL OF RIGHTS,
INCLUDING AN APPEARANCE BY
THE SALVATION ARMY'S MOBILE COMMUNITY RESPONSE PROGRAM
THE SALVATION ARMY NIGHT
BRINGS RECORD
SUMMER ATTENDANCE
As Newport Gulls Play Ball to Shutout Holyoke Blue
Sox 9-0!
(Lieutenants Kevin and Helen Johnson, Corps Officers for
the Newport Corps, throw two of the first pitches for the game!)
NEWPORT – On July 13th, Cardines Field was home to a 9-0 shutout as
the Newport Gulls took on and defeated the Holyoke Blue Sox. The Salvation Army
had staff and many fans of both the organization and team in attendance to
cheer on the Gulls and support a great cause. Funds were raised, friendships
were made, and baseball fans just kept coming, with rumors of a record
attendance for a Newport Gulls home game this summer. Pictures and more about The Salvation Army and Newport Gulls...
THE SALVATION ARMY AND
ENTENMANN'S®
CELEBRATE THE 75TH ANNUAL NATIONAL DONUT DAY
ON
JUNE 1ST
((L-R) Tiffany Handy, Maureen Gensheimer, Roger V. Cronin, Jr., and Kevin Thomas, Mobile Community Response Supervisor, happy to serve!)
BRIDGEPORT AND PROVIDENCE - The weather was beautiful and the donuts
delicious. Before the coffee was even brewed, people had already begun
congregating around The Salvation Army's two canteen trucks, stationed in
Providence, Rhode Island, and Bridgeport, Connecticut, which were preparing to
distribute free donuts and coffee to anyone who came by. Not before long, staff
and volunteers from The Salvation Army and Entenmann's were engaging in
conversation with the public about National Donut Day and the historical role
The Salvation Army has played in it.
To make this day a success, once again, The Salvation Army partnered with
Entenmann's, the maker of more than 100 sweet baked goods, to celebrate the
75th Annual National Donut Day on June 1st, 2012, with a sweet offering. This
holiday, held annually on the first Friday of June, was established by The
Salvation Army in 1938 to honor The Salvation Army's "Donut Lassies," who
served these treats to soldiers during World War I. This significant occasion
established the donut as a long-standing symbol of the services The Salvation
Army continues to provide. More details...
SEE THE SALVATION ARMY'S MOBILE COMMUNITY RESPONSE
IN RHODE ISLAND IN ACTION!
THE SALVATION ARMY APPRECIATES ITS VOLUNTEERS!
Providence – The Salvation Army held a “Volunteer Appreciation Night” at their Citadel Headquarters on Broad Street on January 31st. The purpose of the evening was to say thank you to those who had donated their time, talents, and treasures to help with programs during the Thanksgiving and Christmas season. Providence Area Commander, Lt. John C. Luby said, “The thought was to honor our volunteers with a nice meal and fellowship, to give them a few small tokens of our appreciation and to present some awards to some exceptional people. These people have been steady and frequent volunteers over and throughout the years, and we wanted to do something nice for them... so we did!” More thanks...
HERE COMES THE ARMY!
Salvation Army rolls out new mobile
community response canteen program.
PROVIDENCE - Salvation Army Lieutenant John Luby reports the Providence
Salvation Army Corps will be introducing a new feeding and outreach program in
the Providence DownCity area.
Lt . Luby said, "The Salvation Army is delighted to introduce this new
community program.
We will be serving complete meals from our Mobile
Community Response/EDS canteen. Our truck has previously offered food, water
and more at community events such as: prayer walks, public events with other
non-profits, emergency disaster responses - such as last year's spring floods,
feeding breakfasts and dinners at area shelters and the truck has also operated
as a hydration station during especially hot days to prevent dehydration. As
always we never charge for any assistance we serve from our vehicles." The
truck will be parked in Burnside Park directly across from NBC 10 DownCity
studio on Thursday evenings between 6:00 and 7:00PM and the Army hopes to
continue the program throughout the summer and fall.
Lt. Luby reported that the funding to operate this program was provided, in
substantial part, through the efforts and support of Senate President M. Teresa
Paiva Weed. NBC 10 DownCity Studio was also very helpful, through the gracious
agreement by Chris Lanni, NBC10's News Director, to allow the Canteen to park
at their facility. Luby added, "The Salvation Army in Providence is thankful
and thrilled to be able to join the other faith-based and charitable
organizations helping provide meals and other services for the homeless and the
needy on a large scale effort. The size and needs of the homeless population in
the Greater Providence area are growing and we are striving to do the most we
can to meet these needs. We will continue to evaluate where can fill in any
gaps and hope to introduce additional mobile feeding sites in Pawtucket and
Woonsocket later on this year."
RHODE ISLAND FLOODS!
PROVIDENCE - It wasn't "40 days and forty nights,"
it just seemed like it! Rhode Island suffered through the rainiest March on
record. Rivers and streams have overflowed their banks, schools and businesses
have been closed, and many people have been forced to evacuate their homes.
Providence recorded more than 15" of rain.
Rhode Island Governor Don
Carcieri said, "We're in a serious, serious situation. The worst is still ahead
of us." The Governor called the flooding "another whack" at Rhode Island's
dismal economy. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano is due to visit
the state soon to declare Rhode Island a "major disaster area." The Federal
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has been authorized by President Barack
Obama to coordinate efforts to help residents and businesses.
Lieutenant John C. Luby, State Co-Coordinator for The Salvation Army in Rhode
Island said, "this is what The Salvation Army does. Disasters come in, both
natural and manmade forms - always devastating to those involved. We have a
long history of helping people when they need it the most!"
The
Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Service vehicles have been deployed to
locations where they are needed desperately. The Salvation Army's first aim is
to meet the basic needs of those affected, both survivors and first responders
(such as firefighters). Serving coffee, water and food from our emergency
vehicles, our trained personnel are always available to meet emergencies by
providing food, shelter, clothing and spiritual comfort.
TRUE PARTNERS The Salvation Army & the Rhode Island Good Neighbor Energy Fund
PROVIDENCE - The Good Neighbor Energy Fund is a cooperative effort between Rhode Island's gas and electric companies and The Salvation Army of Rhode Island. Having been established in 1986, the fund has raised a total of more than $9 million dollars which has assisted over 36,500 families.
The Salvation Army maintains a separate account for the fund and controls distribution of the money for the specific purpose of paying energy bills. Funding comes from donations from the general public and businesses. The energy companies offer various matching and giving programs. Last year alone the Good Neighbor Energy Fund helped more than 2,275 families pay an electric, gas or oil bill. Jaime Comella, Director of Social Services for The salvation Army in Rhode Island said, "Year after year, the Good Neighbor Energy Fund has been making a significant impact throughout Rhode Island.... "
For additional information, please go to the GNEF web site: www.rigoodneighbor.com or call The Salvation Army at 401-831-1119.