February 2015

Rhode Island's leading resource
for service and volunteerism
Event Update
Martin Luther King Day of Service
On Monday, January 19, 2015, Serve Rhode Island and the Rhode Island Civil Rights Roundtable (a program of Rhode Island for Community and Justice) co-hosted a Dr. Martin Luther King Day Community Conversation.

The event was held at Juanita Sanchez Education Complex in Providence, and was attended by over 300 AmeriCorps members and community leaders. After discussing themes from the book The New Jim Crow and how they relate to the local community, attendees engaged in conversation with a panel of community leaders facilitated by Cierra Putman of WJAR TV. Read more about the event here.
Volunteer Opportunities
For more opportunities, visit

Family Service of RI: Foster Care Open House

Find out how you can help through the Family Service of RI Foster Care Program. Attend the next Information Open House on Wednesday February 18, 5:00 PM-6:30 PM at Family Service of Rhode Island at 134 Thurbers Avenue Providence. 
Contact Greg Wright at 401-331-1350 ext. 3305 or wrightgr@familyserviceri.org

 

Big Brothers & Big Sisters of the Ocean State: Big Brothers & Big Sisters Needed
Mentors at least 19 years old are needed for long-term, one-to-one relationships with at-risk children between the ages of 7 and 15. The initial commitment for a mentor is for one year. Visits with a child are three to four hours either weekly or bi-weekly. 
Contact: George Evans Marley at 401-921-0767 or gemarley@bbbsos.org 

Goodwill Industries of Rhode Island: Mock Interviewers Needed
Mock interviewers are needed to help job seekers who have barriers to employment. This is an ongoing need and anyone with experience interviewing candidates is encouraged to volunteer. 
Contact: Kevin Fisette at 401-861-2080 x.144 or kfisette@goodwillri.org
AmeriCorps Announcements
AmeriCorps Theme of the Month: Social Innovation
 
VISTA 50th Anniversary
AmeriCorps VISTA celebrates 50 years of fighting poverty! 

RI AmeriCorps Potluck
February 26, 2015, 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
The 2015 InterCorps Council invites AmeriCorps past and present members to a Potluck Dinner, hosted by the Providence Children's Museum at 100 South St. Providence, RI. RSVP by February 18th to Olivia at ostrauss@childrenmuseum.org.
 
Save The Date: AmeriCorps Regional Conference  
May 4-6, 2015, in Hartford, Connecticut
All AmeriCorps State, VISTA, and Senior Corps program staff are invited to the 2015 Atlantic Regional Conference! CNCS staff and regional peers will offer trainings, workshops and networking opportunities. More details to follow soon!

2015 Social Innovation Funding Available
Deadline to apply is March 17, 2015 
Volunteer Spotlight
SAFE-D Volunteers Shovel Out Residents In Need

The beginning of 2015 has been a difficult time for the northeast, especially for the

elderly and disabled residents of Rhode Island. Serve Rhode Island has worked to recruit volunteers to help clear those without neighbors, family, or resources for paid services, and those with medical conditions demanding their quick clearance of snow.

  

While the program has not yet seen the last snowflake, volunteers have already helped many residents and we are very grateful to all who have given their time.  

Between January 28th and February 10th, 139 volunteers have completed over 597 shoveling assignments. Many volunteers have helped 5 or more residents. One volunteer completed 35 jobs!

 

Serve Rhode Island is enormously grateful for these volunteers, but many are no longer available and we need more volunteers to get through the winter. If you can volunteer to shovel at least one resident during an upcoming storm, please register here.
 

If you are an organization with an outstanding volunteer, spotlight them!
Email kpisano@serverhodeisland.org for more information. 
Serve Rhode Island
401-331-2298
www.ServeRhodeIsland.org

Serve Rhode Island is Rhode Island's leading resource for service and volunteerism. As the state commission for national and community service, SRI administers 10 AmeriCorps State programs.