Bowled Over Thank You's: Lane Sponsors

Here at SRIV, we appreciate all of our Bowled Over donors. We want to recognize all of the lane sponsors who donated their time and we’re sending a big thank you to the bowlers who raised pledges. We could not have put on such a successful event without you.

Lane Sponsors Include:

• Matunuck Fire Department

• Tuckertown Fire Department

• Belmont Market

• South County Smiles

• Gates Insurance Agency, Inc.

• Stedman & Company

• Stasiunas Construction Co.

• Northup’s Service Center

• People’s Credit Union

• Lise M. Iwon, Esq.

• AB Hoxie Well & Pump

• The Village at Worden’s Pond

• Fiore Realty Corp.

• Washington Trust Company

• The Coutu Family

• Sherman Sand & Gravel Co.

• Graphic Expressions

As a thank you, there were gift card giveaway winners and kids’ prizes winners announced throughout the day for all bowlers who collected pledges. Bowlers won gift cards to Brewed Awakenings, Charlie O’s Tavern, TwoTen Oyster Bar and more. We hope you enjoy your gift cards and bowl again next year!

Bowled Over Thank You's: $1,000+ Donors

We would like to send out a big thank you to everyone who attended or helped out with our annual Bowled Over event yesterday. We would first like to take the time to thank our sponsors who raised more than $1,000: Northup’s Service Center and Stedman & Company.

Northup’s is a family-owned, 6-bay, full service station located on Kingstown Road in Peacedale. Services include oil changes, vehicle inspection, tune-ups and more. Northup’s prides itself of being more than just a service station; it also runs an in-store Dunkin Donuts and a comfortable customer wait area. Look no further than Northup’s for your car servicing needs.

Additionally, we would like to thank Rachel Northup, daughter of Edna Bernier who this event is named after, for her contributions. Edna was one of our most dedicated volunteers who raised the highest donation at Bowled Over every year to help seniors in need. She touched so many lives and made an impact on so many. Thank you so much, Rachel and Edna for everything you have done.

“For us, family is not just about our relatives, but a commitment to the future. When you need exceptional service, our family is here to help.”

We would also like to recognize Stedman & Company for their contribution. Stedman & Company is located in Charlestown and specializes in plumbing and heating services, serving South and Kent counties. They are eager to let their customers know that they will get the job done right the first time and educate their customers on all available services so they can make the best decision for their home or business.

All of the Bowled Over money raised goes into our Independent Aging Program. Thanks to our generous donors and volunteers, we can continue to give our seniors the support they need to live comfortably and independently. All donations go to medical transports, food delivery, grocery shopping, minor home repairs and weekly visitation. Your donations, time and effort make our seniors happy; they truly appreciate everything you do for them. We give the sincerest thank you.

For more information about Northup’s Service Center and Stedman & Company, visit:

• http://www.northups.com/

• http://www.sted-co.com

Our Northup’s team enjoying a fun day of bowling!

Your Legacy and Planned Giving Support of SRIV

ENDOWMENT

Southern Rhode Island Volunteers has an established endowment fund to support the agency’s mission of service to individuals in need, especially senior citizens.  The fund is with The Rhode Island Foundation.  If you are interested in making a contribution to the fund, please contact:  The Rhode Island Foundation, Daniel Kertzner, Senior Philanthropic Advisor for Funding Partnerships at 401-427-4014

BEQUESTS

If you would like to name Southern Rhode Island Volunteers as a beneficiary of a bequest from your estate you can accomplish this through a Specific Bequest in your Will.  Southern Rhode Island Volunteers suggests that you speak with your personal attorney or investment advisor.  However, the language most commonly used in a personal will would look as follows:

      I bequeath and devise the sum of $XX,XXX.XX (whatever that amount you wish to leave would be indicated here) dollars to Southern Rhode Island Volunteers located in Washington County, Rhode Island with a mailing address of P.O. Box 1047, Charlestown, RI  02813 and a Tax ID # 0393018.  You can direct a bequest to the SRIV endowment, please contact The Rhode Island Foundation or have your personal advisor(s) contact the Rhode Island Foundation for more information.

 PLEDGED GIFTS

If you would like to make an annual pledge, this can be accomplished by contacting SRIV’s Executive Director at 401-552-7661.  SRIV will help you to arrange convenient monthly donation installments.

Your options include using the SRIV website to make a recurring donation through the Donate Now button which will bring you to Network for Good.  Through their secure site you can make the arrangements for your recurring donation using a credit or debit card. 

You may also send in a monthly donation by check if you prefer.  This can all be discussed with SRIV’s Executive Director to meet your personal philanthropic goals.

 OTHER GIFTS, SUCH AS LIFE INSURANCE, RETIREMENT FUNDS, STOCKS, BONDS, ANTIQUES, COLLECTIONS and OTHER PERSONAL PROPERTY

It is always best to speak with your personal attorney or financial advisor regarding these types of financial gifts.  There are many things to consider including tax credits, costs, limitations and more. 

SRIV’s first suggestion to anyone wishing to support service to those in need is to call the organization, ask questions to ensure this is where you’d like to make your community investment, then speak with your personal advisors.  SRIV’s team sincerely appreciates your consideration of this agency as worthy of your financial support.

 As with all financial support and donations, We at SRIV humbly thank you for your consideration without your financial support we would not be able to make a positive difference in the hundreds of lives we touch each year.  Thank you for being a quiet community hero!

 Volunteers are welcome always at SRIV! Thank you

You can create a legacy of support for vulnerable senior citizens.  All it takes is a desire to make a difference in the lives of others.  “I used to think that to leave a bequest, it had to be a large financial donation but it can be however much you wish to give.” states SRIV’s executive director, Debra Tanner. 

 Tanner has stated that serving seniors and SRIV has evolved into her life’s mission and ministry; one that she didn’t envision in her younger days, but that presented itself in the fall of October 2000.  SRIV’s board at that time reached out to Tanner to ask her to consider serving as the agency’s next Executive Director, only the third in the agency’s history. 

 “I have had the privilege of serving people, especially our elders through SRIV. I have the responsibility of managing the team, but it is a team effort with hundreds making positive contributions to lives all around us” Tanner shared.  She had just finished transporting an elderly woman to a medical appointment.  Prior to that, she had put the finishing touches on a grant application—the job.  The driving, Tanner says, “is the pure joy of what I do.  I happened to take a lady to a doctor’s appointment, never realizing that this woman knew my parents and their cousins when they were young.  My parents have been gone for many years now and to hear this woman talk about the special friendships, times together and hear how well she really knew them all touched my heart—not something I expected at all when I accepted the transportation assignment. You see, being the ED is what I do for a living, it’s my paycheck to put food on my table and pay my bills but what I do on my own time as a volunteer, that’s what makes my life happy and joyful.  I smiled the whole time the lady was talking!”

 “As a ‘senior citizen’ myself now, I’ve planned my legacy gift to SRIV to ensure that this agency is here for many years to help seniors in need, maybe me! Giving is not just for the wealthy; a gift from the heart in any amount can and does make a difference that is positive and meaningful.  I invite you to join me in designating a gift to SRIV to support our senior neighbors in need for years to come.  Together we really can and do make good things happen!”

Interns Wanted!

Are you looking for a way you can help your community as well build up your resume? SRIV has the perfect opportunity for you! We are currently looking for an Operations/ Nonprofit Programs Intern and a Marketing Intern. Please see the flyers below for more information.

Community Sponsor: South County Smiles

SRIV’s sponsor this month is South County Smiles.

This November, Wakefield’s own South County smiles celebrated its 20th anniversary! Their mission is to “create a truly unique patient experience through dedication and consistency in the delivery of compassionate, convenient and comprehensive care” while keep up their core values of commitment, compassion, collaboration, consistency and convenience. They provide the best care for their patients as well as maintaining a fun, positive and professional environment.  

South County Smiles is also a proud partner of SRIV.    

“Our relationship with Southern RI Volunteers began with wholehearted support for a terrific cause: access to dental care for those who do not have the ease of transportation. We knew this was a volunteering opportunity we believe in as a team and could support effortlessly. It was an added bonus that by supporting SRIV, we could build a stronger team bond while making a donation for a very good cause. After three years of collaborating with SRIV, our relationship has transformed into a faithful partnership built on shared values of community support. SRIV is recognizably accomplished with their diligence and dedication, and we are thrilled to be able to collaborate with such a wonderful organization to serve our community better.”

Bowled Over is Back!

Bowled Over is coming back! Mark your calendars and Save the Date please.  We are inviting the community to join us March 31, 2019 for our Annual Edna Bernier Memorial “Bowled Over” event to support seniors in need, held at Old Mountain Lanes, Kingstown Road, Wakefield, RI.   

This is SRIV’s annual fundraiser event to support transportation and food delivery services for seniors in need including our Veterans across the southern third of RI. 

The event is a family friendly favorite for grandparents, parents, children, business owners/leaders and employees alike!  The day features bowling with shoe rental from noon to 3 free for bowlers on business sponsored lanes.  Refreshments which includes a light lunch: sandwiches, chips, snacks and brownies!  Bowlers who help to raise funds for SRIV are also entered into free giveaways that happen all throughout the day—every 10 to 15 minutes gift cards and more are won by fundraising bowlers!  Also available are 14 wonderful baskets with various themes that ticket purchasers can win.  Baskets are a beach theme with a state beach pass, gardening, foods, chocolates, dog friendly, kids’ games, wines, craft beer and so much more!  Anyone can purchase raffle tickets at $2 each or 20 for $20.  Call SRIV today to get your tickets now!  You do not need to be present to win.

The individual bowler fee is $20 per person, which includes bowling between noon and 3 p.m.; (limited lane availability/first come –first served).  No more than 8 bowlers per lane.  Also included with the participant cost is shoe rental, refreshments and a great day of fun and entertainment. (Raffle tickets available for purchase)

An incentive for bowlers to win a gift card or two and to help raise critical support funding for our senior services is our pledge drive.  Bowlers who collect pledges that are turned in no later than noon on Sunday, March 31 at the Bowler registration/sign in table will be eligible for gift card giveaways that will happen every 10 to 15 minutes throughout the day.  The top pledge raiser will win $100 cash!  You must turn in your collected donations by noon on the day of the event to be eligible.  Donors should make checks payable to SRIV or Southern Rhode Island Volunteers.  All donations are 100% tax deductible as allowed by law. 

(Bowlers do not have to collect pledges to participate in bowling). 

All funds raised for this event support SRIV’s Independent Aging Program Services. The services to be supported are transportation to medical appointments, grocery stores and food pantries for seniors without other resources, Veterans and mildly disabled adults 50 or older (you must be able to ambulate into and out of a vehicle on your own).  SRIV’s transportation is a key resource for our older citizens across Southern Rhode Island.  Also supported is our food delivery service to promote proper nutrition.  SRIV’s team delivers prepared meals (meals on wheels) from various county sites, food from local food pantries and grocery stores to help ensure proper nutrition and healthy aging for our mature citizens.  SRIV’s volunteers also provide visitation and companionship for isolated and frail seniors in our rural communities. 

Here is how SRIV, our volunteers and staff, and our donors made a difference for hundreds in 12 months from July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2018:

·         MEALS

o   Over 11,682 meals were prepared by the Meals on Wheels Caterer were delivered by SRIV to 65 homebound seniors in South Kingstown and Narragansett alone!

o   Over 100 additional seniors received Meals on Wheels as part of our partnerships and expansion efforts in Charlestown, Richmond/Hopkinton, Westerly, Jamestown, North Kingstown and even Foster.

o   2,640 bags of groceries (that’s 39,600 lbs. of food!) were delivered by SRIV to 55 homebound seniors once a month from two local food pantries.  (SRIV transported individual seniors to 5 food pantries throughout the year).

·         TRANSPORTATION

o   3,024 hours of weekly grocery shopping assistance was provided to local seniors.

o   435 rides to healthcare provider appointments for 212 homebound seniors without transportation to help them age as healthily as possible were completed by SRIV.

·         VISITATION

o   1,288 companion visits happened for over 25 local seniors facing isolation; more than 2,500 hours were spent with our most isolated seniors.

·         MAINTENANCE

o   20 seniors were provided with minor home repair, yard clean ups and snow removal.

SRIV continues to provide these vital services because of the generous support of donors like you!  Without partnerships that include coordinators, volunteers, time and funding, our seniors could not depend on this assistance.  SRIV receives no state funding except for a $2,000 grant from one state senator.  These critical supports help our aging neighbors, including elderly relatives of many of us who desire to age in place, Veterans who have served us all, and neighbors without family/friends in the region to live their lives in the homes they love while feeling safe, supported, independent and with dignity because of a little helping hand!  This is not a hand-out but a hand-up!  This is respect, honor and love for others!  Won’t you join us at whatever level you can—be it a volunteer, bowler, sponsor or donor!  Thank you for your consideration!  

To participate, please contact SRIV at 401-552-7661.

Community Sponsor: People's Credit Union

Southern Rhode Island Volunteers series promotes local businesses that are engaged in community stewardship

“Every grassroots nonprofit knows that to successfully make a positive difference in the lives of people in need, community improvement and concerns of any given community, it takes a partnership of many. No one entity can do it all, has all the resources necessary, nor all the answers,” says SRIV Executive Director Deb Tanner. “One of those critical partners is People’s Credit Union.”

People’s Credit Union is aware that SRIV supplies critically-needed assistance to our senior community whether it is providing transportation to healthcare providers and grocery stores, coordinating and delivering meals, or visiting and giving companionship to homebound seniors.  Many of these needs can easily be overlooked in our busy day-to-day lives, and SRIV does a great job of filling that void and providing care to an underfunded and sometimes overlooked group in our close community.

“People’s Credit Union is proud to be associated with Southern Rhode Island Volunteers,” says Michael Hey, branch manager of the Wakefield office. “People’s is proud to be a sponsor of the 2019 Edna Bernier Memorial Bowled Over for SRIV event for the third consecutive year, supporting senior citizens in need. We look forward to sponsoring and participating in this event again in the future, and remaining behind such a positively impactful organization as SRIV.”

“One of our core values is to enhance the communities we serve,” says Michael. “Being co-operative, meaning giving back to our local community in a variety of ways whether it is sponsoring, volunteering or maintaining a friendly, helpful presence daily.”

SRIV’s mission of service depends on people giving their time, on donors providing funding to support services, and on the whole of the community being educated and engaged around challenges as People’s Credit Union chooses to be. This local entity is engaged not only in financial services that we as consumers are looking for, but also in tangible ways to help our communities be the best they can. 

People’s Credit Union is a supporter of one of SRIV’s major programs, the Independent Aging Services. The help provided through these services is mostly recognized by senior citizens but there are younger individuals and families with disabled members who are assisted as well.  One of the services provided through this program is food delivery. Deb Tanner is known to say “food that sits on a shelf has no nutritional value”.

 For many in need, food pantries, subsidized grocery shopping, churches, Meals on Wheels and other programs provide through partnerships and donations, food to come up or to receive through volunteer delivery like SRIV provides. Food insecurity is not something to take lightly; if you feel it’s not important, try not eating for 24 hours or longer. If you think it’s not a big concern, it is for many of our neighbors who are living at or below the poverty level or are dealing with low-income constraints and sometimes have to choose between having heating or food. Nutrition and appropriate food resources are essential to sustaining life.

SRIV is proud to be part of solutions to address inadequate food resources for our older citizens across southern Rhode Island’s communities. SRIV delivers food each month that we pick up at local food pantries to about 62 homebound seniors and/or disabled individuals. SRIV delivers food each month from local grocery stores after we’ve completed the shopping for another 20 homebound seniors and/or disabled adults. SRIV delivers Meals on Wheels to about 45 seniors and/or disabled adults each day, providing a total of five meals each week for these folks in South Kingstown and Narragansett alone. Additionally, SRIV provides volunteer resources to Charlestown, North Kingstown, Richmond and Westerly to deliver Meals on Wheels from various sites in those communities, providing five meals each week for an estimated 80 individuals. These are our neighbors, who without assistance, cannot access the food that is vital to their health and wellbeing.

How does People’s Credit Union make a difference for the services we mentioned above? Each year, SRIV hosts an event that provides funding to support our food delivery effort. In 2019, on March 31, the Edna Bernier Memorial Bowled Over for SRIV will take place. People’s is one of those vitally important partners who will attend the event. People’s Credit Union not only provides a cash sponsorship for the event, but also provides employee participation, which is equally as important. This local business provides funding support and education to its employees and members about community opportunities, challenges and ways to engage. People’s Credit Union helps a number of local small, grassroots nonprofits that help the people of our communities.

On behalf of everyone helped through SRIV, all the volunteers and staff, Deb Tanner expressed her gratitude for People’s Credit Union and their commitment to community, not just in words but in action and funding. This company represents what makes Rhode Island communities such wonderful places to grow, work and age.  People’s Credit Union is a member of the “solutions” partnerships.  Way to go People’s!

Calling all Charlestown residents!

We are looking for Charlestown residents who want a new volunteer opportunity to drive Charlestown seniors to local businesses in town to access basic needs and errands. Help your neighborhood seniors by bringing them to the Mini Super, Cumberland Farms, Rippy’s, Peaches and CVS. We also need volunteer drivers to take them to the Charlestown Senior Center for congregate meals and day activities Monday- Friday between 8:30am and 2pm, no weekends or holidays. This would be drop off and pick up. It’s the perfect way to get active in your community and help out the seniors of Charlestown!

So with all that's going on in my life, how can I support SRIV?

What do you want from me?

First and foremost—change happens thanks to SRIV’s amazing 600 plus volunteers!  There’s always a place, a need, something that a volunteer can have a positive impact on! It’s thanks to our dedicated volunteers that SRIV can make a difference in individual lives and in our 12 southernmost communities of Rhode Island. SRIV promotes and supports volunteers across Washington County, Jamestown and new to us this year, East and West Greenwich.  You can find information on volunteer opportunities on our website www.southernrivol.org under the Volunteer tab, through our Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages or by calling us at 401-552-7661.  We’ve never met a volunteer we didn’t like!

Volunteers help in a great number of ways.  First, if you are looking to make a difference in an individual’s life, help a senior or a Veteran by giving a ride, providing companionship or delivering food from either local pantries or Meals on Wheels. These are vital ways to help someone age independently in our rural area. You make a difference face to face.  This is a very flexible volunteer opportunity for busy schedules, and it’s rewarding! You can help by volunteering with any number of nonprofit agencies that depend on volunteers to meet a community need.  SRIV partners with over 50 organizations! But if time is not what you have, you can donate directly by mailing a check to PO Box 1047, Charlestown, RI or by donating on our website. Financial support is always critical, especially in support of our senior citizens; they receive so little compared to other causes.

SRIV accepts donations through our website all year long. A donation of $50 ensures that 50 seniors will receive meal delivery for a month!  A donation of $100 means that 10 rides to medical appointments can be given to isolated seniors, people who no longer drive and those who have no resources, family or others to help them.  $150 means that an individual senior can receive help with transportation, food delivery and companionship visits for a FULL YEAR!!!  Your donation has a huge impact in the life of a senior here at SRIV.  It stays local and helps a neighbor; maybe someone you know, maybe your grandparent or your parent!  We sincerely hope you agree that our seniors deserve our support to age in place, in the comfort of their own home for as long as safely possible!  Don’t you want that?

In a year’s time SRIV provides the following services because of generous donors like you:

·         500 or more rides to medical appointments

·         200 or more rides to grocery stores/food pantries

·         30,000 or more meals from Meals on Wheels delivered to disabled and homebound seniors

·         20,000 or more pounds of food from pantries delivered to homebound, frail seniors

·         1,200 hours or more of companionship visits each year

·         Occasional leaf raking and snow shoveling of walkways for our most frail, elderly seniors

You can also come out to support us at various events throughout the year. This summer, you can find us at the Exit gate of the Seafood Festival in Ninigret Park, Charlestown, RI on August 3, 4, and 5th.  Stop by to learn about our volunteer opportunities and grab a November raffle ticket to be entered into a free door prize drawing if you purchase a November raffle ticket - Door prizes are for local summer events. 

Say hi to our volunteers at the windows of the Pomona Kitchen at the Washington County Fair.  In honor of our volunteer efforts, the Pomona Kitchen makes a donation to our food delivery service! 

Other events are promoted on our website, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages.  Save the Date:  March 31, 2019 at Old Mountain Lanes, Wakefield, RI--the annual Edna Bernier Memorial Bowled Over for Volunteers—talk to us about bowling, sponsoring a lane and getting in on the fun! Sponsorships are happening now!

Purchase a Cash Raffle ticket now! Drawing is November 21, 2018—it’s the Thanksgiving for our Volunteers Raffle just in time for holiday dinners, gift giving and family time! Call us for details at 401-552-7661.

See who supports us:  Each month on our website and Facebook, we will introduce you to a local small business who financially supports our services for those in need.  This month, it’s AB Hoxie Well and Pump in Charlestown, RI!  Next up is Northup’s Service Center of Wakefield, RI and so many more to come.  Local small business is the heart and soul of our volunteers and what we are able to accomplish for our neighbors in need. 

Join us at any of these locations for fun, information and so much more!  We’ll be looking for you!

Neighbors need you to help promote community volunteering.

Many of our Senior Citizens around South County are in critical need of rides and friendly visitors. U.S. Census data shows that Washington County’s 65 plus population grew by 2.9% between 2010 and 2014. That’s the same percentage of growth for the entire population of the whole county between 2000 and 2010! This means there are many more seniors in need than can be adequately served by the very limited public transportation in our communities.

Luckily, Southern Rhode Island Volunteers (SRIV)—and our volunteers and financial supporters—are able to step in and help our neighbors in need through our independent aging program services. This program offers tangible help to age in place while maintaining independence.  A little dedication goes a long way. Each year, SRIV offers seniors in our communities more than 500 free rides to grocery stores and medical appointments. Through Meals on Wheels, we coordinate and deliver approximately 13,780 meals each year to South Kingstown and Narragansett homebound seniors who don’t have another way of getting food.  Our volunteers are working at other county locations to deliver Meals on Wheels in Charlestown, Richmond, Hopkinton, Westerly, North Kingstown and Jamestown; approximately 130 individuals are assisted from those sites providing over 30,000 more meals each year.  Additionally, each year, SRIV also transfers more than 23,000 pounds of nutritionally sound food to seniors from local food pantries. 

Our friendly volunteers visit our most frail, homebound and Veteran seniors every week. These visits brighten a person’s day, may provide the only human companionship an individual realizes in our rural area, and help make seniors feel more connected to and cared for by our community members. SRIV’s independent aging service is the perfect way to aid in the lives of seniors and show them you care. 

Aside from volunteering to provide rides and deliver Meals on Wheels, SRIV is also in need of in-office help. We need staff volunteers to answer the phone to help our senior clients and new volunteers who have requests and concerns. A staff volunteer is the vital connection between the senior in need and the volunteer with availability to help.  Internship opportunities in website management, content design, social media team projects, promotion/marketing, fundraising and program service delivery are available with SRIV for local high school and university students.  University students will receive course credit, may receive a stipend and gain valuable work experience while beefing up resume skills!  There are many ways you can use your talents to serve our Southern Rhode Island communities and the senior residents of the area specifically through SRIV. 

SRIV’s amazing volunteers also help with other projects based on skills, interests and individual and community needs. Our volunteers enjoy helping with seasonal events and festivals. This summer, we are offering opportunities to help at the Charlestown Seafood Festival and Washington County Fair. Volunteers at the Seafood Festival will be working the Exit Gate, handing out wristbands for patrons who will be returning to the festival later on the same day.  Our volunteers will also be sharing information on volunteer opportunities, senior services, disaster preparedness services, offering door prize chances for participating in a cash raffle (drawing in November 2018) and providing a thank you for attending! At the Washington County Fair, our SRIV volunteers are a major part of the team in the Pomona Kitchen. Volunteers take food orders for the Pomona Kitchen for a 4 hour shift. They also receive a ticket to the Fair for the day of their shift and a free meal from the Pomona Kitchen as a thank you for helping to raise money in support of Meals on Wheels. Pomona makes the donation in honor of our volunteers’ efforts.  These are just a couple of great opportunities for community service hours for students who are 16 plus years of age. 

Our community partners are also in need of your help. Local nonprofits who help make our communities wonderful places to live need volunteers to make that happen.  This summer, some nature refuges need help with trail maintenance and local historical museums need help from docents. There are so many opportunities that touch on a wide variety of interests so there’s a volunteer position for everyone.

So what are the benefits of volunteering?

As well as having a positive impact on others and the community, volunteering has been proven to have many benefits, making volunteers feel happier and healthier. A few include feeling connected to others, a positive impact on your mind and body, and adding fun and fulfillment to your life (Seagal and Robinson, 2018). Our volunteers have reported back that they love what they do and they love the effect that they have on the community and the lives of individuals, especially seniors they help; it makes them feel complete! 

SRIV cares about your health and happiness. We want you—join our team, get involved with some wonderful people, promote community volunteering and see where it takes you!  Life is a journey so come along!

Community Sponsor: AB Hoxie

SRIV’s sponsor this month is AB Hoxie Well and Pump.

Established in 1991, AB Hoxie is a Charlestown-based family company, serving Washington County and Kent County. Their services include water treatment, maintenance, hydrofracking, well drilling and more. You can contact them if you have low water pressure, no water or other issues with your water. They would be happy to help.  

Their mission is to provide their customers with honest, professional service and quality products for their water well needs.

AB Hoxie is very active in their community. They have been a generous supporter of SRIV’s volunteer and senior services since 1991. They also sponsor local children’s sports teams every year.

You can contact AB Hoxie by visiting their website, www.abhoxie.com, or by calling (401)364-0118.

Bowled Over 2018: We Raised $9,000!

On March 4th SRIV held our annual Edna Bernier Memorial 'Bowled Over' event at Old Mountain Lanes! More than ever, your support is appreciated with the increase in government cuts hitting the non-profit sector.  Unfortunately, our elderly do not have the funds to offset expenses if our services are no longer available.

It is local businesses and community members like you, who understand the need to give back to our seniors through our key fundraising events.  Your show of support for SRIV’s 'Bowled Over' event helped raise $9,000!!  These funds will be used to carry out our flagship programs, including:

MEAL DELIVERY

• Over 11,682 meals prepared by Meals on Wheels delivered to 65 home bound seniors in South Kingstown and Narragansett
• Over 100+ seniors received meals as part of our expansion efforts to Charlestown, Westerly, Richmond/Hopkinton, Jamestown, and North Kingstown
• 2,640 bags of groceries (that's 39,600 lbs. of food!) delivered to 55 homebound seniors once a month from local food pantries

TRANSPORTATION

• 3,024 hours of weekly grocery shopping assistance to local seniors
• 435 rides to healthcare provider appointments for homebound seniors

VISITATION

• 1,288 companion visits made to help over 25 local seniors facing isolation

MAINTENANCE

• 20 seniors were provided with minor home repair, yard clean ups & snow removal

With your continued support for SRIV, our mission to help our local seniors in need can continue! Your big heart, has a big impact.  We extend a BIG thank you!  Check out some of the pictures below taken the day of the event, thanks to our wonderful volunteer & marketing diva, Lori Stedman!

Thank you to our event sponsors!

A.B. Hoxie Inc., Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence, Matunuck Fire Department, Northup's Service Center, Gates Insurance, Tuckertown Fire Department, People's Credit Union, Stasiunas Construction, Baud Builders, South County Smiles Dr. Joe DiSano, Kara J. Scott, Esq., Charlestown Wine & Spirits, Village at Worden's Pond, Lise M. Iwon, Esq., George Sherman Sand & Gravel, Graphic Expressions, The Rathskeller, and the Coutu Family!

Thank you to the business that provided in-kind donations for our event!

Stop & Shop in Westerly, Cumberland Farms in Charlestown, 99 Restaurant & Pub, Dunkin Donuts on Tower Hill Rd, The Mews Tavern, Rock Spot Climbing, Charlestown Mini Super, Entertainment Cinemas- South Kingstown, Robert Anthony Salon

Join us for Bowled Over: March 4th!

On March 4th, 2018 SRIV is putting on our 3rd Annual Edna Bernier Memorial Bowling Event at Old Mountain Lanes!  This is a family friendly event featuring participant prizes/awards, cash & basket raffles to win, and loads of fun!

The participant cost is $20 per person, which includes 3 hours of bowling from noon to 3 PM; (limited lane availability/first come, first served).  No more than 8 bowlers per lane.  Also included with the participant cost is a pizza lunch with soda and water, shoe rental and a great day of fun & entertainment. (Raffle tickets available for purchase).

An incentive for bowlers to help raise critical support funding for our senior services is our pledge drive.  Bowlers who collect pledge that are turned in on March 4th when the sign in for bowling begins, will be eligible for gift card giveaways that will happen every 15 minutes throughout the day.  The top pledge raiser will win $100 cash and a $25 gift card.  Bowlers do no have to collect pledges to participate.

All funds raised for this event support SRIV's Independent Aging Program Services.  This program is a key resource for seniors that provides transportation to medical appointments, grocery stores, and food pantries.  Our team also delivers prepared meals (meals on wheels), food from local food pantries and grocery stores to support nutritional and healthy diets.  Our volunteers also provide visitation for isolated and frail seniors.  

Here is how SRIV, our volunteers, and our donors made a difference for hundreds in 2017:

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SRIV continues to provide these vital services because of the generous support of our donors, like you!  Without the partnerships of volunteers, time, & funding, our seniors could not depend on this assistance.  These services help our aging neighbors, including elderly relatives of many of us, who desire to age in place, in the homes they love & feel safe in with dignity and independence because of a little helping hand.  This is not a hand-out, this is a hand-up to our most mature citizens; it's respect, it's honor, and it's love!

To be an individual sponsor for this event, please complete the registration to bowl.  Make your check payable to SRIV.  Return form & check by March 1, 2018.  The portion of your $20 bowling registration that is tax deductible is $10.  If you are donating to support the senior services, your donation is fully tax deductible and can be made here.

If you have any questions please contact us at 401-552-7661 or email info@southernrivol.org.  Thank you for your support!

Mailing address: PO Box 1047 Charlestown, RI 02813

Did you know that 1 in 11 seniors face hunger each day?

Did you know that 1 in 11 seniors face hunger each day?  That number might seem shocking but that is the reality.  If YOU had the opportunity to help change that statistic, would you?

Southern Rhode Island Volunteers has been bringing meals and support to over 45 seniors per month. With continued support from people like you, nutritious meals can continuously be provided to those who need it most. 

You can help us this #GIVINGTUESDAY, November 28th, by supporting our charitable on-line donation drive to help ensure meals and miles happen this season.  Just a $10 donation helps bring 275 meals a month to seniors in need in our community.  Please share this story and discover how good it feels to share the meaning of giving thanks.

Paws for a Cause

Thank you to the Pawtucket Red Soxs for featuring Southern Rhode Island Volunteers on July 27, 2017 for Paws for a Cause!!