Volunteer Stories

FRCA celebrated the success of the recent holiday programs with a breakfast honoring our volunteers. Thanks to the efforts of dozens of volunteers who rang the bells at local stores, over $20,000 was raised to provide basic needs supports (food, utility & rental assistance) to Woonsocket and North Smithfield RI families in need. For more information about how you can get involved as a volunteer with FRCA, contact Wendy Pires at 401-235-6096 or wpires@famresri.org

A volunteer team from Gilbane, Inc., pictured with FRCA staff, prepared the entire meal for the FRCA's Youth Center Thanksgiving dinner. Over 40 youth attended the dinner, and enough food was prepared for youth to take leftovers home to their families. FRCA thanks all the volunteers for their time and generosity!

FRCA also thanks other groups who have recently volunteered including Best Buy DDC 726 in Bellingham, MA for coordinating a food drive to assist individuals served by our Family Support Center and Dattco Bus Company for knitting and donating dozens of scarves to people in need. Also thanks to the Woonsocket Rotary for making the holidays special for families living in the Woonsocket Shelter, and to volunteers at Beacon Charter High School and RI College volunteers for organizing canned food drives.

On October 29th, twenty one Master of Design students from the RI School of Design installed pieces of their hand-crafted furniture to enhance the living space at the Woonsocket Homeless Shelter. The six week project was intended to address issues experienced by families such as a lack of storage space and privacy. Pieces included shelving, cabinets, benches, desks and privacy screens.  

FRCA extends our deepest appreciation to the RISD staff all the talented students for their amazing creations! More photos

APC by Schneider Electric brought their Day of Action to the Woonsocket Shelter on September 22nd when a group of 10+ volunteers installed customized, durable curtain rods in the windows of the emergency shelter buildings.  FRCA has been fortunate to have APC assist with other projects in the past, including painting the interior of the shelter and making improvements to the Northern RI Visitation Center. FRCA greatly appreciates the time and talent of APC!