Where to Give in Northern Rhode Island

The upcoming holidays bring families together to share dinners and gifts, but there are plenty of families who cannot afford to celebrate. With the current economy, and unemployment topping 14% in Rhode Island, there are more Rhode Islanders struggling this season. Please contact one of the following local charities to help those who need it the most, our neighbors in Cumberland, Lincoln, and Woonsocket, Rhode Island.

Both Cumberland and Lincoln have Happy Basket Programs for Thanksgiving and Christmas. These baskets provide more than 600 local needy families in each town with the fixings for a holiday dinner and gifts for the entire family.

In Cumberland the Christmas donations of new toys and food items will be accepted after Thanksgiving. Donations should be dropped off at the Cumberland Senior Center at the Monastery, behind the library, at 1464 Diamond Hill Road. Anyone wishing to volunteer a few hours of their time in sorting donations, wrapping gifts, and assembling baskets can call Lee Drury at 401-334-2555.

Over the river in Lincoln, non-perishable food donations for the town's Christmas Baskets will be accepted through December 18. The Christmas Baskets contain a wider variety of foods, including peanut butter, cereal, and other foods enjoyed by children. For more information call Lincoln Town Hall at 401-333-1100. For those in need of a food basket, call the Senior Center at 401-723-3270.

The Lonsdale Fire Department at 224 Front Street in Lincoln sponsors a Coat Drive and distributes winter coats, scarves, mittens, gloves, and hats to area homeless shelters in time for Christmas. If you can, please make the donation by November 30.

Woonsocket's popular Christmas Adopt-A-Family collects gifts for children of needy Woonsocket families. Individuals, groups, or companies adopt an entire family and then purchase the gifts listed on the provided wish lists. The deadline to adopt a family is Friday, December 4. Please call 401-766-2291 or email the program at adotpafamily@cox.net.

DCYF, the Department of Children, Youth, and Families is accepting donations of Christmas gifts for teens in foster care, group homes, and shelters. You can either purchase gifts from a provided list or send much needed monetary donations made out to Rhode Island Foster Parents Association, and mail to Holiday Gifts for Teens, 55 South Brow Street, East Providence, RI 02914 or call them at 401-438-3900. This program will assist teens across the entire state of Rhode Island.

If you are able to share the gift of the holidays with those less fortunate, then please contact one of these worthwhile agencies in our local area of northeastern Rhode Island.

The Valley Breeze, Cumberland Lincoln Edition, November 12, 2009.