Job Lot gives $5K to Kids, Cops & Classrooms

PROVIDENCE –Ocean State Job Lot’s Charitable Foundation has donated $5,000 worth of backpacks and school supplies to the 2015 Kids, Cops & Classrooms program.
The program is sponsored by the Rhode Island state police, Police Chiefs’ Association, and the Office of the Attorney General.
The donations help defray back-to-school costs for some inner city families.
This is the fourth consecutive year that the North Kingstown-based retailer has taken part in the program, which provides school supplies to students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. The donation consisted of backpacks, notebooks, portfolios, binders, pencils and other school materials.
Ocean State Job Lot’s Charitable Foundation was awarded a citation from the Rhode Island State Police and from the attorney general’s office for being a corporate sponsor of the program during an August press conference held at the Community College of Rhode Island’s Liston Campus in Providence.
“Without this type of intervention, students may struggle at the beginning of the school year,” Colonel Steven G. O’Donnell, superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police, said. “This program also gives children the opportunity to see law enforcement as their friends in order to bridge a divide in the community. I commend our law enforcement, community and corporate partners who consistently support this program.”
David Sarlitto, Ocean State Job Lot’s head of marketing, said the company understands the need for the program.
“We know how costly it can be for parents to provide their children with backpacks, notebooks, crayons, and all those other classroom supplies they are asked to purchase,” Sarlitto said. “Many families are already struggling financially, so we are happy to help assist Rhode Island’s law enforcement community in helping more children have the tools to start their new school year.”
Major William C. Jamieson of the Rhode Island State Police, who spearheaded this year’s initiative, said that due to budgetary restrictions in the state’s cities and towns, families are being asked to provide more of their own school supplies this year.
Kids, Cops & Classrooms benefits Crossroads Rhode Island, Family Service of Rhode Island, Project Night Vision, Children’s Friend, Hispanic Ministerial Association of Rhode Island, Multi-Service Center for All, African Alliance, Mount Hope Neighborhood Association, Chad Brown Alumni Association, the Center for Southeast Asians, and It’s on Us.

No posts to display