URI donates food and clothing to Jonnycake Center

KINGSTON, R.I. -- June 12, 2000 -- When students moved out of the residence halls at the University of Rhode Island last month, they left behind nearly two tons of clothing and food. This week 1,800 pounds of clothing and 1,500 pounds of non-perishable food were donated to the Jonnycake Center.

URI Recycling Coordinator Nancy Hawksley said that all of the donated items were collected from students who would have otherwise thrown them away on moving day.

"Some of the clothes still even have their price tags on them," noted Hawksley, "And you wouldn't believe how many packages of noodles we collected!"

URI staff members from the Department of Housing and Residential Life joined with the Charities and Donation Committee of AFSME Local 528 and volunteers from the Jonnycake Center to enthusiastically unload the truckload of donated items.

"URI is a very good friend to us," said Patricia Whitford, executive director of the Jonnycake Center. "The university is very helpful to us in so many ways. They provide about one quarter of our donations every year."

The Jonnycake Center is a non-profit organization based in Peace Dale that collects donated food and clothing and distributes it to needy families in South Kingstown and Narragansett.

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For Information: Todd McLeish 874-7892