Ladies Night reels in $1K for Red Nose Day

CONTAINER CORNER: Among those vendors at last Thursday’s Red Nose Ladies Night were Amy and Mary Bennett, who had a wide variety of Tupperware products for shoppers of all ages.

(Sun Rise photos by Pete Fontaine)

KRISTY’S KREW: Walgreens staffers Barbara Hunter, Krystal Lopes, Maryellen Dolman and manager Kristy Pistacchio are all smiles while welcoming vendors and visitors to last Thursday’s Ladies Night at Bar 101, which raised $1,100 to help prevent child poverty.

(Sun Rise photos by Pete Fontaine)

CLASSIC COLLECTION: Heather Langlais of Keep Collective in Scituate is one of many vendors who set up shop at Bar 101 in Johnston and helped make the Red Nose Day fundraiser an overwhelming success.

(Sun Rise photos by Pete Fontaine)

Posted Thursday, May 30, 2019 2:25 pm

By PETE FONTAINE

Child poverty is an ongoing problem everywhere.

That is the central reason Walgreens runs Red Nose Day, which is coordinated locally by store managers like Kristy Pistacchio who work tirelessly to raise money to help lessen the alarming trend.

Last Thursday evening, Bar 101 – which is located in the Johnston Towne Centre at 1478 Atwood Ave. – played host to a successful Ladies Night event that raised upwards of $1,100 for the cause.

That impressive amount will be added to proceeds of two other previous events, as well as the sale of Red Noses at schools in Johnston and tonight’s grand finale fundraiser at the Rhode Island Karting Center in Lincoln.

Moreover, tickets sold prior to tonight’s event – which includes the Karting Center’s highly popular axe throwing competition – will generate an additional 40 percent for the local Red Nose Fund.

In fact, by the time tonight’s fun-filled event is over and all the money is added together, Pistacchio – and members of “Kristy’s Krew” – will be overjoyed because the Plainfield Street Walgreens will have surpassed her goal of reaching a record $3,000 in the program’s fourth year.

“I’m overwhelmed by the increased support year after year from the community and town of Johnston residents,” Pistacchio said after Ladies Night, which included a free buffet prepared and served by Bar 101. “Each year our events get bigger and bigger and more schools get involved, and that’s really exciting for everyone.”

Seven vendors displayed their wares while also offering prizes for the multi-prize raffle that further boosted the night’s total profit.

From the time dozens checked in with Kristy’s Krew – which is made up of Walgreens employees Barbara Hunter, Krystal Lopes, Maryellen Dolman and Pistacchio – each and every attendee enjoyed visiting with seven vendors and Roxanne Jasparro, who owns and operates Bewitched of Scituate and came with her own trailer-headquarters.

“I want to thank all our vendors,” Pistacchio said.

She specifically acknowledged Amy Bennett of Tupperware; Ashley Bowen of Pampered Chef; Deb McCormick, Color Street; Heather Langlais, Keep Collective; Joanne Bennett, Scentsy; Kristin Cardoso, Athenia’s; and Melanie DiMascolo, Mel D’s Bling, as those who “really made our [Ladies Night] an overwhelming success.”