MAE Organization for the Homeless needs your help with their clothing drive on Saturday, Dec. 4. at 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Needed are coats, gloves, scarves and other clothing. Please schedule an appointment to bring your clothing. If you want to drop off on another day or time, contact the Mae Organization, located at 1221 Reservoir Ave. in Cranston. For more information or to set up a donation time, contact the Foundation at 206-0451.

Cranston Historical Society’s Afternoon Tour & Tea

On Sunday Dec. 16 and 20, the Cranston Historical Society will host a Holiday Afternoon Tour Program at the Historic Governor Sprague Mansion, located at1351 Cranston St. at 4:30 p.m.

Guests are welcome to come enjoy a relaxing afternoon tea & tour in the historic Sprague Mansion Ballroom, where they’ll receive a brief introduction of the history of the Sprague Family and A&W Sprague Textile Manufacturing Co. The Western Cranston Garden Club has splendidly decorated the mansion for the holidays using greens found on Mansion grounds.

There will be very limited seating – 10 guests only on each day. Call 401-944-9226 to reserve your place on Dec. 16 or Dec. 20. Reserve/Tickets: $18ea; $15ea-CHS members. Send checks payable by December 12 to Cranston Historical Society, 1351 Cranston St., Cranston 02920. After December 12, call to inquire if seating is available. Handicap access 1st floor, enter at back ramp entrance. Parking in rear. (Dates will be rescheduled if inclement weather arises.)

For more information or to get your reservation call 944-9226.

New Hope has a new show

The New Hope Art Gallery is pleased to announce its Fall Show is now open. You can visit the gallery in person Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., except holidays, at the Cranston Senior Enrichment Center, located at 1070 Cranston St. in Cranston. If you are unable to attend in person, you can view the artwork virtually at youtu.be/AIF7A-Sonio.

Need help with Senior Holiday Meal Deliveries

Once again, The Cranston Senior Enrichment Center is in search of volunteers willing and able to drop off Holiday Meals to home bound seniors in our community. The Christmas Meal Delivery is scheduled for Dec. 23.

If you are interested in helping, please contact Jason Andoscia at 780-6255 or email jandoscia@cranstonri.org. Please include your full name, address and telephone number as well as the number of meals you are able to deliver.

E.G. Art Club news

The East Greenwich Art Club will have a meeting and demonstration on Tuesday, December 7th, from 7-8:30 p.m., at the First Baptist Church, 30 Pierce Street, East Greenwich. Use the Montrose St. entrance on the side by the parking lot. The meeting is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served. Lucas J.X. Kolasa, an international artist and teacher, will have a demo and lecture titled, “How Our Eyes See Our World with Rods and Cones.” Kolasa will explain how our eyes transmit the information to our brains. He will show how he uses a technique called pointillism to create portraits using paint filled syringes. For more information, contact the club at: info@eastgreenwichartclub.org or www.eastgreenwichartclub.org.

New Transvan schedule

There is a new Transvan schedule for medical appointments. Please schedule your appointments Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays between the hours of 8 and 10:30 a.m. or noon and 2 p.m. For $25 per month, Transvan will take you shopping, medical appointments, pharmacy visits and to the Cranston Senior Enrichment Center for lunch or bingo. Call 780-6218 for the holiday shopping schedule.

Finding help and hope through NAMI-RI

The mission of the Rhode Island chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI-RI) is to offer education, resources and support to all whose lives are touched by mental illness; to advocate at every level to ensure the rights and dignity of those with mental illness; and to promote research in the science and treatment of mental illness.

Currently, NAMI-RI is offering free and virtual programs for schools, families and community members.

For more information on NAMI- RI and its programs and services, or to become a volunteer, visit namirhodeisland.org, call (401) 331-3060 or email info@namirhodeisland.org.

Cranston Public Library Teen Space

The teen space at the Cranston Public Library’s Central Library on Sockanosset Cross Road has been newly renovated and is open for teen patrons entering grades 6-12.

Stop by to meet the teen librarian, hang out with friends, browse the collection, or participate in one of their many programs. The teen study room can be reserved by teens for gaming, studying, group projects, and more!

If you have any questions please contact Alyssa, teen librarian, at teens@cranstonlibrary.org.

RSVP transportation volunteers

The Cranston Senior Enrichment Center’s RSVP program needs volunteers to help in many ways in the community. One is to transport homebound seniors to medical appointments or run errands for them.

The program is also seeking RSVP school readiness volunteers to assist Glen Hills Elementary School’s staff and students with an array of school activities and events.

Also needed are RSVP recycling volunteers who educate the community with assistance and guidance from Rhode Island Resource Recovery professionals on a variety of topics such as waste reduction and reuse, recycling and composting. Learn more about Resource Recovery – who they are, what they do, how they work, and much more, including a tour of the facility.

If you are interested in becoming a Cranston RSVP volunteer, contact Karen at 780-6159 for an interview. You must be 55 years of age or older to volunteer and a BCI is required. A mileage reimbursement is given to cover your travel cost. RSVP also provides insurance protection in the event that your or someone else is injured while performing your volunteer duties.

What if you do not drive or do not have a vehicle? No worries. RSVP will provide you with transportation to your volunteer station.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Rhode Island

BBBSRI will open a new Donation Drop-Off Center at 993 Oaklawn Ave, in Cranston on Dec. 1

BBBSRI’s main headquarters has been located on Pontiac Avenue for 12 years. With its headquarters moved from Providence this November, BBBSRI had to find a new location for its Cranston Drop Off Center.

Did you know?

Nicholas” (“The Night Before Christmas.”) The man with the famous facial fluff did not fully materialize until the 1880s, when Thomas Nast drew a cartoon for Harper's Weekly that depicted Santa as a big man with a lavish beard and a sack full of presents. (Source: Christmas Fun Facts)

To submit your news from the community, email Meri R. Kennedy at CranstonChatter@aol.com. This includes virtual events which should be submitted two to three weeks ahead of the event. Photos in jpg format are accepted and news can include community events, promotions, academic news and nonprofit events. Email today and see your news in our column in the Cranston Herald.