NEWS

Donations lagging, but Neighbors Helping Neighbors looking to meet needs

By JOHN HOWELL
Posted 11/30/22

Roberta Steinle, who works in the city’s human services department, has coordinated the Neighbors Helping Neighbors program since Maureen Volpe left the city 15 years ago. Not until now has she …

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NEWS

Donations lagging, but Neighbors Helping Neighbors looking to meet needs

Posted

Roberta Steinle, who works in the city’s human services department, has coordinated the Neighbors Helping Neighbors program since Maureen Volpe left the city 15 years ago. Not until now has she used the word “inflation” to describe why so many people need help. In years past, the loss of a job and unemployment were on the top of the list.

“People are panicking,” Steinle said citing higher food, gasoline and heating oil prices. She talked of people living in the same apartment for the past 25 years, paying $900 a month, to learn that the complex has been sold and the new owner is doubling the rent. She gets the calls for assistance daily.

Neighbors Helping Neighbors has been there to help Warwick residents with food for decades. Cash donations to buy food and market gift cards along with contributions of food baskets are coordinated to meet the needs. When the city stepped in to help, it brought along the manpower to screen requests so that some recipients wouldn’t get multiple baskets at Thanksgiving and Christmas while others received none. City employees also became a major contributor with their contributions to dress down days. The money raised goes to Neighbors Helping Neighbors.

This Thanksgiving, Neighbors Helping Neighbors provided food baskets or market gift cards to 478 families and individuals. One hundred and fifty baskets were given out by parishioners of St. Gregory the Great. Another 50 baskets were donated by St. Kevin/St. Benedict plus an additional 50 by St. Rita/St. Clement & Rose of Lima.

So far, Steinle has received 283 requests for Christmas baskets. The Warwick Rotary Club has committed to filling 110 baskets. St. Kevin/St. Benedict will also be doing baskets with gift cards being used to make up the difference. While registration for Christmas baskets is now closed, Steinle said she usually can fit in a late request. Recipients are informed where and when to pickup their basket.

“It’s been coming in very slowly,” Steinle said of cash contributions. Since October when the mayor sent out letters to prior donors, Neighbors Helping Neighbors have received a total of $2,423. As it has done for years, the Beacon will publish weekly a list of donors. Donations can be sent to the Beacon with checks made out to Neighbors Helping Neighbors.

“I think everyone is struggling,” Steinle said of the lag in donations. She said she is seeing requests for assistance coming from families don’t qualify for food stamps and other forms of federal assistance.

Steinle said, “every dollar helps, every little bit helps.”

donations, neighbors

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