Donate & Volunteer Ways to Help Locally and Nationally

If you know of a listing that isn't here or needs to be updated please  (put the category in the subject line).

American Red Cross ; Salvation Army and USA Freedom Corps .gov

Tsunami / Earthquake Relief efforts - The most effective way people can assist relief efforts is by making cash contributions to humanitarian organizations that are conducting relief operations. Click to go to USA Freedom Corps .gov where many legitimate aide agencies are listed to accept contributions.

Help Veterans and Active Military Personnel:

11/9/2007 - ABC News Report on the Veterans Charities and their "grade" from the American Institute of Philanthropy.
View the report from ABC and also see which veterans' charities received the lowest and highest grades from the American Institute of Philanthropy.

Operation Uplink - keeps military personnel and hospitalized veterans in touch with their families and loved ones by providing them with free phone cards.
Operation Dear Abby - Send a special message/greeting via email to our men and women in the military defending American freedom worldwide.

American Red Cross Armed Forces Emergency Services

Send a virtual Thank You card at Defend America

Help Locally:

Newport Hospital is always recruiting volunteers to work in all areas of the Hospital. Call Volunteer Coordinator, Lisa Coble, at 845-1635 for more information or see the web site

Big Sister's of Rhode Island - always looking for volunteers and donations, call 943-7500. The Big Sisters Fund also collects clothes and household items. For pick up call 1-877-7-CLOTHES.

Many local centers need donations of food items and/or volunteers to help gather, serve, drive and other jobs as needed. Food items generally need to be non-perishable: canned goods, stuffing and/or mashed potato mix, cranberry sauce, cereal, etc. Some places will gladly accept monetary donations to buy larger or perishable items to distribute.

The RI Community Food Bank - 401-826-3073 - Donate Online
Feinstein End Hunger Fund

ECHO (Ecumenical Help and Outreach) is an all volunteer agency that gives rides to elderly and infirm patients so they can make their medical appointments. Helpers are needed to answer the phone, set up rides and work with volunteer drivers. Hours are Monday to Friday from 9am to 1pm, training is provided. Volunteers can work on a weekly, monthly or substitute basis. For more information call Mary Lou Proffett at 253-6353 or Mary Clair at 253-3351.

Special Olympics has a program called "Recycle for Gold". 
    They will collect old cars in ANY condition and recycle them. The money raised goes to pay for training and to provide athletic competition to Special Olympic athletes across the state. For info on how to have your old car taken away call 800-590-1600 (you may even qualify for a tax break!)

The Newport County Mental Health Center , 65 Valley Road, Middletown, (401)846-1213 is the local state designated agency ready to provide counseling and help dealing with other emotional repercussions from the terrorist attacks.

* Donate Blood: RI Blood Center - Call 1-800-283-8385 to schedule an appointment. The local RI Blood Donor Center is at 700 Aquidneck Ave., Polo Center, Middletown, for information call 848-7422.

Help Nationally:

*Donate Money:

Online:
The Red Cross online donation site
The Salvation Army Disaster Relief Efforts
Families of Freedom Fund  has been created to provide education assistance for postsecondary study to financially needy children and spouses of those killed or permanently disabled as a result of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States.
Windows of Hope Family Relief Fund will provide aid to the families of victims of the World Trade Center tragedy who worked in the foodservice profession throughout the entire complex.

By Phone to the Red Cross:
English speaking - 1-800-HELP-NOW , (1-800-435-7669)
Spanish Speaking - 1-800-257-7575

By Mail:
American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund
P.O. Box 37243
Washington, D.C. 20013

To On Aquidneck's home page

2009 - Martin Luther King Community Center Holiday Basket Program
AT-A -GLANCE

What's needed?

• Non-perishable food; new, unwrapped toys; gift items suitable for children and teens. (Gift cards are always welcome, especially for food and teens.)
• Volunteers to sort donations and pack baskets, Monday through Friday, beginning Oct. 19 through Dec. 23, 9 am - 4 pm.  Volunteers will also be needed occasionally on weekends - call for information.

Where can I bring my donation?

• Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center
  20 Dr. Marcus F. Wheatland Blvd, Newport, RI
  (Please use Tilden Avenue entrance - the right hand corner of the building)
  Mon. - Fri., 9 am - 3:30 pm, or call for large drives or drop-offs at other hours

How can I apply for assistance?

• Visit the Martin Luther King Community Center Oct. 26 - 31, from 10am to 2pm, to sign up for Thanksgiving and/or December Holiday Baskets.  Please use the Tilden Avenue entrance.
• Visit the Martin Luther King Community Center Nov. 30 - Dec. 5, from 10am to 2pm, to sign up for December Holiday Baskets.  Please use the Tilden Avenue entrance.
• Please bring the following items:
• a picture ID
• proof of residency
• proof of family composition
• proof of income, if any
• Call the Center in advance of your visit with any questions regarding sign-ups.

When will baskets be distributed?

• November 23, 24 and December 22, 23, by appointment only.
• Families who miss the signup period but still need help should call the Center as early as possible. 

For more information, please call:

• Jane Maloney, Food Programs Manager, at (401) 846-482