Salvation Army Kettle Campaign Raised $20,000 For Basic Needs Assistance

Family Resources Community Action (FRCA) announced today it raised $20,300 during the 2012 Salvation Army Kettle Campaign.

Tracey Abrams, development & communications director at FRCA, credited the generosity of local residents and the hard work of volunteers who collected for the kettle drives in front of local stores.

"FRCA and the Salvation Army extend their appreciation to the 87 volunteers who put in more than 1,000 hours staffing kettles at local stores," reads a release from the organization.

This year they've raised about $200 more than last year, said Abrams. The year before that, the drive collected $20,000 for the first time, doubling the collections of previous drives. "What has really made the difference is having more volunteers," Abrams said.

Ninety percent of the funds from the campaign go directly to provide basic needs assistance such as rent, utility/heating assistance and prescription assistance for low income Woonsocket and North Smithfield individuals and families, which the FRCA works year-round to help at their family support center.

The campaign would also not have been possible without the support of local merchants Shaw’s Supermarket in Woonsocket and Stop & Shop, Wal-Mart and Brigido’s in North Smithfield that hosted kettles in their stores.

“These funds are especially appreciated during these challenging economic times, when families struggle to make ends meet and many households live paycheck to paycheck. This assistance helps families in crisis from becoming homeless or losing their utilities,” said Darlene Magaw, FRCA Family Support Services Director.

For more information about FRCA’s family support and other programs, call 401-766-0900 or visit www.famresri.org