The Lions Roar...serious and fun information from the Westerly Lions Club

The following letter appeared as a letter to the editor in the February 2009 SO RhodeIsland magazine.

Don't forget the Other Jonnycake Center

Since our move a year and a half ago, The Bradford Jonnycake Center, now located in downtown Wsterly at 23 Industrial Drive, has been in a constant state of growth. Our new faciltiy has allowed us to expand the services we offer: GED classes have been ongoing for a few semesters now, and our first round of life skills and computer classes are scheduled to begin in a few weeks. We have also physically expanded, pushing out walls in the thrift store to increase our reail space and adding commercial-sized refrigerators and freezers to our pantry.

Unfortunately, we have also seen the number of clients we service growing anf growing. Some major employers in the area have shut their doors, and others are scaling back on hours so that families that were once getting by are now having trouble making ends meet. Since August, we have seen a 400% growth in requests for financial assistance, and right now, one out of every three clients walking through our doors is new. It is becoming ever more challenging to meet the needs of the community, and we need volunteers now more than ever before. We depend on volunteers to keep every aspect of our operation afloat, from social services to the pantry, and the thrift store.

If you are motivated to help your neighbor and would like to join a dynamic and enthusiastic team that is making a difference in southwestern Rhode Island, then I urge you to consider a volunteer opportunity with us. There are a lot of great volunteer positions in our organization available for people of all ages and skills, listed on the Volunteer Center of Rhode Island website. To find out more information on the Bradford Jonnycake Center of Westerly, visit www.freewebs.com/jonnycake.

Mark Berado

President, Bradford Jonnycake Center of Westerly