"Ton of Love" Food Drive: Jan. 29 - Feb. 26
It's time again for the annual "Ton of Love" Food Drive! Organized by the Newport County Chamber of Commerce, this city-wide effort provides much-needed relief to Newport County's less fortunate, and the Sovereign Bank Family Skating Center is proud to once again serve as a drop-off location.
You can drop off non-perishable food items at the dropbox located inside the concessions hut at the rink. All donors will receive a free hot chocolate. Suggested items include pastas, canned soups, peanut butter, jelly, macaroni & cheese, rice, beans, tuna, canned juices, and cereals - no glass bottles please! Donations will benefit the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center here in Newport.
Meet PAWS: The PawSox Mascot! Sunday, Feb. 21
The Sovereign Bank Family Skating Center is proud to welcome a familiar face: local celebrity and one of the friendliest polar bears you're ever likely to meet, Paws, official mascot of the Pawtucket Red Sox! Standing 6'6" tall, this furry fan has been slinging softballs between innings of PawSox games since 1999. Swing by the rink between 1:30-2:30pm on Sunday, February 21 to meet and take photos with this colossal critter!
The Amica Coat Drive: All January long
Thank you to all who came and donated their new and gently-used coats in this year's annual Amica Coat Drive. We couldn't have been more thrilled with the turnout!
All coats were donated to St. Joseph's Soup Kitchen, located on Broadway right here in downtown Newport. Since opening in 1983, St. Joseph's Soup Kitchen has served approximately 8,000 meals per year. Doors are open each Monday from 11:30am until 1:00pm to those in need of a hot, nourishing meal or warm clothing. St. Joseph's Soup Kitchen reports in this trying economic time that meal service is up 15-20% over the past few years.
Blood Drive: Saturday, January 9th
A very sincere thank you goes out to all those who came out to donate in this year's annual Blood Drive at the Newport Yachting Center. Visit the Rhode Island Blood Center's website at RIBC.org for more information on how you can support this vital cause.
"Skate For Joy" Program
The Sovereign Bank Family Skating Center is proud to host the "Skate For Joy" Program, a non-profit organization committed to helping children discover the joy of ice skating, with the goal of engaging under-served youth from all backgrounds in a high-quality, after-school US Figure Skating Basic Skills program and inspire them, regardless of race or creed. The program will consistently provide mentoring that will foster skills in goal-setting and teach the importance of physical fitness and respecting themselves and others. By providing a fun, yet structured and disciplined environment that will help each child build self-esteem, they will mature into confident individuals striving to succeed on-ice and beyond. For more information, please visit skateforjoy.org.
