Plum Beach Garden Club getting into the holiday spirit
Celebrating the Spirit of South Kingstown: The town of South Kingstown is currently celebrating its 300th anniversary with special events throughout 2023. For a full list of events, visit southkingstownri.com/sk300.
TANK Scholarship Applications now Being Accepted: TANK is seeking applicants for its 4th annual scholarship. Applicants must be a current high school senior who lives in North Kingstown or attends North Kingstown High School and who identifies as either Asian, American Indian and Alaska Native, Black or African American, Hispanic, Latinx, Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, or are two or more BIPOC races/ethnicities. Applicants must be planning to attend a two or four year college, trade or vocational school in the Fall 2024-Spring 2025 school year. If selected, the scholarship reward must go towards one or more of the following college student expenses; the cost of tuition, room and board, textbooks, technology like laptop/printer, gas mileage/ public transportation or a student parking sticker. Apply at https://forms.gle/Bbnxd91cdakspfht7.
Holiday Food Drive: As part of its Good Neighbor program, Narragansett 2100, Inc., is working with the property managers, the Narragansett 2100 URI Student Advisory Council and the Narragansett Community Center to conduct a Holiday Food Drive to benefit the Community Market at St. Peter’s by the Sea Episcopal Church in Narragansett. As URI students leave their Narragansett homes on break for the holidays, they are encouraged to donate non-perishable items like canned goods and unopened boxed food. The Holiday Drive will run now through December 21. All residents are encouraged to donate as well. Food donations can be dropped off at the Community Market at St. Peter’s by the Seas Episcopal Church on 72 Central Street in the Pier Tuesday-thursday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Donations will also be accepted at the Narragansett Community Center at 53 Mumford Road, Monday -Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Ann O’brien Realty at 196 Ocean Road, Narragansett Property Management in Salt Pond Plaza and Lila Delman at 41 Ocean Road.
Operation Santa Paws: Bayview Rehabilitation at Scalabrini, where residents often benefit from animala-ssisted therapy visits, recently launched Operation Santa Paws to collect pet supplies and donate them to a local animal shelter. Through Dec. 22, the skilled nursing facility at 860 N. Quidnessett Road, North Kingstown, welcomes donated items such as blankets and towels, dog and cat beds, unopened pet food/treats, pet toys, grooming products, collars and leashes and food/water bowls. Therapy animals play a vital role in longterm care residents’ lives, particularly those living with dementia and Alzheimer’s. Benefits of animal therapy for seniors include emotional uplift, increased self-esteem, improved social skills, and reduced risk of depression and anxiety. For more information, visit www.bayviewrehabhc.com.
There’s Still Time to Send Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes Online: Area volunteers are celebrating the collection of gift-filled shoeboxes that will send a message of joy to children around the world: God loves you, and you’re not forgotten! This year, tens of thousands of volunteers contributed to Operation Christmas Child, a project of Samaritan’s Purse, by packing shoeboxes filled with fun toys, school supplies, and personal care items. The global Christmas project will deliver these gift-filled shoeboxes to children in more than 100 countries, including many who are suffering from war, poverty, disease and disaster. Each shoebox is an opportunity to share the message of the Gospel and bring hope to children in need around the world. Although drop-off locations have closed, there is still time to share hope and love with children overseas by packing a gift-filled shoebox online. Shoeboxes built online go to some of the hardest-to-reach areas in the world. Those who prefer the convenience of online shopping can browse samaritanspurse.org/buildonline to select gifts matched to a child’s specific age and gender, then finish packing the virtual shoebox by adding a photo and personal note of encouragement. For more information on how to participate in Operation Christmas Child visit samaritanspurse.org/occ.
Tickets now Available for 2024 URI Master Gardener Symposium: Tickets are on sale for the 2024 URI Master Gardener Symposium “Connecting in the Garden, Growing Together Again,” which takes place on Saturday, March 2, 2024, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Center for Biotechnology and Life Science at the URI Kingston Campus. This event will feature two key note speakers – Charlie Nardozzi, an Emmy Award winning garden writer, speaker and radio and television personality, and Karen Bussolini, Garden Writer’s Association Award winner in photography and an ecofriendly garden designer. A panel comprised of Dr. Rebecca Brown, Cassidy Need, Dr. John Taylor and Dr. David Weisberger will provide research-based solutions that will help the gardener to be a true steward of the land. There is a vendor marketplace with gardening-inspired crafts and exhibitors with information to answer your gardening questions. Bring family and friends – all are invited. $50 Symposium tickets make a great gift and are available on line at the URI Master Gardener website at web. uri.edu/coopext/programs/mgp/annual-events/gardensymposium.
Peace Dale Congregational Church to Hold Food Drive in December: During this special season of giving, Peace Dale Congregational Church will be holding a food drive from Dec. 1, 2023, to Dec. 23, 2023, to help stock the Jonnycake Center for Hope Market. Items can be dropped off at the church