News Summary
WPRI 12, alongside Back to School Rhode Island and School on Wheels of Massachusetts, has initiated a comprehensive supply drive to assist families in need as the school year approaches. Running until September 6, the drive encourages donations of essential school supplies and monetary contributions. Community partners, including local businesses, are supporting this initiative to relieve the financial burden on families preparing for the upcoming academic year. Amid various school year developments, this drive underscores the community’s commitment to education and support for local families.
Providence, Rhode Island — A comprehensive supply drive has been launched by WPRI 12 in collaboration with Back to School Rhode Island and School on Wheels of Massachusetts. This initiative, the Back to School Supply Drive, runs from now until Saturday, September 6, 2025, aimed at helping families in need prepare for the upcoming school year. The drive is particularly timely as Rhode Island’s public schools are nearing their last week of the academic year.
The core of the initiative involves collecting donations of essential school supplies and monetary contributions. Individuals can participate by making online monetary donations or by purchasing and donating necessary school supply items. Drop-off locations for physical donations are available at any Cardi’s Furniture and Mattresses location across Rhode Island.
Some of the supplies needed for the drive include general school materials, although the specific items required were not detailed in the announcement. By encouraging community involvement, the program aims to ease the financial burden on families preparing for the new school year.
Community partners supporting this initiative include notable local businesses and organizations such as Cardi’s Furniture & Mattresses, Ocean State Job Lot, and Navigant Credit Union. Their involvement highlights the collaboration and generosity within the Rhode Island community as they support the educational needs of local families.
As the school year approaches its conclusion, many public school districts in Rhode Island are finalizing their academic calendars. The Rhode Island Department of Education mandates a minimum of 180 days of instruction, leading to varied completion dates across districts based on factors like weather-related closures. Most public schools in the area are expected to finish their academic year around mid-June, with specific closing dates differing per district. For instance, schools in Barrington and Bristol-Warren are scheduled to end on June 18, while Burrillville’s last day is set for June 17, and Providence schools are slated to close on June 23.
In related news, East Providence is tackling safety concerns within school zones. The city has installed speed cameras to enforce traffic regulations amid rising instances of speeding. City Council member Rick Lawson has proposed an ordinance to redirect funds collected from speeding tickets towards a school construction fund. While this proposal has passed its initial vote in the City Council, it requires further approval to be enacted into law. However, it has faced opposition from Mayor Bob DaSilva, who has expressed concerns that the measure could lead to a budget shortfall and necessitate cuts to other municipal services.
Recent developments at local schools include a lockdown incident at Riverside Middle School, resulting in three juveniles being taken into custody. Following an altercation, students remained in their classrooms until the suspects were apprehended. Charges of simple assault and battery have been filed against the involved individuals, bringing attention to safety measures in schools.
Additionally, Sacred Heart School, a longstanding parochial institution in East Providence, will close its doors at the end of the school year due to ongoing financial difficulties and declining enrollment numbers. Established in 1917, the school currently serves 125 students. In light of the closure, the Diocese of Providence is working to assist affected families by helping them find alternative educational placements in neighboring schools.
With ongoing concerns about school funding, safety, and academic completion, the Back to School Supply Drive represents a unifying effort among local organizations and citizens to ensure that educational resources are available to every child in the community, helping to pave the way for a successful academic year ahead.
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Additional Resources
- Providence Journal: Last Day of School Dates
- Wikipedia: Rhode Island
- Turn to 10: East Providence City Councilor Proposal
- Google Search: East Providence City Council
- Providence Business News: Sacred Heart School Closure
- Google Scholar: School Closure East Providence
- WPRI: Incident at East Providence School
- Encyclopedia Britannica: East Providence
Author: STAFF HERE PROVIDENCE WRITER
PROVIDENCE STAFF WRITER The PROVIDENCE STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREProvidence.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Providence, Providence County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as WaterFire, Rhode Island International Film Festival, and Rhode Island Comic Con. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce and Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau, plus leading businesses in finance and manufacturing that power the local economy such as Citizens Financial Group and Textron. As part of the broader HERE network, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Rhode Island's dynamic landscape.
