Spring Break
URI Psych Club brings relief to Providence's 'Tent City'
Hillary Brady
Issue date: 2/18/09 Section: News
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The members of Tent City are some of the many Providence residents who have recently become homeless, and they sit crowded in these tents, too small for them to stand in.
There are approximately 20 Tent City residents from night to night, many of whom are young men and women between 18 and 29-years-old.
Friday, these individuals had company from the University of Rhode Island Psychology Club, which arrived carrying dozens of bags of food and clothes from its recent donation drive. The club collected donated blankets, clothing, food and money directly from the URI community.
Through the help of Tom Dougan, director of student affairs, and Chip Yensan, director of Housing and Residential Life, the group set up clothing and food donation boxes in student dorms and sororities for more than a week.
The idea came from professor Susan Boatright, director of the Undergraduate Program in psychology and the club's faculty sponsor, after she saw a story about Tent City on the news.
"One of the things we wanted to do last year was Welcome City [a local soup kitchen,]" president of the club, Jenlyn Furey, said. "We wanted to do that on a larger scale this year."
The URI students and faculty were generous with cash donations, as well. The Dean of Arts and Sciences, Winifred Brownell, helped solicit aid from faculty, including members of the education, language and psychology departments.
The Chi Omega sorority also donated $100 to the fundraiser, and helped organize the clothing donations.
Last week, the club held a drawing at the Memorial Union, where students could donate money for a chance to win a blanket from the URI bookstore.
In total, the group collected $385 in cash donations, which they then used to purchase much-needed essentials such as toiletries, bottled water and food.
"As a club, we're always interested in volunteering," Furey said. "With the economy, everyone has been affected. It's important, especially at this time of year when it's getting so cold."
