Big Brothers Big Sisters Donation Center Coming to Middletown

Big Brothers Big Sisters shared the following information with the community.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Ocean State (BBBSOS) has announced it will open a new Donation Center on Aquidneck Island to serve Middletown, Portsmouth, Newport and neighboring communities.

The Center, located in the Airport Plaza at 1341 West Main Road, is expected to open as early as May 4 and is intended to create a sustained source of revenue for the social service activities of BBBSOS. It is the second such center in Rhode Island, the first located next to the agency’s headquarters at 1540 Pontiac Avenue in Cranston. A grand opening ceremony is scheduled for May 11.

“Opening a facility on Aquidneck Island is an exciting step for our agency,” said Deb Saunders, BBBSOS Executive Director. “The residents in these communities have been enthusiastically supportive of our mission for years, and we are thrilled to be able to provide them with a location that will not only be a more convenient place to drop off donations of gently used clothing and other items, but will also bring us closer to many of the constituents we serve.”

In addition to accepting donations, the new center, later this summer, will house offices for the agency’s recently launched Military Mentoring Program.

The grand opening ceremony is scheduled for Friday, May 11, at 10 a.m. and will include a ribbon cutting with the , refreshments, giveaways from local businesses, and the chance to win some great prizes. The public is encouraged to attend, bring a bag or box of items to donate, and learn more about mentoring a boy or girl in the community.

The staffed Center will accept donations of gently used clothing, small household items, books, toys, home décor items and provide donors with tax receipts. Items collected at the Center will be sold through its retail partner, Savers, and the proceeds will be used to fund the agency’s mentoring programs. Unfortunately, due to space constraints, furniture, appliances and other large items cannot be accepted. A complete list of donatable items is located on the agency’s website.

The BBBSOS Aquidneck Island Donation Center will be open seven days, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. Donations can only be accepted during business hours and may not be left outside.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Ocean State is Rhode Island’s leading mentoring organization, and has been serving boys and girls in the area for 45 years. The agency was recently honored with a prestigious “Gold Standard Award” identifying it as one of the top agencies in the nation. Persons interested in mentoring a child or donating to support the program, can contact BBBSOS at (401) 921-2434, or can log on to the organization’s website at www.BBBSOS.org.