2013 -- S 0797

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LC02209

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2013

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S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N

CELEBRATING THE JONNYCAKE CENTER AT THE BEGINNING OF ITS 40TH YEAR

OF SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY

     Introduced By: Senators Sosnowski, and Cool Rumsey

     Date Introduced: March 27, 2013

     Referred To: Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar

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     WHEREAS, When our state’s economy falters, families and individuals who have been

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struggling to get by often begin to fail in their efforts to secure everyday essentials.  In the early

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1970s, the need for food and other necessities for many people around our state became critical;

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and

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     WHEREAS, In South County, a local group composed of businessmen, clergy,

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professionals, and concerned citizens, who had been getting together regularly to discuss

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solutions to these pressing social needs, decided to form “The Jonnycake Group.”  Named after

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an essential food staple from colonial times, the founding group members were united in their

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goal to provide basic necessities to local people in need; and

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     WHEREAS, On April 22nd of 1974, the Jonnycake Center officially opened from a store

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front on Main Street in Wakefield.  As the first of its kind in Rhode Island, the center provided

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clothing, furniture, and classes in addition to food, and was staffed seven days a week by an all-

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volunteer work force; and

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     WHEREAS, The mission of the Jonnycake Center is to “improve the quality of life for

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individuals and families by providing comprehensive assistance to those in need of food,

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clothing, and household items and through individual and systemic advocacy for our clients”; and

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WHEREAS, Today, the Jonnycake Center’s Emergency Food Pantry is located at the

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rotary in Peace Dale.  It provides nutritionally balanced food baskets to individuals and families

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once a month.  The food baskets contain enough milk, eggs, and frozen meats to prepare three

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meals a day for an entire week for all household members; and

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     WHEREAS, In addition, the organization now operates a retail “thrift” store which

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generates revenue that is used toward the Emergency Food Pantry.  The store is open to the

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public, but it is also a source of free clothing and household items for those in need; and

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     WHEREAS, For almost four decades the Jonnycake Center has thrived and expanded due

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entirely to the generosity of many individuals and organizations who, like the original founders,

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are working “to eliminate hunger in our community” and helping to build a brighter tomorrow for

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our state; now, therefore be it

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     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

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hereby celebrates and applauds the Jonnycake Center as it enters its 40th year of serving the

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community and recognizes the outstanding efforts of the hundreds of volunteers who, over the

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course of the past four decades, have selflessly dedicated their time and energies to eliminate

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hunger and provide assistance to those who are less fortunate within their community; and be it

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further

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     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

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transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Katherine Horoschak, President

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of the Jonnycake Center Board of Directors.

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LC02209

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