Woonsocket Radio News Room

Euer, Cano announce Senate coat drive

State House will serve as collection point for ‘Buy Nothing Day’

STATE HOUSE –  Sen. Dawn Euer and Sen. Sandra Cano have announced that, on behalf of the Rhode Island Senate, they are seeking donations of coats, hats and other warm winter clothing for those in need in conjunction with “Buy Nothing Day.”

The two senators have established a collection point at the State House for “Buy Nothing Day” an annual event held the day after Thanksgiving on the State House lawn during which thousands of donated coats, blankets, hats, gloves and other items are available to anyone in need.

From now through Nov. 18, anyone with clean, new or gently used coats, hats, gloves, scarves, boots or blankets is asked to bring them to the State House Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Donations are needed for people all ages and sizes and will be accepted at the legislators’ entrance located at the back of the upper parking lot on Smith Street. Those donating will be allowed to drive into the lot, which is usually closed to the public.

All donated items will be available on Buy Nothing Day, Friday, Nov. 26, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the lawn on the south-facing side of the State House. For more information, visit https://ricoatexchange.org/.

“There is a tremendous amount of need among Rhode Islanders today. Between more than a year and a half of the pandemic and our housing crisis, there are so many people who are facing challenges and insecurity. Buy Nothing Day has become a critical resource in our state, giving people a place where they know they can get their basic needs for warm clothes met every year, no questions asked. We are very happy to be able to be a part of it, and urge everyone who is fortunate enough to have warm coats, gloves, hats and other items that they no longer want to bring them to the State House so they can keep someone else warm this winter,” said Senator Euer (D-Dist. 13, Newport, Jamestown).

Last year, when COVID forced the cancelation of the in-person Buy Nothing Day event, Senator Euer and Senator Cano joined forces with housing advocates to organize their own winter coat and gear collection at the State House. The more than 2,600 winter coats, hats and other items collected were distributed across the state by the Rhode Island Coalition for the Homeless.

The senators are relieved that the event is back on this year, and decided to help out again because of the outpouring of support from Rhode Islanders who dropped off donations last year.

“There is no better way to celebrate the holiday season, particularly Thanksgiving, than to share some warmth and help our neighbors meet a very basic human need. Last year we were blown away by not only the outpouring of items that were able to be given to people who really needed them, but by how much people really wanted to help,” said Senator Cano (D-Dist. 8, Pawtucket). “We are so happy to be a part of this important effort to connect people in need with people who want to give. While the need is high this year, we’ve found that the generosity of Rhode Islanders is also abundant.”