CEO Quarterly 4 (last of 2010) 

Closing out 2010 I look back on a year that was busier and more stressful than usual, even for a social service agency the size of ours. An unexpected fire, heavy flooding, huge funding cuts and a winter with more snow and freezing temperatures than we‘ve seen in recent years, made for quite a challenging time for all Rhode Islanders. 

Whenever storm warnings are in effect, please watch local television stations for weather closings of our administration office, social service departments and daycare/school programs. We also announce closings on the ‘News’ webpage, Facebook and Twitter. Employees know to call the agency’s weather line. 

Our fuel assistance program with the state, LiHEAP, is experiencing an overwhelming number of requests, which was further complicated by the delayed start of this year’s program, and revised applications requiring more information than in the past and interviews. 

Four thousand repeat applications from 2010, plus 20 new applications a day coming in now, is understandably slowing the process which is frustrating to everyone.

I know it’s hard to be patient when you and your loved ones are cold, but I assure you the heating assistance staff is making every effort possible to review applications and return any that require additional information, answer emails and phone calls as efficiently as possible. http://westbaycap.org/lowincomeheating.asp

 ** Additional comments regarding LiHEAP are on the website's Expressions page.**

Emergency Shelters are also overwhelmed, but here is a link to several: http://www.rihomeless.org.  There are also other useful links on our websites Links/Resources/Policies page

ITEMS OF A GOOD NEWS VALUE

Adopt-a Family provided cheery holidays for 140 families. http://westbaycap.org/adoptfamily.asp

Our Annual Toy Drive with Hasbro gave children toys under the tree, and The Lewis Family, Lakewood Elementary School and so many other wonderful people donated time and money to spread goodwill throughout Kent County this past holiday season. Between Thanksgiving and Christmas, approximately 250 families received turkeys or Christmas Food Baskets or gift cards and side dishes with help from our friends at Rotary Club of Warwick and Greenwood Church. 

In late January we participated in Project Homeless Connect, a drive to help restock organizations assisting the homeless in Woonsocket/ Providence/Pawtucket/Westerly, with a van full of clothing and toiletries.

Take a look at the photos we have of a few of these events by clicking the Picasa icon on any page of our website.

Once again Westbay Community Action is sponsoring the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), a federal income tax credit for low-income workers who are eligible and can claim the credit, facilitating more eligible people receiving tax refunds and bringing more dollars to families and into our community. This is a FREE service. A team of volunteers completed training and testing and will be ready to help prepare your state and federal income tax returns when the program opens January 23. The volunteers will also file the returns electronically. To see if you are eligible, visit the website.

Westbay’s Board of Directors is welcoming two new members, Rev. Dr. Dorothy Brightman and Jane Lister.

In December Westbay won the Rising Above the Rest Award for a non-profit with more than 50 employees. Thank you Central Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce! 

The Adult Academy’s First Annual ‘Let Us Entertain You’ raffle raised a whopping $6,500 and we are awaiting fulfillment of 1-2 additional pledges. Congratulations to Academy Director Melanie LaMountain and the winners, who are listed on the website. Many thanks to our generous sponsors and everyone who bought and sold tickets. The sponsors are listed here.

The Academy completed its first intensive college prep program, now our students are entering the spring semester at CCRI this month (January) to take their first college course! This is a very exciting and promising time and we wish them the best.

Westbay Community Garden’s Farm Team barely caught their breath after the most successful farm season and closing the farm stand in October, when they started to meet and discuss plans for next season! The Master Gardeners are joining us for the second year of a three-year partnership. 

The City is kindly letting us use their heated greenhouse to get seeds going and we are learning how to utilize the new hoop house. We have also tapped a few more people eager to get their hands dirty and join us at the farm with new programs and fundraisers that will be announced in the weeks ahead.

Westbay Community Action is feeling the same hardships all Rhode Islanders are experiencing as we undergo program cuts and layoffs, but we continue to man the barricades and never stop looking for funds, volunteers, champions, partners, and entrepreneurial ways to advance our good works and persevere the storms ahead–some we can plan for and others that arrive unexpectedly.

These efforts are part and parcel of our pledge to be here when you need us.

My best to you all,

Jeanne M. Gattegno
Westbay President & CEO

First say to yourself what you would be;
and then do what you have to do.
Epictetus (AD 55 – AD 135)