In an effort to ease the burden of back-to-school costs that many families struggle with, Ocean State Job Lot has once again donated backpacks and other school supplies to the Rhode Island State Police, Police Chiefs’ Association, and Attorney General’s 2016 “Kids, Cops & Classrooms” program. This is the fifth consecutive year that the North Kingstown-based, leading closeout retailer has been a corporate sponsor of the program, which provides school supplies to students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. The donation consisted of backpacks, notebooks, portfolios, binders, pencil, pens, erasers and other school materials, worth an estimated $15,000 in market value. On Tuesday, August 30 Ocean State Job Lot’s Charitable Foundation was awarded a citation for being a corporate sponsor of the program during a press conference held at the South Side Boys & Girls Club in Providence.  The event served as a kick-off for the program, which has state troopers and police officers distributing the backpacks and school supplies to children involved with community organizations over the next few days.   Lieutenant Colonel Todd E. Catlow, deputy superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police, noted that due to shrinking budgets, many school districts are cutting back on classroom supplies, which forces more teachers and parents to use their own money.  “More requests have come in this year,” he said. Calling education “the great equalizer,” Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin spoke to the generosity of the businesses, community and faith-based organizations for providing the donations and noted how the new backpacks and school supplies are welcomed by so many children heading back to school.   David Sarlitto, executive director at Ocean State Job Lot, said, “We’re fully aware that many school districts have cut back on school supplies, and how this creates an additional expense for many families who are already struggling financially. As such, we are glad to once again assist Rhode Island’s law enforcement community in providing children with these tools that enhance the start of their new school year.” Kids, Cops & Classrooms benefits Crossroads Rhode Island, Family Service of Rhode Island, Project Night Vision, Children’s Friend, Hispanic Ministerial Association of Rhode Island, Multi-Service Center for All, African Alliance, Mount Hope Neighborhood Association, Chad Brown Alumni Association, and the Center for Southeast Asians.

Saying thanks

 At a press conference at the South Side Boys & Girls Club to kick off the 2016 “Kids, Cops & Classrooms” program, David Sarlitto, executive director of Ocean State Job Lot, received a certificate of appreciation from Rhode Island State Police Major Christopher Dicomitis. The Ocean State Job Lot Charitable Foundation donated backpacks and school supplies with a market value of $15,000 to the program, which benefits hundreds of children who are clients of community outreach partners. (Photo courtesy of Newberry Public Relations & Marketing, Inc.)