April 28, 2009 – (RealEstateRama) — The State of Rhode Island has received 3500 blankets, at no cost, from the Defense Supply Center Philadelphia (DSCP), a field-level activity of the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), an agency of the United States Department of Defense (DOD). The blankets are intended for distribution to the homeless. The donation came through a DOD Homeless Support Program implemented by the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act.
The State learned of the program and this opportunity through personnel at Northwest Woolens of Woonsocket, RI. The Rhode Island request was coordinated by Gerry Bedrick of the Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) with the support of the RI State Police, the RI Office of Housing and Community Development, the Corporation for Supportive Housing and the RI Department of Mental Health, Retardation and Hospitals (MHRH).
The blankets arrived in Rhode Island last week and are being distributed through the Eleanor Slater Hospital. Contact has been made with all of the various shelters in the State with distribution completed last Friday. A good number of blankets will be stored for the next winter season.
Gary Alexander, Acting Secretary of EOHHS, stated “In these difficult economic times, more and more Rhode Islanders are facing homelessness, and the need for services becomes more acute each week. The availability of these blankets will be a help to these, our most vulnerable citizens. “
Mr. Alexander continued, “I would like to thank the Department of Defense’s Defense Logistics Agency for this assistance.”
