‘Rock the City’ to help those in need with products, food

Carla Aveledo
Posted 9/4/14

The New Life Worship Center will “Rock the City” for the first time Sept. 13 at Aldrich Junior High School from 12 noon to 3 p.m. with a large block party where families in need will be offered …

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‘Rock the City’ to help those in need with products, food

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The New Life Worship Center will “Rock the City” for the first time Sept. 13 at Aldrich Junior High School from 12 noon to 3 p.m. with a large block party where families in need will be offered personal care products and other necessary items. For 15 years, the Center has assisted families to get their feet back on the ground,

The idea of “Rock the City” sprouted after center members visited a church in Baltimore that put on a “Block Party” Christian festival aiding lower-income families with food and products. The events took place in areas where drug violence and crime rates were high and prevalent. Once their events were more frequent, they noticed the crime rate was decreasing. With excitement and optimism, they adopted the idea and began Rock the City. The group met with then-Mayor Buddy Cianci, who recognized the plan as a great idea and shut down streets in Providence for their events.

Ron Termale, Rock the City administrator and associate pastor at New Life Worship Center, said he wants to foster hope in people who are in need of it.

“We encourage people that their lives can change, that God is real and that the church can help you,” he said.

In the past, Rock the City has been to Providence several times, Woonsocket, West Warwick, Central Falls, Pawtucket, Fall River and, most recently, New Bedford.

“We started seeing change. We’d get letters or communication saying that families were doing better,” because of their positive environment, said Termale.

To put one of these events together costs thousands of dollars, Termale said, but the generosity of the people at the church help make it possible. While planning, he contacts Rhode Island businesses to see what they can donate. Blount Seafood will be contributing by offering free clam chowder. The Compassion Coalition, dedicated to offering food, clothing and personal care items to the poor in New York, will loan a 26-foot box truck filled with products for families. There will also be donated bicycles raffled. Termale plans on reaching out to nearby Stop & Shops and Home Depot for donations as he plans the event.

He said there’s a flow of people in the high hundreds. In New Bedford, he said more than 1,000 people came.

“Families hang out, they’ll eat and get clothing and gift packages filled with hygiene and household products,” said Termale.

Diapers, toilet paper, food and children’s activities will also be offered that day.

Paul Salera, executive director of Westbay Community Action, said Termale contacted him about holding the event at Westbay offices in Buttonwoods. When that became impractical, the center picked Aldrich.

He said Westbay would have booths at the event and people would be able to access Westbay services.

While, he said, Warwick doesn’t have as large a low-income population as some urban centers, Salera said, “what we do have is an elderly community living paycheck to paycheck.’

He feels the event could be beneficial for them.

Rock the City’s efforts are also aimed toward getting people to connect with the church.

“The Center gets some of the people that come to the events, but we hear that people go back to church in their own communities,” said Termale. “It doesn’t matter where you go; find a good church with good youth programs. Know that life can change for the better.”

Stephen Boyce is the senior pastor at the New Life Worship Center who may be recognized from their TV show, “Life in Christ.” The Center has four locations: East Greenwich, Fall River, New Bedford and their main campus in Smithfield.

More information on their services can be found on their website at www.atnewlife.org. The Center is also keeping in mind a Sept. 20 rain date.

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