Support our Holiday Season 2020 "Cross the Bridge to Hope"

The Samaritans of Rhode Island

P.O. Box 9086, Providence RI 02940

FOUR MEN WHO KNOW THE MEANING OF LOSS BY SUICIDE LEAD THE SAMSRI 2020 8th ANNUAL "CROSS THE BRIDGE TO HOPE”

SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR OUR TEAM TODAY!

100% of your donation benefits our Rhode Island charity!

Dear Family, Friends and Neighbors:

Samaritans, can I help you? That opening line when calls are answered at The Samaritans remains as relevant today as it was 43 years ago when local visionaries began our Rhode Island-based charity.

Now, with the pandemic, we can add the emotional burdens of job insecurity, social isolation, fear of infection, and the grief of losing loved ones to COVID-19 as just a few of the reasons callers seek our nonjudgmental listening line.

The pandemic has caused the cancelation our annual fund raisers including our "Cross the Bridge to Hope at the Pell Bridge Run" as well as the smaller events held at our Forget-Me-Not Gallery, along with our concerts and gift shop sales, Yet, in spite of every obstacle which has ever confronted us since our inception in 1977, we have never given up and this COVID year is no different.

That’s why we are pleased to introduce you to our 2020 “Cross the Bridge to Hope” Virtual Dream Team – Bryan Ganley, John LaCross, Joe Tavares and Ken Walsh.Together, as SAMSRI volunteers, each is dedicated to the mission of our volunteer-based Crisis Hotline/Listening Line, Safe Place Grief Support, Youth and Teen Education and Community Education programs.

What’s their story? Why their dedication? Because their life experiences as witnesses to loss by suicide and the lifetime of devastation it brings, has strengthen their resolve to ensure that COVID-19 will not stop SAMSRI from continuing to be the agency of choice for Rhode Islanders seeking information about suicide prevention education and grief support.

So, on an undisclosed day between now and the end of December, Bryan, John, Joe and Ken will log 4 miles at Colt State Park – the same miles as the Pell Bridge Run. Due to strict RI DEM COVID-19 rules, no one can join them – but rest assured we will all be with our Dream Team in spirit! We will post training photo updates as well as pictures from the big day on social media.

Why does your support matter to SAMSRI? Because we offer all of our volunteer staff programs without charge (including offering a toll-free Hotline) and accordingly depend on charitable donations to operate our programs and keep our doors open.

Please give generously. Give to remember or honor a loved one or friend.

On behalf of all we serve, thank you.

• For more information about The Samaritans of RI and its programs, please visit www.samaritansri.org