James W Rouse Day

Each year, the partnership of Struever Bros. Eccles & Rouse and The Armory Revival Company, organizes a day of volunteerism and community service. Mindful of the legacy of James W. Rouse and his influence in shaping a better world, the companies together donate more than funds - mobilizing many volunteers who breathe new life into Baltimore’s neighborhoods.

 

The first annual James Rouse Community Service Day in Providence, Rhode Island was held on October 4, 2003. Chilly temperatures and wet weather did not dampen the spirits of more than 100 volunteers who convened at Donigian Park to plant new trees and flower beds both in the Park and on Valley Street, clear away brush, provide a new electrical service for community events, paint the Valley Street bridge, and build a deck overlooking the dam on the Woonasquatucket River.

 

The event, sponsored jointly by Struever Bros Eccles & Rouse, Inc., The Armory Revival Company, The Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council, PUENTE and the City of Providence Department of Parks and Recreation, also benefited from the generous donation of materials and services from many of our construction partners, local businesses and community organizations.

 

We are pleased to recognize the substantial donations of the following businesses and individuals for their donation of several thousands of dollars of equipment, supplies, refreshments, and labor:

 

• D&D Tree Services, Inc. of Johnston for landscape materials
• Environmental Science Services of East Providence for engineering services
• GEM Plumbing & HVAC of Warwick, for providing a backhoe and operator
• Interiors by Provident of Smithfield for donated paint and paint brushes
• JJ Devlan & Hemphill of Attleboro, MA for providing carpentry services for electrical service and the trench for the electrical line
• Paint Shoppes of Providence for paint applicators
• Rossi Electric of Cranston, which provided electrical service to Donigian Park
• Shaws’ Supermarkets of Providence for lunch and cold refreshments
• Wes’ Rib House of Providence for breakfast and hot refreshments A large and diverse group of volunteers led the beautification effort.

 

Groups represented by the effort included the Girl Scouts of Rhode Island, The University of Rhode Island, employees and family members of Struever Bros. Eccles & Rouse and the Armory Revival Company, the Woonasquatucket River Greenway Commission, and the many residents of the communities around Donigian Park.

 

Subsequent James W Rouse Community Service Days have extended the work in Donigan Park with a Kayak Launch, lighting, playground equipment and clean ups along the river.