Kingston, R.I. Not only do URI students think big, but give big, too.

Community Impact Week

will take place this year Oct. 3 -7. During the week, nearly 150 public relations students will
work with local, nonprofit organizations to help those in need.
Communication Studies Department Chair Dr. Kevin McClure is anticipating this week and how
URI public relations students will embrace the power of giving back through the first annual
Community Impact Week.
This is a great opportunity for our public relations students to share their time, talents and
knowledge with worthy, local nonprofits. he shared.
This week is about volunteering and giving back to the local community in many ways. Different
opportunities include volunteering at the Rhody Outpost food pantry, which provides students
food that may not have enough money to buy any. Volunteers will be able to help stock shelves,
unpack boxes of food, prepare grocery bags of food for students, put together small bags of food
and more.
Public relations students at URI are not stopping there. The Jonnycake Center of Peace Dale,
Rhode Island is an organization that provides clothing, food and household items to people in
need. Public relations students are going to work to increase the visibility and awareness of this
nonprofit organization on the URI campus. Other public relations students are hosting a food
drive, collecting warm clothing for the Jonnycake Center and volunteering at the various local
non-profit organizations.
Kate Brewster, executive director of The Jonnycake Center expressed how excited she is about
this week and is thankful for all who are taking the time to help.
Students can provide a valuable service by taking on those projects and providing some fresh,
outside thinking to an organization like the Jonnycake Center. We hope that the experience is
mutually beneficial, with students learning more about the needs of their surrounding community
and the Jonnycake gaining some fresh ideas about communication. she said.
Community Impact Week is focused on giving back and helping others. There is always a way to
help those in need and volunteer. How can you give back?
About Public Relations Major at URI
The Harrington School of Communications and Media Students challenge their students to think,
create and communicate. Public relations major students enroll in courses that will help them
enhance their writing and critical thinking skills. The courses, Social Media Strategies and
Tactics for the PR Professional and Strategic Media Communication, have been added to the
major requirement that will help students integrate social media into their careers. URIs PR
program is always growing, just like the PR industry.
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Contact Information:
Kristen Ross
Public relations major
609-922-0876
kristen_ross21@my.uri.edu