A Letter to the Editor Published in the Valley Breeze
By Rev. Jeffrey C. Thomas,
CCA Volunteer Board Chair, Pastor St. James Baptist Church, Mentor for DCYF Foster Families
Woonsocket
Fiction: A fire truck and crew pulled up to a burning house. A crowd gathered. The buzz in the crowd was about the racket the truck made when it was approaching, the water running down the sewer in these drought conditions, and the hoses blocking the sidewalk. The firefighters saved the house, but that went unmentioned amidst the uproar about the noisy, inefficient, wasted resources.
Fact: The Community Care Alliance (CCA) longevity reaches deep into the history of this region, having grown out of its predecessor agencies, Northern Rhode Island Community Services (NRICS) and Family Resources Community Action (FRCA). Like the fire truck, CCA responds to vulnerable populations experiencing critical needs. As Chair of the volunteer Board of Directors at CCA I scratch my head when I learn some folks in and around the community believe working to strengthen children, families, individuals, and the community is a hindrance to healthy living.