Project Undercover Delivers Diapers and Formula as Assistance Requests Increase

Items benefitted Rhode Island families and children this winter.

PROVIDENCE, RI — The rapid spread of COVID-19 this winter and the continued economic effects of the pandemic created a surge in requests for essential needs. Family Service of Rhode Island has seen parents with babies struggling to provide diapers, wipes, formula, clothes, and other basic children’s items as the pandemic continues to strain resources.

FSRI is proud to have joined forces with our newest partner, Project Undercover, with assistance from Baby2Baby, to bridge the recent gap for families and children in Rhode Island. Together with Tazmanian Freight Systems, these items were delivered to families in need through FSRI programs.

The donation of 300 units of baby formula, as well as diaper & wipes bundles for 400+ babies, toddlers, and children, received from Project Undercover in January offered immediate relief for families struggling to meet basic needs in recent weeks.

“Project Undercover and Tazmanian Freight Systems are true heroes for stepping up to help fill this need for infants and kids during this tough time,” said Maggie Slane, VP for Advancement at FSRI. “We’re so grateful for this new partnership. Because of their generosity and coordinated efforts, hundreds of families were able to cover their children’s basic needs this winter.”

“We are pleased to support the work of Family Service of Rhode Island during these challenging times. We are also grateful for national and local organizations Baby2Baby and Ocean State Job Lot who supported our efforts to help RI’s kids in need,” said Project Undercover founder and president Richard Fleischer.

————————————————————————————

About Project Undercover: Project Undercover began in 1992. That’s when our founder and president Richard Fleischer brought home his adopted daughter from India and, already well into his 40s, had his first experience buying diapers. He was dumbfounded by the cost and wondered how less fortunate families could manage such an expense. Convinced that the need was too great to ignore, he, along with longtime friend Frank DePetrillo, decided to do something about it.

Through a unique partnership with the Girl Scouts of RI, Project Undercover began as a small group of volunteers organizing an annual diaper drive. For almost 15 years they were successful in collecting and distributing thousands of diapers every April, but they realized that they were scarcely making a dent in the overall need. With approximately 45,000 Rhode Island kids living in poverty (20,000 under the age of seven), the Project needed to expand.

In 2010, Project Undercover was formalized as a 501(c)3 nonprofit. We have an active volunteer board, and we work with over two-dozen partner agencies around the state to distribute supplies to families in need. Through these unique partnerships, we are able to collect diapers, socks, wipes, and underwear and distribute them among community centers and social service agencies according to data from the RI Department of Human Services, allowing us to make the best possible impact. Our goal is to provide these basic necessities to all RI kids living at or below the poverty level.