Mark your calendars for Rhode Island’s biggest day of giving! On April 1, 2025, SCLT will once again participate in 401 Gives, the statewide fundraising initiative powered by the Alliance for Nonprofit Impact in partnership with United Way of Rhode Island. This 24-hour online giving event unites thousands of donors with hundreds of local nonprofits, creating a powerful wave of community support when we need it most.
Last year, SCLT received an impressive $31,117 during the 401 Gives campaign, part of the record-breaking $3.8 million raised for 597 nonprofit organizations across Rhode Island. These vital funds directly supported our youth-centered programs, including our initiative that employs approximately 50 youth and emerging adults annually from Providence, Pawtucket, and Central Falls.
Youth Staff Leaders James and Aaliyah at SCLT’s greenhouse at Galego Community Farm
In 2025, your 401 Gives donation will help ensure the continuity of this critical program during a time of federal funding uncertainty. Youth Staff aged 14-24 engage in hands-on learning at our urban and rural farm sites, developing skills in sustainable agriculture, environmental stewardship, and food system advocacy. As Aaliyah, an 18-year-old Youth Staff Leader in her fourth year with SCLT, shared: “This whole job has been a complete transformation for me… Nature! Breathing it in, getting away from every other trouble or issue that I have to worry about. Coming here and taking a breath helps to destress from all of that.”
Your support on 401 Gives Day helps us provide these transformative experiences while offering practical work readiness training, professional certifications, and career exploration opportunities in Rhode Island’s growing green economy. With 97% of our Youth Staff identifying as Black, Latine, or a person of color, this program directly addresses economic and food access disparities in our communities. Stay tuned to our social media channels for more information as April 1 approaches, and join us in building the next generation of food system leaders in Rhode Island!
