Mayor Taveras Welcomes "Color Care Across America" Campaign to Providence

Crossroads Rhode Island Family Center Shelter Is Among 51 U.S. Shelters Getting Free Color Makeover.

Mayor Taveras visited Crossroads Rhode Island's Family Center Shelter at 754 Broad Street on October 26 to grab a paintbrush and help kick off the Crossroads shelter's paint color makeover.

The Crossroads family shelter is among 51 chosen by the United States Conference of Mayors (USCM) and sponsored by Benjamin Moore Paints' "Color Care Across America," program to undergo the chromatic transformation.

Mayor Taveras was joined at the event by Crossroads Rhode Island Family Center Shelter Director Cicely Dove, Benjamin Moore's Carl Minchew, LOPCO Contracting's Tom Lopatosky, and The Paint Shoppe store manager Jeff Andres.

"With the economic hardships so many families face these days, it's important that we continue to call attention to the plight of homelessness in our community," said Mayor Taveras. "I commend Benjamin Moore for this program, and I thank Crossroads for their tireless advocacy on behalf of those most in need in our community."

The Family Center Shelter at 754 Broad Street is Crossroad's largest shelter in Rhode Island - equipped to provide for 15 families in emergency. Crossroads is handling more cases earlier in the year than ever in recent memory, with their shelters overcapacity weeks before winter even begins.

"For those who will spend the holiday season here, Benjamin Moore's color makeover comes at the right time," said Shelter Director Cicely Dove. "

Benjamin Moore has spearheaded this nationwide initiative together with the USCM and the Painting & Decorating Contractors of America (PDCA), and the goal is to give the color makeovers to a shelter in each state plus one in Washington, DC, all within a 50-day period.

Tom Cochran, CEO & executive director of the United States Conference of Mayors, said, "The nation's mayors are the first to understand the hardships facing families today and have made reducing homelessness one of their top priorities. With the failure of the national economy to rebound and the dwindling resources on the ground, many people are out of work, homeless and must turn to these shelters for help. That's why we are pleased to be a part of this Benjamin Moore program. Color is powerful! If it can brighten lives and uplift the spirits of our neediest citizens. We are all for it."

According to Benjamin Moore director Carl Minchew, the Color Care program was inspired in part by President Obama's call to service and also by the growing ranks of homeless.

"It reflects the importance of forging partnerships between private enterprise and public service to find solutions for the kinds of issues that government no longer can afford to cope with alone," Minchew said.