You’re listening to the Westerly Sun’s podcast, where we talk about news, the best local events, new job postings, obituaries, and more.

First, a bit of Rhode Island trivia. Today’s trivia is brought to you by Perennial. Perennial’s new plant-based drink “Daily Gut & Brain” is a blend of easily digestible nutrients crafted for gut and brain health. A convenient mini-meal, Daily Gut & Brain” is available now at the CVS Pharmacy in Wakefield.

Now for some trivia. Did you know that Rhode Island native, Bobby Sewall, pro football wide receiver. He played college football at Brown University and was recognized as one of the best athletes in Ivy League Football history. Sewall scored more points than any Ivy League player during his tenure at Brown. As a sophomore against Dartmouth, he tallied 18 catches, 15 rushes, 4 touchdowns, and threw a 48-yard touchdown pass. It was the best individual performance in the history of the Ancient Eight. The 18 catches in one game bested the entire nation (at all levels) that season.

He played professionally for the Tennessee Titans, the Jacksonvilee Sharks, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Now, we turn our feature story….

If there is one service that has grown ever more important in helping meet the town’s food insecurity concerns over the past five years, it’s the Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center’s food pantry.

When the shelves are full of recently donated or purchased inventory, the center bustles like a small town grocer on a Friday morning, with staffers packing up food for residents in need and supplying parents with supplemental weekend food for their children as part of the PNC’s backpack program. Down the hall, clients are able to take advantage of a household goods “store” that provides health and beauty products, jackets, bathroom essentials and other similar products.

The variety of options and filled-to-the-brim shelves tell two different stories. The first is that “feel-good, holiday classic” of community members giving back — the other, a less warm-and-fuzzy tale of the growing need for assistance.

PNC Executive Director Susan Sedensky said: “When I started as executive director, in 2017, people who used our services seemed to be ‘hidden.’ Our region is geographically so beautiful, and many neighborhoods are wealthy, and as a result, most people seemed unaware that there were people living in their own community who were food insecure”.

She continued: “Since COVID, the general public seems to be more aware that local hunger exists. People seem to realize that kids, many who go to school with their own kids, may be food insecure and are in need of food for the weekend when school meals are not available.”

For clients of the PNC, efforts over the past five years have led to ever-expanding opportunities. When Sedensky took over, those who received assistance were able to come just once per month. That expanded to twice per month, and the backpack program was introduced prior to the pandemic. Then the public health emergency forced a significant change in the center's operations when community needs skyrocketed and state regulations forced the PNC, as it did so many other organizations, to close their building over safety.

To keep the food pantry available to residents, it also meant moving forward without volunteers. The PNC had previously relied heavily on retirees who had the time to help but shifted immediately to hiring paid staff and providing curbside assistance so that services remained available.

Those staff members are and will continue to be an important part of operations moving forward, Sedensky said. Once vaccinations were available, she said the center also saw a rise in volunteers from a new group of residents who became aware of the need as a result of the pandemic and their own experiences. More importantly, she said, business owners and residents continued to provide generous donations to meet the growing needs.

“It just resonated with people. The pandemic made them feel, and in some cases even see first-hand, that this could be anyone.”

Stay up to date on this story and more at westerlysun.com

Today we’re remembering the life of James Wilgis. He was the husband of Carmela Wilgis who predeceased him in 2020.

Born in Birdsboro, Pennsylvania, he devoted his life to serving in the US Navy as a submariner, including overseas during the Vietnam War, later retiring as an Electricians Mate Master Chief Petty Officer. Jim then graduated from URI and worked at the Underwater Sound Lab until retiring. He was a life member of the Westerly Yacht Club, and also a member of the U.S. Power Squadron earning a full certificate. Fishing and boating were his passions, but he loved to spend time with his grand and great-grandchildren at family gatherings.

He is survived by his two step children, two grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Thank you for taking a moment with us today to remember and celebrate Jim’s life.

That’s it for today, we’ll be back next time with more! Also, remember to check out our sponsor Perennial, Daily Gut & Brain, available at the CVS on Main St. in Wakefield!

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