Bob Sweeney, Boston Bruins Foundation, and former Bruins player; C. Andrew McCawley, President and Chief Executive Officer, New England Center and Home for Veterans; David Sarlitto, Executive Director, Ocean State Job Lot Charitable Foundation; Blades the Bruins Mascot.
Ocean State Job Lot Charitable Foundation and Boston Bruins Foundation Donate 800 Warm Winter Coats to New England Center and Home for Veterans
This season, nearly 80,000 coats have been donated to organizations across the region
North Kingstown, RI – (January 9, 2025) – On Wednesday, January 8th, Ocean State Job Lot (OSJL), the region’s premier discount retail chain with 159 stores across the Northeast, its Charitable Foundation, and the Boston Bruins Foundation, donated approximately 800 warm, winter coats to the New England Center and Home for Veterans (NECHV), a national leader in housing and serving Veterans who are at-risk of homelessness.
The donation is one of many that resulted from OSJL’s Buy-Give-Get program, a community-driven initiative designed to provide essential items to those in need through the generosity of OSJL customers coupled with OSJL’s purchasing power. Through this year’s ‘Buy, Give, Get’ coat program, any customer who bought a warm winter coat at OSJL for $40.00 (retail value at $120.00 or more) and gave it back to the store as a donation to a veteran in need, got a $40.00 Crazy Deal Gift Card in return.
“We are really thankful for the support we get from both Ocean State Job Lot and the Boston Bruins Foundation. The coats are certainly very appreciated and very needed at this time of year,” said C. Andrew McCawley, President and Chief Executive Officer, New England Center and Home for Veterans. “These will be distributed to veterans and they will be putting them to use today; it’s a message to them that their service is not forgotten and it has been appreciated as well.”
Since the start of “Buy, Give, Get” in 2016, OSJL has provided more than 380,000 coats to veterans in need, nearly 80,000 to vets and those impacted by natural disaster this season alone; 3,000 bikes to children of military families across the Northeast; and thousands of backpacks filled with school supplies to local students in need.
“We want to thank our generous and loyal customers for their ongoing commitment to our mission to assist veterans and military families year-round,” said David Sarlitto, Executive Director, Ocean State Job Lot Charitable Foundation. “As the temperatures hit freezing conditions, a warm, insulated winter coat is a lifesaving item. Knowing that hundreds of local veterans will receive new coats during one of the coldest weeks of the season is incredibly fulfilling, and we are grateful to our community partners and volunteers who helped in this effort.”
Prior to the NECHV donation, the Ocean State Job Lot Charitable Foundation distributed coats across New England as well as in Philadelphia, PA, delivering and distributing more than 2,500 “Buckets for Vets” that include warm winter coats and other cold-weather essentials to partner organizations in the city. Philadelphia hosts one of the largest veteran populations in the Northeast.
In addition, OSJL offers year-round support for veterans and military families through programs such as the “Military and Veteran Deal Days,” and the annual “Buy, Give, Get” programs that provide backpacks, bicycles, winter coats, and more to veterans across the Northeast. and Mid Atlantic.
Bob Sweeney, Boston Bruins Foundation, and former Bruins player; Jessica Travassos, Assistant, Ocean State Job Lot (OSJL); Adrianna Travassos; Carlos Olivera, Buyer, OSJL; David Sarlitto, Executive Director, OSJL Charitable Foundation; John Whitesides, Director of Health, Fitness and Wellness, Boston Bruins.
Blades, the Boston Bruins Mascot, helps to unload donated coats.
Ocean State Job Lot’s truck arrives at the New England Center and Home for Veterans to donate 800 warm winter coats.
Signage
About Ocean State Job Lot:
Founded in 1977, Ocean State Job Lot (OSJL) is a growing, privately held discount retail chain with 159 stores in New England, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, approximately 5,600 employees, and annual sales exceeding $800 million. OSJL Shoppers find an ever-changing array of brand name, first-quality merchandise at closeout prices, including household goods, apparel, pet supplies, seasonal products (holiday, gardening, patio, pool, and beach supplies), and kitchen pantry staples at a fraction of their typical price. The company was named a four-time “Best Employer” by Forbes® Magazine*, a four-time US Best Managed Company by Deloitte, one of America’s Greatest Workplaces for Parents & Families 2024 by Newsweek, a three-time winner of the Inspiring Workplaces in North America Award, and a Global Top 100 Inspiring Workplaces winner. *Ocean State Job Lot is not affiliated with Forbes®.
The Ocean State Job Lot Charitable Foundation has a long history of philanthropic leadership, supporting numerous causes, including feeding the hungry, helping the homeless, assisting veterans and military families, aiding animal rescue, caring for children, advancing healthcare, supporting the arts, and promoting learning. The Foundation’s operational, administrative, and overhead expenses are covered by Ocean State Job Lot, not the Foundation, ensuring that 100% of every dollar raised through the Foundation goes directly to helping those in need. Ocean State Job Lot is headquartered in the Quonset Point Business Park at 375 Commerce Park Road, North Kingstown, RI 02852. Phone: (401) 295-2672; Website: OceanStateJobLot.com.
About the Boston Bruins Foundation:
The Boston Bruins Foundation celebrated 20 years of impact during the 23-24 season. Since inception, it has raised more than $67 million through various events and initiatives. The Foundation has been fortunate to service New England communities and continue to impact partnerships through various initiatives such as its BFit School Assemblies presented by National Grid and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, supporting AJ Quetta and Jake Thibeault’s roads to recovery through golf tournaments, selling Pucks and Pups Calendars benefitting MSCPA Angell, growing the game of hockey in underrepresented communities, and much more. The Foundation also has a strong focus in raising awareness and funds for first responder and military charities through our annual BFit Challenge presented by National Grid and annual BFit Heroes Cup Hockey Tournament presented by Wellpoint. Along with other keystone events and fundraising initiatives, the Boston Bruins Foundation looks to change and adapt as the needs of the community change in order to continue to impact communities to the greatest extent. For more information, please visit: www.nhl.com/bruins/community/foundation/.
