I always get excited when Captain Brown informs me that he needs volunteers for a specific day. We have so many wonderful volunteers, and its fun to see who can make it and what skills they will bring to the project. Our paint party on Saturday, April 29 th was no exception. Five people came that day. They traveled from across Rhode Island. Each person, Charles Channing, Sabrina Woods, Tom Grant, Parker Wood, and Jay Higgins, had a unique story to tell about how he or she became involved with the Providence, and I am happy that each agreed that I could share their stories.

Charles Channing is a retired gentleman. When he sold his own boat, he began looking for volunteer opportunities so that he could “do something useful”. He found the Sloop Providence listed on the Volunteer Center of Rhode Island website. An email later and he was on our list. Charles came to our volunteer orientation last year, and it was great to see him back again. He says he enjoys volunteering with the Providence because it “gets me out by the water” and there are always free donuts and coffee. However, judging from the care he took in painting the ship, I believe it gives him something more.

(Charles Channing preparing the surface of the
Providence for painting - PMHF archives)

Sabrina Woods found the Providence last year. Neither one of us could quite remember how but I’m glad she did. Sabrina works as a career counselor at Northeastern University in Boston. Her interest in the Providence stems from her background in outdoor team building and ropes courses. Sabrina believes strongly in volunteering. That was evident in how hard she worked, even though she said she knew she was “going to feel it” the next day.

(Sabrina Woods painting the hull - PMHF archives)

Tom Grant is a union iron worker. Last year, he worked on the bridge on the I-195 relocation project. On a hot day that Tom says, in his usual understated way, was “not a particularly good day”, he saw the Providence sailing on the upper bay. He turned to a buddy and said “You know, working on that would be a lot more fun.” Soon after, Tom tracked the Providence down at India Point Park, met Captain Brown and joined our volunteer team. Tom was a great addition to our paint party. Not only was he comfortable being on the scaffolding, he also let us use a really good hand cleaner. Covered from head to toe with red paint spatters and looking like I had just stepped off the set of “Texas Chainsaw Massacre,” I was especially grateful.

Parker Wood is new to the Sloop Providence volunteer team. He had seen the Providence while sailing at Community Boating Center. He said he knew than that he had to “get involved with that”. Parker loves tall ships. Currently a sophomore at Barrington High School, Parker hopes to do a Sea Semester in college. “My brother did it. I’d love to follow in his footsteps.” Parker worked very hard at the paint party, did a great job and even offered to help clean up afterwards. Parker is interested in taking part in our Midshipmen Academy this year in the Great Lakes. If he works as hard at that as he did helping to paint the ship, he’ll be an outstanding Sloop Providence Midshipman.

(Parker Wood and Tom Grant on scaffolding and Charles Channing (far right)
painting the Providence - PMHF archives )

Jay Higgins works as the Program Developer at the Providence Children’s Museum. He has been a Sloop Providence volunteer for the past four years. Jay saw her one day when he was down at India Point Park, and his involvement grew from there. Over time, Jay has learned the finer points of sailing the Providence and has volunteered as a crew member on several occasions. Last year he sailed down to Oyster Bay prior to our week long Cadet Academy with seven young men from the Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club. He says that he enjoys working on the Providence and helping to get her ready because he gets to sail on her later on. “I like that”, smiles Jay. We like that too.

Sloop Providence volunteers are some of the best volunteers I’ve ever worked with. Not only do they work hard but they always manage to have fun doing it. I had no idea when we started how much five volunteers could get done in four hours. The answer was a lot. We were able to clean and paint the bottom of the ship in that time. When it was all done, we were a paint splashed mess, but we had done a good job, and more importantly, we had done it together.

If you would like to be added to our volunteer list, click here.

(Paint Party Volunteers from left to right: Jay Higgins, Sabrina Woods, Tom Grant,
Charles Channing and Parker Wood with Kathleen McQuillan-Hofmann,
Communications Director, and Captain Steve Brown - PMHF archives)