Dorcas International Institute of Rhode Island

10/15/2026

Register to attend this important webinar!

HR1 changes eligibility for Medicaid, financial help through HealthSource RI, and Medicare for many noncitizens. Join RIPIN and Dorcas International Institute of Rhode Island for a webinar exploring eligibility categories, exceptions, implementation dates, examples, and resources available to support consumers and assisters. Representatives from EOHHS will also be in attendance.

October 27 | 12:00-1:30 PM

Registration is required: https://ow.ly/XaJz50ZXbNE

For an overview of these changes, download and share our fact sheet: ripin.org/ripin/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/HR1-Changes_Noncitizen-Eligibility-Fact-Sheet_October-2026.pdf

10/15/2026

Last week, the Rhode Island Foundation celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month and recognized the important work of the Immigrant Coalition of Rhode Island. As a member of the Coalition, Dorcas International was grateful to be part of this recognition alongside more than 40 other organizations working together to support and uplift Rhode Island’s immigrant community.

Thank you to the Rhode Island Foundation for your continued support and for recognizing the collective impact of this work!

10/13/2026

For Hispanic Heritage Month, we’re honoring Juanita Sánchez, a Dominican-born social worker, educator, and community advocate whose work helped strengthen Rhode Island’s Latino community.

Through her work in schools, healthcare, and community services, Juanita helped families access resources, navigate new systems, and build connections. She also founded The Rainbow Center at Hope High School, supporting young parents as they continued their education.

Today, her legacy is honored through the Juanita Sanchez Educational Complex in Providence, named in recognition of her lasting contributions to Rhode Island’s Latino community.

We’re proud to remember Juanita Sánchez and the impact of her lifetime of service. To learn more about Juanita, visit: https://nuestrasraicesri.net/JuanitaSanchezSchool.html

10/11/2026

Tomorrow, Dorcas International will be closed in honor of Indigenous Peoples’ Day and will reopen Tuesday, October 13.

We honor Indigenous peoples by recognizing their rich histories, cultures, traditions, and enduring contributions. We honor the nations who have cared for and stewarded these lands since time immemorial, and the strength and resilience of Indigenous communities that continues today.

We invite our community to join us in honoring and learning about the Indigenous peoples and nations connected to the lands where we live, work, and gather.

10/10/2026

We’re hiring! Come work with Dorcas International and help build a more welcoming, inclusive, and connected Rhode Island.

Whether you’re passionate about direct service, adult education, digital literacy, or building community partnerships, there may be a place for you on our team!

Learn more about these opportunities and apply: https://diiri.bamboohr.com/careers

10/08/2026

This month, we're celebrating the people who have helped preserve, shape, and share Rhode Island's Latino history. One of those people is Marta V. Martínez, founder and Executive Director of Rhode Island Latino Arts.

Through her work as a community oral historian, Marta has spent decades documenting and preserving the stories and experiences of Rhode Island's Latino communities through Nuestras Raíces, Rhode Island's Latino Oral History Project.

Today, she continues to celebrate and preserve Latino art, culture, history, and heritage throughout Rhode Island. Her work reminds us that celebrating heritage means making sure our communities' stories continue to be heard, shared, and remembered. Learn more about Marta and Nuestras Raíces: https://nuestrasraicesri.net/

10/05/2026

Our first winter coat donation has arrived! Thanks to the generosity of our Board President, April, winter coats, hats, mittens, and scarves collected at her Yom Kippur dinner are being distributed to members of the immigrant community as temperatures drop.

And this is just the beginning! We’ll be accepting winter coat donations throughout the fall and winter to help ensure our clients have access to warm clothing during the colder months. Thank you for helping us keep our community warm!

Have new or gently used adult and/or youth winter coats, hats, gloves, mittens, or scarves to donate? We’d love to schedule a donation!

📞 Call or text Emily at 401-480-1568
📧 Email Emily at [email protected]

10/05/2026

Honored to have had the opportunity to share more about our mission with the Grand Lodge of Rhode Island and the members of Logia Libertad No. 50. Thank you for welcoming us and for your support of the refugee and immigrant community of Rhode Island.

10/04/2026

📢 Upcoming Webinar: Understanding Federal SNAP Policy Changes

Join Dorcas International and the Rhode Island Department of Human Services tomorrow, Monday, October 5, from 12–2 PM for an overview of upcoming federal SNAP policy changes and what they may mean for DHS programs, eligibility, and benefits.

The webinar will cover changes to SNAP eligibility, work requirements, verification documentation, Standard Utility Allowance (SUA), and eligibility for certain non-citizens. Time will also be reserved for questions and answers.

🔗 Join via Zoom: https://qetiqwbab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0019PNoSPO_RkwmGtiF8WLhb9WGtmQHDkuTNbEUjBvD5duZLsM3TxFuiC7JqxmyQ51diW899kURNMAL3BY-u-BkhRlNt6vzMnnVKA0AQYk7Oxn-yFBO1O4GK-75A1Zn0TRqqRg3z_PrBr6_wd6ve3BJrkNUwr-cNJObDFVjpE926vwcOWKG4MFVwzqJoTaJPXxhPaKNkqM_w5D_Nj52Z-sCqTBCblo50XzL&c=sHpi8136pkr9kUj7hgQUnbfLzVah_bh7CgI1_Cav_L2MQzlRQ5wsUw==&ch=dlAdTGCm81CRrtr1krEhmCT0bCBkLI3_J7Tr7nbPebQ-IXcnf5M-MA==

Meeting ID: 820 9376 5911
Passcode: 870116

10/03/2026

We were honored to join the community at the Rhode Island State House yesterday for a special Hispanic Heritage Month celebration.

It was a beautiful evening filled with music, cultural dances, community, and an opportunity to celebrate the honorees whose contributions help strengthen and enrich Rhode Island.

Thank you to General Treasurer James A. Diossa and Lieutenant Governor Sabina Matos for bringing our community together to celebrate Hispanic heritage, culture, and the many people who make Rhode Island such a vibrant place to call home.