Providence Canteens

"At fires, crime scenes and missing-person searches, in blistering cold and sweltering heat, volunteers with the Providence Canteen are dedicated to bringing hot chocolate, cold Gatorade and nourishing food to first-responders at the area’s worst disasters.

"'We'll start off with ham and cheese, turkey, chicken salad, chicken cutlets,' said Paul 'Porky' O'Rourke, who has been running the canteen for more than 25 years. 'I'll make you meatballs and spaghetti. In the morning we'll do egg sandwiches, bacon, sausage.'

"The organization is run by about 40 active volunteers, with others who come and go, O'Rourke said. Headquartered at a garage in Warwick, the canteen has three trucks, and volunteers work in shifts to staff the command center around the clock."

A recent Providence Journal article profiled the canteen crew and the work they do.

To access the complete Providence Journal report, please visit:

Providence Journal: Providence Canteen delivers food, drink and comfort at disaster scenes (28 DEC 18)

Background information:

Special Signal Fire Association​​ Providence Canteen

Editor's note: I was a member of the Special Signal Fire Association (SSFA) and a canteen driver when we (SSFA) took over the running of the Salvation Army canteen in the late 1960's. At the time, there was only one canteen, Canteen 1, and it responded to second alarm fires in Providence and when otherwise special called.

After SSFA began running the canteen, its services expanded to a extended working fires and other incidents in the greater Providence area. The vehicle was quartered in the station of Providence 4 on Rochambeau Avenue, and, when needed, the station crew would make sure the canteen was on the station ramp ready to roll.