Now, she is working to show that #CranstonLovesCranston.

Kelleher wants to start a “two-prong February initiative to help our community” and has launched that hashtag as part of her efforts.

“It’s time we stop talking about helping our community and start doing something,” she wrote in a Facebook post announcing the initiative.

She specifically wants to address two issues in Cranston Public Schools – the school lunch debt in the district and families that receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, benefits but will have a “gap in their budget” after early February payments.

“The first issue will be to address the school lunch debt by launching a GoFundMe campaign hoping to raise wide support beyond Cranston, and Rhode Island, to help clear this debt for families and provide support for the school district,” she said in a statement about the beginning of the initiative. “We are trying to work out the final details to ensure the debt can be paid without creating any legal obstacles once the GoFundMe is launched.”

The second issue that the initiative plans to tackle is families who are receiving SNAP benefits for February early. Kelleher said she plans to collect gift cards to supermarkets and donated gift cards from restaurants to help those families.

“The second issue will be to help families receiving assistance from SNAP to help with the gap in their budget that will be created by receiving February payments early, by stocking the CCAP pantry, hopefully collecting $20 gift cards to supermarkets to purchase ‘fresh’ items, and getting local restaurants to donate gift cards to offer treats and options to those in need as well as the usual staples,” she said.

Kelleher added that prior to the launch of the February initiative, she asks that people make phone calls to restaurants and businesses to set up locations for food gathering bins and make arrangements for food deliveries to CCAP. She also said the group is still looking for businesses to host drop-off boxes, and that the group is offering free advertising on the BASICS Facebook page for businesses that donate money or gift cards for the #CranstonLovesCranston cause.

Final details are still being worked out, Kelleher said. For more information, contact her at KAMKelleher@msn.com or (401) 241-1561.