As part of its effort to combat the spread of COVID-19, the City of Newport announced on Wednesday that they will be offering free at-home rapid test kits to any and all local non-profit and neighborhood groups interested in providing at-home kits to the community.

From churches and social service providers to neighborhood associations and cultural clubs, all Newport-based organizations are welcome to request an allotment of test kits for distribution either directly to their membership or as part of their respective COVID-19 venue protocols.

The free at-home test kits, which are being provided to the City from the Rhode Island Department of Health, will be available by request beginning later this week by visiting www.CityofNewport.com/COVIDTests.

While supplies are limited, the City is expected to distribute more than 4,000 kits through its community partners and at dedicated locations over the coming weeks.

Ryan Belmore is the Owner and Publisher of What'sUpNewp. Although not the founder or original owner, Belmore has been with What'sUpNewp since its early beginnings in 2012.

Belmore was born in Providence, Rhode Island; grew up and graduated high school in Coventry, Rhode Island; and lived in Newport, Rhode Island for more than ten years. He currently serves as Vice President of the Board Of Directors for Fort Adams Trust and on the Board of Directors for Potter League For Animals.

He and his wife, Jen, as well as their two dogs (Aero and June), recently moved to Alexandria, Virginia. Belmore travels back and forth to Newport every couple of weeks to cover events, work on story ideas, to meet with What'sUpNewp's on-the-ground contributors, to visit friends, and to eat as much seafood as possible.

Belmore is a member of Local Independent Online News Publishers, Society of Professional Journalists, and the North American Snowsports Journalists Association.