Meet Melissa Cherney, CEO of the RI Community Food Bank
We are proud to introduce Melissa Cherney, new CEO of the Rhode Island Community Food Bank. A North Dakota native, Melissa comes to us after nearly two decades of service at the Great Plains Food Bank in Fargo, North Dakota. In this heartfelt video, Melissa shares her story: her upbringing, struggles with food insecurity, and a bold vision for the future. Please join us in extending a warm East Coast welcome to Melissa!
Rising Grocery Prices = Fewer Fruits & Veggies on RI Dinner Tables
September is Hunger Action Month, and all month long, we’re sharing stories and information that reveal what hunger looks like in our state.
Researchers at Brown University’s School of Public Health have partnered with Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island to conduct Rhode Island Voices, a project of the RI Life Index. The initiative is a statewide survey designed to capture the lived experiences of Rhode Islanders. Findings demonstrated that community members are overwhelmingly facing tough choices when it comes to putting food on the table.
According to the research, nearly 30% of Rhode Islanders surveyed said they buy fewer fruits & vegetables due to rising grocery prices.
We sat down with Sueidy, a guest and volunteer at one of our member agency food pantries, who shared: “A lot of people see fresh produce, like peaches, at the pantry and say, ‘this is so great.’ You can see on their faces that they’re very grateful.”
Hunger Action Day 2025
Food Bank staff wore orange on September 9th, Hunger Action Day, to show our commitment to ending hunger in the Ocean State.
You Can Take Action This September
Donate Food
Learn how you can start a food drive to benefit the Food Bank. See a list of needed food and download posters and materials.
Start a Drive
Learn More
Read the Rhode Island Voices report, a partnership between Brown University’s School of Public Health and Blue Cross & Blue Sheild of RI.
Make a Gift
Your gift supports our efforts to acquire healthy, nutritious food and distribute it to struggling families, individuals and seniors.
Donate Now
Founded in 1982, the Rhode Island Community Food Bank (“the Food Bank” or “RI Food Bank”) serves as the central hub for food distribution across its state-wide network of 147 member agencies, ensuring that nutritious food reaches those who need it most. Through donations, federal programs, and community partnerships, the Food Bank works to improve the quality of life for all Rhode Islanders by advancing solutions to the problem of hunger.
The RI Food Bank is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Your donation is tax-deductible as allowed by law.
Rhode Island Community Food Bank︱rifoodbank.org︱(401) 942-6325︱200 Niantic Avenue, Providence RI 02907︱contactus@rifoodbank.org
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