Spotlighting Our Member Agencies

Our member agencies include 140 meal sites and food pantries spanning from Woonsocket to Westerly. Each of our member organizations uniquely serves their community to get food assistance to those who need it most.

For your Food Bank member agency to be featured; email us here.

---

Oakland Beach Elementary School Pantry – Students Only

“When your belly is rumbling and you’re hungry, you are not focusing on the schoolwork in front of you.”

As part of the Title I initiatives put in place to support five Warwick elementary schools, Oakland Beach Elementary school houses a pantry for families. Not open to the public, this pantry is part of a network of supports for learners and their parents – initiatives that promote family involvement and support student success.

Cameron Kadek, the Parent and Family Engagement Facilitator for the Warwick Title I schools splits her time between the five locations that Title I programs serve. Each school has a parent hub, usually with resources, food, and other supports.

“Title I basically provides lower income schools with an extra boost of funding to support academic success. Part of that is family engagement, because we know when the parents are involved, the students are going to do better!” Cameron shared.

Cameron spends Thursdays at Oakland Beach, to provide pantry hours for parents and to pack the student backpack program, which provides kids with food for the weekends, when they do not have access to school meals. Cameron ensures that pantry hours work best for families, opening in the evenings after work, and at the end of the month when SNAP benefits have often run out.

Cameron’s own experiences as a parent in a local Title I school influenced her decision to apply for the role and helps her connect with parents:

“I was a stay-at-home mom for about a decade and was doing Title I activities with my own children. Someone can come to me and say they are struggling with something, and I can almost guarantee that I’ve been through the same thing personally. That makes a big difference when someone is opening up to me and talking about something vulnerable like food assistance.”

Cameron has a strong relationship with not only the distribution team at the Food Bank, but with the Healthy Habits nutrition education team as well. Healthy Habits often does nutrition classes with the students at Oakland Beach.

“The Healthy Habits team recently went above and beyond for a parent whose child has a gluten allergy. They showed up with a binder of recipes and resources for her. Partnering with them is great for our families,” she said.

Cameron knows that her work makes a big impact in the community, and that hunger directly impact students’ success.

“Nobody is ever just hungry. Student achievement is tied into food insecurity. If a parent is worried about how they’re going to feed their kids over the weekend, they’re not thinking about going through their homework, because they have much more pressing things to deal with.”

For more information, visit the Title I Warwick website: https://www.warwickschools.org/title-i-family-programs/

---

East Bay Community Action Program – Tiverton Pantry

East Bay Community Action Program’s (EBCAP) Tiverton Pantry, located at 1048 Stafford Road, is open Tuesday to 8:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. and Wednesday 8:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. The Tiverton location is part of EBCAP’s larger network of social services around the state, which includes 3 food pantries, health clinics, rental assistance and Head Start programs. Services are available in both English and Portuguese.

Judy, a Safety Net Family Advocate who manages pantry operations, shares that guests are supported through EBCAP in ways that touch all aspects of their lives.

“It’s more than just handing out a bag of food. We have financial resources, support for nutrition, and so much more – we are a one stop shop. With close connectivity between our social service programs and food pantries, we can bring in a skilled advocate for everything from heating to health insurance, and get folks signed up for the support they need.”

The Tiverton location shares a building with one of EBCAP’s Head Start programs, and the pantry is always open to students’ families, shared Judy.

“We always offer our Head Start families the opportunity to pick up a bag of food when they pick up their child.”

Judy and her team value the relationship they have with the Food Bank – and the impact it has for their guests.

“The Food Bank is our top supporter, especially throughout the pandemic. Their support has allowed us to get more staple foods for our guests,” she said.

With warmer weather coming, the pantry team works to offer guests local, fresh produce in a variety of ways:

“We have support from local farmers who bring us fresh local produce on a weekly basis. We are able to fill up our space with beautiful vegetables we can give out the guests. We also see a lot of seniors here – they make up about 80% of our guests. We are always trying to find items that are beneficial to their health – especially produce. We give healthy dairy, eggs and fruits and veggies,” noted Judy.

But hotter temperatures bring their own challenges. The rising cost of energy affects the community. Shared Judy,

“If folks are trying to keep their energy bill stable and cooling their homes, sometimes SNAP is not enough, and they need to come to the pantry during the summer.”

No matter why a guest walks through their doors, the EBCAP team provides a safe and welcoming environment. Rick, a volunteer of 10 years, shared:

“Guests are always grateful for what they receive. It makes me feel good to know that people come here in need and were helping them. We’ve had people come in because of the pandemic for the first time, and they’ve never come into a pantry before. They come in with their heads down. But when they leave, they have their heads up again, and they are feeling better.”

Visit their website to learn more: https://www.ebcap.org/center/tiverton-center/

---

McAuley House

Food Bank member agency, McAuley House, offers a meal site, which has been in operation for 47 years, and a food pantry. Located at 622 Elmwood Avenue in Providence, the meal site is open Mon-Fri, 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. for breakfast and 11:15 a.m. to 1 p.m. for lunch. The food pantry is open on Mondays and Wednesdays from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Kitchen Manager, Larry Loverde, left the restaurant industry 10 years ago to shift his professional focus to a community service setting. He loves the way that McAuley creates a dining experience for guests of the meal site,

“McAuley House is a place of hospitality and I think that’s what separates us a little bit. There is no cafeteria line. People serve you, bring you your plate. It’s designed to feel welcoming and intimate. I always say to the volunteers coming here that this might be the best thing that happens to our guests today – so make it wonderful. We play a really important role in our little corner of the world.”

Larry and his team work hard to provide nutritious meals for a high volume of guests:

“We serve 150 lunches and 40 breakfasts each day. We send bagged food out the door every day, with a complete hot meal 3 days and a sandwich and sides the other days.”

In addition to the onsite meals McCauley House provides, the Food Bank recently began offering a convenient food option for unhoused guests, while supplies last. Packed in reusable backpacks, these To-Go bags contain food that is easy to open, doesn’t require refrigeration and is nutrient-dense. McAuley has distributed bags during their meal site and pantry hours. Juan, a guest at McAuley House, was excited to receive one of the To-Go bags,

“This is really great because I can take it with me and use the bag for other things later.”

McAuley House has other services that support their guests’ wellbeing beyond food assistance:

“We offer rental assistance, prescription assistance, help finding housing. We also offer expungement clinics, which are a big deal,” Larry shared.  “Two lawyers come pro-bono and will help you through the paperwork of getting old convictions expunged. This helps our guests keep their record clean, get better credit and improve  their job potential,”

No one is ever just hungry, and many of the guests at McAuley face challenges in keeping up with expenses beyond food. Yvette Kenner, Administrator at McAuley, outlined some of the hardships that bring people in for services:

“Right now, money is tight, and our guests don’t always know where their next dollar is coming from. We hear from our guests a lot that they have to pay rent, their electric and their car broke down. I want them to feel comfortable and welcome here,  There is no stigma to getting that support when they have bills they need to pay. We’ve got food for them.”

Visit their website to learn more: https://mcauleyri.org/

---

Rhode Island Center Assisting those in Need (RICan)

The Rhode Island Center Assisting Those in Need (RICan), is located at 805 Alton Carolina Road in Charlestown. The food pantry is open Wednesday  9:30 a.m.—11:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.—7:30 p.m., Thursday 9:30 a.m.—11:30 a.m., and Friday from 2:00 p.m.—3:00 p.m.

The team at RICan uses a guest-forward approach. Jonathan Riley, the Executive Director at RICan, shared:

“The relationships we have with our guests are so important; people [who come here] are seen as worthy and accepted. Our guests are not treated as an afterthought – they are part of the fabric of what we do.”

Established in 2001, RICan primarily serves Washington County. RICan supports all aspects of their guest’s lives, including food and financial assistance for rent and utilities. In addition to the guest services they offer, RICan also offers a thrift store to the general public that helps to support their services.

Throughout the pandemic, the pantry at RICan has used guest feedback to help guide their food distribution policies, resulting in the offering of drive through, in person and hybrid services:

“We polled our guests and many of them prefer the drive through, and we want to meet their needs,” shared Deandra, Food Pantry Coordinator.

RICan has close relationships with local grocers and wholesale clubs, which in addition to the Food Bank, helps them offer a variety of foods each week:

“We have a refrigerated truck that is going out to get donated food every day,” Deandra said.

Deandra also shared that guests with limited funds are able to use the pantry to support their budgeting process:

“People can come and get meat and then they know what else they need to budget for at the grocery store.”

The pandemic has impacted people’s employment locally, many of whom are in the tourist and service industries. Deandra shared,

“I’ve seen folks who have lost their jobs and people who are running out of unemployment, so they are coming back to say ‘I’m stuck again.’”

To find out more about RICan, visit their website: https://rhodeislandcan.org

---

Holy Trinity Church Food Pantry

Holy Trinity Church Food Pantry, located at 1371 Park Avenue in Woonsocket is open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM. Guests can visit monthly. The pantry relies on the Food Bank, parishioners from Holy Trinity and local store donations to stock their shelves with pantry staples, fresh produce and more.

The pantry was recently moved to the old library in the Monsignor Gadoury Center, a building that was formerly an elementary school. Many of the local parishes have been closing locally, so more parishioners are attending Holy Trinity and participating in both volunteering and donating to the pantry, especially through the pandemic.

“We were open all through COVID, we never closed, because people had needs. We are getting food from the Food Bank, and our church community really stepped up and has been supplementing that,” said Charlie, a pantry volunteer and Parish Trustee.

The pantry sees guests from across Woonsocket and the surrounding areas:

“We’re seeing a lot of seniors, families, it’s really a cross section of everyone. There are a lot of services in Woonsocket, lots of subsidized housing projects and section 8, so I think that based on the per-capita income, we just have a lot of people living in poverty and the need is high,” said Charlie.

The pantry helps guests offset other costs, so they don’t need to make impossible choices between food and other essentials. Shared Charlie,

“We’re very generous with our guests, so many people say, wow, that’s all mine?!? It helps them save a few hundred bucks, and then they can use that for whatever they need, gasoline, heat or whatever.”

Charlie shared how his childhood growing up in Woonsocket influences his drive to volunteer at the pantry,

“Most of us were poor, immigrants who worked in the mills way back, our parents and grandparents. We didn’t have much, and we just made it work. It influences us to give back here.”

Marion, another Thursday pantry volunteer also shared,

“I came from a family of seven, we grew up poor, and we only had two bedrooms. It was a struggle. A lot of the parishes where you could get support are closed, and now it’s much harder.”

To learn more about the Holy Trinity Church Food Pantry, visit their website: https://www.holytrinityri.com/holy-trinity-food-pantry.html

---

Amos House

Amos House is a social service agency and meal site located at 460 Pine Street in Providence. The meal site is open Monday through Friday 7 a.m. – 8 a.m., 11 a.m.-12:30pm, and Saturday 11 a.m.- 12:30pm. The mission of Amos House is “Helping people help themselves out of oppression, homelessness, and poverty through vital services and results-oriented programs.”

Amos House offers social services, emergency shelter, job training and more. Meals at the meals site are created using food from the Rhode Island Community Food Bank, community partners, and their own garden during the summer season.

With the ongoing pandemic, they have had to adapt services and now offer a hybrid model. Guests now have the option to dine-in or take a grab and go meal. Executive Chef Michael shared,

“During COVID, our focus has shifted. Lots of folks might have money for rent, but not for food. We’re seeing a lot of folks take advantage of our to-go meals, and it’s provided flexibility for folks who didn’t want to come into the dining space. Anyone can get a meal – there is no judgement. If you’re hungry, you can get a meal.”

Douglas, the Kitchen Manager, has been working for Amos House for 17 years.  His connection with Amos House began through their culinary arts job training program, and he’s fostered a commitment to giving back to his community ever since.

“When I first came here, I joined in the culinary arts program, and I started as a dishwasher, then as a sous chef, and then into a manager’s position. I love feeding the world and the community and everyone in it. We love what we do.”

Michael echoes Douglas’s passion for their work,

“Our focus is this community. Men women and children enjoy the meals every day. People come from as far as Woonsocket, Central Falls, and Cumberland.”

Amos House offers wrap-around services that are especially critical for guests facing housing insecurity.

“We have dining room managers that can direct folks to different resources within the agency or outside the agency. We’re always asking if guests have what they need, a sleeping bag, a coat, is it safe where they are going to sleep tonight? It’s about more than just food,” said Michael.

“We know them. These are people in our community. We let them know that we are here for them, and that they are not alone,” said Douglas.

Visit their site to learn more: https://amoshouse.com

---

Westbay CAP Marketplace

The Westbay CAP Marketplace (WBCAP), located at 487 Jefferson Blvd in Warwick, is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.  and welcomes guests weekly.  WBCAP aims to support the people of Kent County with programs that foster stability through basic needs assistance, including food, utilities, health, and education.

Guests can access WBCAP services even more easily now under one roof, in a large building on Jefferson Avenue. This main thoroughfare in Warwick allows this hub of services to be highly accessible to the community.

Joslyn Groves, Director of Social Services, shared,

“When someone initially comes in, they meet with a caseworker. A chain reaction of services takes place. Someone might say they are having trouble paying their heating bill when they come into the marketplace, and we can send them to the heating team or to weatherization. We are always asking how can we better serve this population, and get them the services that they need. If a guest comes in and asks for assistance, they are going to leave with the help that they need.”

When the marketplace moved buildings, the team had the opportunity to change the layout to more reflect that of a grocery store. Desiree Presley, supervisor of the marketplace, shared:

“To come in and ask for help is stressful. When the environment is a positive one, it really helps. We get the little extras, like this year we were able to get pumpkins, and have those for the kids during the fall. Everything is set up to be just like a supermarket.”

The new space has allowed for an on fresh produce. Shared Joslyn,

“We were lucky enough to get a Farm Fresh grant through the Food Bank and it’s been amazing. We get a lot of varieties of fresh vegetables.”

“The need has increased and stayed steady. When we opened the marketplace in the new building, we worked to offer a better variety of items for our guests. We’re getting fresh vegetables, meats, dairy, canned vegetables, and making sure that people have enough to make a lot of different meals for a week.” she said.

All of the volunteers at WBCAP Marketplace are former or current guests. The local community continues to show up to support their neighbors in need, knowing what a positive impact a food pantry can have on a family.

Shared Joslyn,

“We’ve tried to make this pantry welcoming. Just a great experience from the time you get out of your car, to the time you get back in your car with your shopping cart full and your needs met.”

Please visit their website to learn more: https://westbaycap.org/programs/westbay-marketplace/

---

Blackstone Valley Emergency Food Center

The Blackstone Valley Emergency Food Center (BVEFC) is located at 75 Benefit Street in Pawtucket. The food center is open the 2nd, 3rd and 4th week of the month on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 9:30-11:30 a.m. Staffed entirely by volunteers, the organization’s mission is to provide food assistance to people in the Blackstone Valley area; including Pawtucket, Central Falls, Cumberland and Lincoln. The center typically provides a 10-day supply of food to community members once a month.

Located in the heart of Pawtucket, BVEFC sees guests including families, seniors, and homeless clients. They work to ensure that every guest can get what they need, even with COVID restrictions in place. Dorothy, the President at BVEFC, shared:

“We’re still only letting a few people in at time, and people are having to wait outside, until others are done. We make sure that everyone is getting what they need – milk, eggs, bread, meat. If we have it, we make sure our guests get it.”

Dorothy and many of the other volunteers have been part of the team at BVEFC for a long time:

“I’ve been doing this work for 20 years if not longer, my husband and I decided to volunteer through our church, once we were both retired. My husband passed away seven years ago, and this has saved me. It feels good to stay busy and to know that we are helping. We’re like a family here, the volunteers have been here forever, and we support each other.”

Another volunteer, Virginia started out as a guest at BVEFC, and credits the center for supporting in many ways, not only through food assistance:

“I started out here as a client, and started coming in when I became disabled. One day when we were here, we heard them say that they needed volunteers. They are so warm – they don’t make you feel bad about the fact that you need to come in here for help.”

The people and the environment keep Virginia coming back every week:

“The people are warm and friendly, I know the guests by name, and know a lot of the different things they need. I never once felt like I wasn’t wanted or needed here, whether it be as a client or working. It’s been a great place to be. If I can make one person smile in a day, then that day was worth it.”

She often shares her personal experience to make guests feel comfortable:

“I usually give them an example of me – how hard it was to go to somewhere to get help. Change is not easy, not knowing if someone is going to look down on you because of the situation you’re in. You’ve got to take that chance and try it, don’t give up. There are so many food pantries out there willing to help people.”

Please visit their website to learn more:

https://blackstone-valley-emergency-food-center.business.site

---

East Bay Community Action Program: East Providence Location

One of three pantries managed by the East Bay Community Action Program, their Riverside pantry is located at 100 Bullocks Point Avenue in East Providence. The pantry is in the lower level of the CAP building. They are open by appointment on Monday and Tuesday from 12- 4 p.m., Wednesday from 2-6 p.m., Thursdays from 12-4 p.m., and Friday from 8 a.m.- 12 p.m.

The East Bay Community Action Program (EBCAP) is a hub for health and human services in the Riverside neighborhood of East Providence. The food pantry is part of the full spectrum of services provided by EBCAP, including heating assistance and a health center.

Judy, a Safety Net Family Advocate who works in the pantry shared that guests often come to EBCAP for more than just food assistance:

“It’s not just coming for in food. The wraparound reach that we have here is very important. If someone comes here for food, they learn about other programs they weren’t aware of before.” 

One such program is a diabetes nutrition collaboration between the EBCAP Health Center and the food pantry. As part of the initiative, that pantry provides fresh healthy produce to individuals that have been referred through the health clinic. The team makes monthly deliveries to homebound program participants, providing fresh produce and educational materials.

One participant of the program shared,

“The diabetic program makes sure the food is great quality and there is lots of produce. That’s usually the most expensive stuff in the store, so this program has really helped me with healthy eating. This place has become invaluable to me.”

The EBCAP pantry focuses on fresh produce for their diabetic program and for all their guests, in part because of the support of the RI Community Food Bank.

“Because of the Food Bank, we’re able to keep all our staples on the shelves, then use extra funding and grants to supplement with fresh meats, produce and other products,” said Judy.

To learn more about the pantry, visit their website: https://www.ebcap.org/programs/food-pantries/

---

East Greenwich Interfaith Food Cupboard

The East Greenwich Interfaith Food Cupboard is located at 99 Pierce Street in East Greenwich, inside the St. Luke’s Episcopal Church building. The pantry is open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Guests can come twice a month and if there is an emergency, guests can leave a voicemail.

The Food Cupboard has been in East Greenwich since 1982. Chris and Steve Bartlett manage the space. Although they belong to a different parish than the one where the pantry is housed, they are proud to be a part of a program that fosters collaboration. Shared Chris:

“My husband Steve and I took over organizing the pantry in 2010. No one is ever turned away. When someone comes in, they’re going to get food.”

The Interfaith Food Cupboard is a collaborative effort of local faith institutions:

“The local Methodist church has many volunteers who support the pantry, and the local Jewish temple has a garden where they grow fresh produce during the warmer months for pantry guests, and the Episcopal church allows us to use their space.”

All 159 of the RI Community Food Bank’s member agencies have access to support, training, and grant funds. The team at the food cupboard has taken advantage of these programs:

“Through past grants from the Rhode Island Community Food Bank, we were able to purchase refrigeration and metal shelving. This helps to make this a very nice and accessible food pantry.”

Guest choice is important to the team at the food cupboard, and they’ve adapted to support guest safety, while preserving the shopping experience:

“Before COVID hit, guests would come into the room and a volunteer would shop with them. We’ve started to make a ‘pick list”  which lists most of the items that the cupboard has. We have clipboards and we leave them on the registration table so folks can shop with the lists and we get their groceries out to them,” said Chris.

Additionally, the food cupboard has local partnerships to support their team in providing a variety of foods to guests,

“The Stop and Shop on Frenchtown Road has been very generous in partnering with us. Every Monday, we have a volunteer who goes and picks up meat and bread. We have so much from them, and we can offer a lot to our guests. The guests choose what they like,” shared Chris.

To learn more about the pantry, visit their website: https://www.facebook.com/East-Greenwich-Interfaith-Food-Cupboard-385691068721310

---

Allendale Baptist Food Pantry

The Allendale Baptist Church Food Pantry in North Providence is located at 545 Woonasquatucket Avenue and is open the third Saturday of the month from 9-11:30 a.m., and the second Wednesday of the month from 5-6:30 p.m. Currently, the pantry is doing outdoor distribution with walk-up window service.

Kim has been director of the food pantry since 2012, when Allendale Baptist took over from another local church. Over the past year and a half, the team at Allendale Baptist has had to adapt to the changing public health needs, while preserving the customer experience.

Shared Kim, “When COVID hit, we had to adapt to moving to outdoor distribution, but it was really important to us to continue to give customer choice. We would do an inventory each time, and guests have a list that they can shop from. We are still doing that, and being mindful of the changes and safety, while keeping our guests in mind.”

Additionally, the team is looking forward to when it is safe to gather again:

“Many of our guests are elderly and disabled folks on a fixed income who live in the nearby housing developments, and that has had impacts. We look forward to allowing guests to go back to our Welcome Center room. Many of the guests are single households and some of the reasons they miss that is that they don’t have access to community right now. Guests sit and chat together in that area, and so that’s important. Some of our guests have felt the isolation of this time, and we’re looking forward to opening back up inside and having the ability for community and connection.”

Cindy, another volunteer, said that her personal story has impacted her choice to volunteer at the pantry:

“Me personally, I came from poverty and a low-income household with my mom. She had eight children, and we used to go to food banks to get help, so I bring my children to volunteer to show them to always give back. You never know what can happen. They don’t know the struggle or anything, and I’m doing good, but that’s also another reason you feel good that you are passing [giving back] on because you’ve experienced that.”

Kim shared that the connections are important to why she volunteers:

“This is my church and I get to know the people who live in Centredale, and we at the church do some other outreach events. Now I know the faces of the people who come out on a monthly basis, and it gives me a sense of community.”

Pantry guests that come from the nearby subsidized high rises often walk over to the pantry. One of these guests was Roger, a WWII veteran, who was born and raised in Rhode Island.

“I’m 96 and I’m a veteran. I served in World War 2 and I live on a fixed income. Coming here every month is a big help to me, since I retired over 30 years ago. They’re very kind at this pantry and I can pick all the foods I like,” he shared.

To learn more about the pantry, visit their websites: https://sites.google.com/site/abcnorthprovidence/home or

https://www.facebook.com/allendalebaptistchurchri/

---

Saint Vincent DePaul Society (SVDP) at St. John Paul II Food Pantry

Today we are spotlighting the Saint Vincent DePaul Society (SVDP) at St. John Paul II Food Pantry located at St. Cecilia Church. The pantry address is 745 Central Avenue in Pawtucket and they are open Tuesdays from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. for 02861 residents. Guests can visit weekly for food assistance.

Even on one of the hottest days of the summer, SVDP St. John Paul II food pantry was ready to welcome guests. As the temperature passed 95°F, the cool church basement opened early, and guests received ice cold water and sat under the overhead fans while they waited to be served.

Guests often come with friends, and others bring their family, and the space where guests wait to shop also functions as a space for people to share much needed connection. The pantry also has sundries for guests to access, including shampoo, soap and other necessities. Shopping is set up around the edges of the large room, and guests can move around from table to table, selecting the food that they want and need to bring home. Volunteers created photo signage of the products at each table, so that guests of all languages have multiple points of access in selecting groceries. Everyone is grateful for the chance to sit and cool down in the waiting area as each family moves through the shopping line.

Jeanne, the manager of the food pantry, shared that the team has used the pandemic as a learning opportunity, to better serve their community and ensure that guests are getting what they need. She said:

“We’ve adapted to ensure that our guests are getting the food that they can really use and listening to our guests about what they want. We always try to have rice, beans and meats and make sure we’re listening to what else guests want.” The pantry also gets a lot of support from the community. “When the school is open, the students participate in having food drives, and the members of the parish bring food every week.  As part of SVDP, we also support our community with rent and heating and anything else they might need and being part of the conference means we have all the support from the other members of SVDP,” she said.

Martha, who comes to the pantry with her friend Sarah, shares that she’s still getting back on her feet after the pandemic made it challenging for her to be employed. She said:

“I’m working part time now, and I only get a certain income and social security, so it can be hard to have enough. I come every week when I’m not working and can get the day off to come and get the food I need. They’re very nice people and the food helps a lot – you also get to choose what you bring home, and it’s nice to be able to do that.”

Sarah shared that she also appreciates the support that the pantry provides her.

“It’s really helpful to come in here, to not have enough money coming in, and then being able to get the food you need. Everyone here is respectful and helpful,” she said.

The pantry is run fully by volunteers who work together:

“I came from being a nurse, before I retired, so I was accustomed to working as a team, and that’s what we are here as a group of volunteers. Everyone has a job, and we always work together,” shared Jeanne.

To learn more about the pantry, visit their website: https://saintjohnpaulri.com/st-vincent-depaul

---

God’s Little Acre

God’s Little Acre is a part of the SVDP St. Philip Food Pantry in Greenville. The Rhode Island Community Food Bank works hard to ensure that pantry and meal site guests have access to a variety of fresh produce. Our member agencies work with local farms and wholesale growers and some even manage their own community gardens with help from volunteers.       

We first profiled God’s Little Acre half a decade ago, in partnership with Rhode Island Monthly, and you can read that story here. In the six years since the original profile, God’s Little Acre has expanded, weathered the impacts of the pandemic, and continued to ensure that fresh produce reaches community members in need.

God’s Little Acre is located behind St. Philip School right off Route 44 in Greenville, RI. The garden was created to support the SVDP St. Philip Food Pantry, a member agency of the Food Bank. Paul Santucci, who has managed God’s Little Acre for 17 years, recently spoke with us about the how the garden supports the pantry:

“My dad was in the produce business, so this is something I wanted to take up and it’s been a good service opportunity. We’ve made some really good friends along the way.”

The garden is run and maintained with volunteer and community support.

“We are an organic garden, so we don’t use any synthetic fertilizers or synthetic pesticides. You can see the drip irrigation, and we have a water line going into each row. We start all our plants in the greenhouse behind the school. We start in March and end in October.”

Students from St. Philip School are a big part of the effort:

“During the week, the students from St Philip’s water the plants in the greenhouse. It’s just the labor of love.”

And all of this hard work adds up:

“This year we’ve planted about 250 eggplant, 150 peppers, and about 100 tomatoes. The garden is just about a quarter of an acre, and it grows a lot. In our best year we yielded 4,000 pounds, but I’d say we average about 2,000 pounds annually. The produce is shared with SVDP St. Philip and Mary House Social Service Ministry at Saint Patrick’s in Providence,” shared Paul.

“We also have volunteers from a few different places, including students that are doing community service hours. We’re looking to expand more in the future, and see what else we can grow,” said Paul.

Partnerships both within the St. Philip community and externally are important to the God’s Little Acre team.

“We work closely with the sisters who live onsite at the church. Additionally, Jaswell’s Farm is a huge help to this community, they donate above and beyond.,” said Paul.

The pandemic impacted the farm, just as it affected many other farmers and food producers.

“Some years are good, some years are challenging. Last year was hard because the school was closed. We didn’t have students to grow any plants, so we had to buy peppers and other starts.”

The farm was inspired by seeing the impact of local gardening in other communities.

“When we started, 17 years ago, we had a little a strip of land behind the pantry. The Food Bank inspired me in a way – the CEO had seen a powerful documentary about gardening and shared it, and I was inspired to ask the pastor here, and he said yes to starting the garden as part of SVDP. We’ve gotten everything donated over the years, the soil, the systems, and it’s helped us to grow.”

You can visit their website here to learn more: https://saintphilip.com/god-s-little-acre

---

Bread of Life Food Pantry

The Bread of Life Food Pantry is located at Newman Congregational Church, 100 Newman Avenue in Rumford, Rhode Island.  The food pantry is open on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month, from 5 p.m.  to 7 p.m. The pantry is the collaborative effort of six East Providence churches: Bethany Church of the Nazarene, Church of the Epiphany, Evangelical Covenant Church, Haven United Methodist Church, Newman Congregational Church, and St. Margaret Church. Hosted within the Newman Congregational space, The Bread of Life Food Pantry is open to all those in need of food assistance from East Providence and surrounding communities.

Each month, 50 volunteers serve the guests and another 35 volunteers work behind the scenes facilitating the delivery, inspection, sorting and stocking of the food. Regular volunteers have built relationships with pantry guests over time, working hard to provide services that make people feel welcome, including translation in Portuguese, curbside pickup and an elevator to the pantry area for shoppers.  Additionally, parishioners often bring non-perishable food donations to the church services where they attend, which supports Bread of Life in supplying a variety of food to their guests.

For the time being, the pantry’s food distribution process has moved outdoors, to accommodate social distancing. The pantry team plans to phase back into in-person shopping in the coming months. Twice each month, volunteers load bags of produce and non-perishables directly into vehicles in the church parking lot, which allows guests to get what they need, delivered directly to their car.

On a recent visit to the pantry, guests and volunteers were navigating heavy rain, working hard to ensure that everyone got the food they needed, while staying dry and socially distancing. While adapting the model of their pantry, one volunteer shared how the team works hard to meet the needs of the community, through all kinds of logistical challenges.

Jessica Shaw, a volunteer who coordinates pantry operations works to support other volunteers in staffing and operating the pantry, shared,

“We’ve reduced our number of volunteers per shift, so that everyone has a role and can jump into supporting guests. We find that our evening hours work well for guests, and for our volunteer team because the after-work hours mean it’s accessible to anyone.” Shaw continued, “Last spring, we had to shift the pantry to accommodate COVID restrictions. We’re continuing to do pre-bagged groceries now but will be returning to in-person shopping soon.”

The pantry has continued to ensure that they can meet the needs of their community through other types of accommodations as well,

“We work hard to support our community, and we also have a translator to support Portuguese speaking guests, and we also work to make adjustments for families during the summer months, when kids aren’t getting school meals; making sure they have enough food to cover those missed mealtimes in school,” said Jessica.

John, another Bread of Life volunteer who supports the guests in parking and entry logistics, shared some of what brings him to support the pantry twice a month,

“I’ve been volunteering since my daughter was in 8th grade and she’s now 24.  So that’s about 11 years, I’ve been volunteering. I’d like to give back, but I don’t have a whole bunch of financial resources, so I try to give back in kind by coming here and supporting this work.”

Chucky and Andrina, two pantry guests, are both disabled, and the pantry is a lifeline for them. Chucky shared,

“I walk with a cane, and I’ve been coming here for a few years now. I have a fixed income, being on disability, which my wife is on too. We need to stretch what we have, and so we come here to get food, and they also have food for our dog, which is really important to us. This place is full of some really beautiful people, and our experiences here are really positive: we are like a family and everything is greatly appreciated.”

Jessica echoed that sentiment, sharing,

“The best part of being here is making people feel welcome.”

Read more about the pantry over on their website:

---

Coventry Food Services

Coventry Food Services at 191 MacArthur Boulevard in Coventry is open every Tuesday 1-4, and every Wednesday and Thursday 9-12. The pantry is open for curbside pickup by appointment for Coventry residents once a month. The agency shares a building with Coventry Health and Human Services building which also houses the Comprehensive Community Action Program of Coventry, and guests can also access their services, including a dental and doctor’s office and a WIC office.

The Coventry Community Garden, located in front of the Town Hall Annex on Flat River Road, provides produce to the pantry as well as volunteer opportunities for local residents to assist with garden maintenance and harvesting.

Stephani, the Food Pantry Coordinator, shared about the garden:

“We get a lot of fresh produce from the garden, and they grow a variety of things like lettuce, tomatoes and there is even an active bee hive in the garden.”

During the pandemic, the pantry shifted to the Coventry Resource to do a drive through model, but they are back at their MacArthur location:

“Hopefully in the next few months we will have guests coming in and doing shopper’s choice again, we’re also hoping to start using the Farm to Pantry grant we just received to do produce days, using all of the amazing resources from the Food Bank and Farm Fresh RI’s partnership.”

With the Farm to Pantry grant the agency has just been awarded they will offer a “Veggie Days” program. Shared Stephani:

“We’re going to start Veggie Days once a month, then move to twice a month. Pantry guests will get produce and other supplemental items. I’m really excited to be able to provide more fresh items. For years I’ve wanted to be able to offer a fresh produce program, and now that I know that Farm Fresh Rhode Island is a resource for us, I’m looking forward to filling up these beautiful, big refrigerators with fresh stuff. With the move back to this building, this our chance to reinvent ourselves and try something new.”

 

Please visit their website to learn more: https://coventryri.org/human-services

---

East Bay Food Pantry

The East Bay Food Pantry is located at 532 Wood Street in Bristol. The pantry serves Bristol County, East Providence and Newport County and is open Wednesdays from 10 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Their Food4Kids program is open on Fridays from 10 a.m. – 12 noon.

In addition to the pantry, East Bay also offers a Fresh Food Friday program, CSFP boxes for seniors, and an Access Nutrition Initiative that offers educational opportunities to program guests, volunteers, and staff through workshops, cooking classes, food tastings, and printed materials.

Executive Director Karen Griffith-Dietrich, said,

“Food services are our central focus. We also have a thrift shop, which provides around 40% of our revenue and provides low-cost goods to our guests and the community. We have a bunch of different food programs, including an outdoor food pantry, and we now offer online ordering through our website.  The Fresh Food Friday program offers fresh produce every single Friday.  Pantry guests can come to us every single week and get fresh fruits and vegetables.”

“We have a Food4Kids program which is designed to provide supplementary weekend and school vacation food.  When schools closed in early 2020, we wanted to make sure that kids had access to those meals, so we started making that a weekly program. It has continued weekly since then, providing a week of lunches for kids who need them,” Karen said.

---

New Life Food Pantry

New Life Church Food Pantry is located behind the New Life Church at 251 Post Road in Wakefield. This rural pantry is open to the community on the second Wednesday of the month from 11:30 a.m. -12:30 p.m. and the fourth Wednesday of the month from 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.

“We are open twice a month, and we serve the folks here in Washington County. We do one day and one nighttime distribution, so we have hours that are accessible to people who come after work. We have a small clothing closet as well, which is especially helpful in the winter, for seasonal needs like coats.” said Cheryl, New Life’s Pantry coordinator,.

The pantry is run exclusively with volunteer help and has been open for over two decades.  Cheryl said,

“I like the interaction here. I’ve established a lot of good relationships with people, and I really like the community feel we have here.”

Another volunteer, Sharon, shared,

“I want to give back to the community. I’ve raised six kids and I know what it is like to try and make ends meet.”

Cathy, a pantry guest, shared that New Life was a lifeline during recent school shutdowns.  She said,

“When my kids were out of school this past year, this pantry is where we came to get food. Since they weren’t getting school meals it was hard to make sure we had enough to eat. Every time we come, all the staff are friendly and kind, and I feel like they are looking out for me. This pantry has really helped my family.”

New additions to the pantry space include a large walk-in freezer and refrigerator, as well as a generous space for food and seasonal clothing items. Please visit their website to learn more: https://www.newlifewakefield.com

---

Trinity Episcopal Church Red Door Food Pantry

Trinity Episcopal Church Red Door Food Pantry is located at 249 Danielson Pike in North Scituate. The pantry is open every Thursday from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Trinity Episcopal Church is located right across from the Scituate Reservoir, on a wooded path where they host their annual Walk to End Hunger each year.  The pantry at Trinity has recently moved into a newly renovated, community building next door to the church itself, which also houses their thrift store. The renovated space was finished during the end of 2020, after what had been a very challenging year for the community and for the pantry itself.

The pantry adjusted their model to keep guests safe during the pandemic, offering a temporary model of pre-bagged groceries with curbside pickup. As more guests and communities have had access to the vaccine, the pantry was able to resume shopper’s choice, using their new space to offer one-on-one client shopping in-person in their new, larger space. Brand new  shelving and freezers offer a clear of view of local dairy, fresh produce and pantry staples.

During the pandemic, the former lead volunteer trained and supported the new lead volunteer, Lynette, virtually ensuring a seamless transition.

“Everyone of us is here because we enjoy helping people and that’s just the bottom line. Especially with the challenges of the past year, we know people really need help and that’s what we’re here for. I did not realize what a passion I had for this until I started working here last April in the thick of the COVID cases. The pantry needed volunteers, and asked if I wanted to come here and that started me in this lead role,” said Lynette.

The church has a large community of volunteers that support both the pantry and the thrift store. Volunteers come from both the local parish, and the surrounding community of northwestern Rhode Island. Lynette said,

“The volunteers here are all so invested. We treat everyone with dignity and work to build relationships. Our guests leave knowing that there are people who really care about them.”

Cheryl, a pantry guest, shared her experience at Trinity, where she has been coming for food assistance for a little over two years. While her and her husband have face health challenges, the Trinity Pantry has been a support system. She shared,

“Coming here takes a burden off. Any lit bit here and there makes a big difference to us. I have some health issues, so being able to get healthy food makes a big difference to me.”

Please visit their website to learn more: http://www.trinitynorthscituate.org/outreach/food-pantry/

---

Tap-In Food Pantry

Tap-In is located at 281 County Road in the Peck Building, in Barrington. The pantry is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., and is fully handicapped accessible. Tap-In was founded in 1983 by a group of six women to provide referrals and information to people. Over the years, Tap-in has grown into a provider of food, clothes, furniture, transport and information for the residents of the East Bay. The Tap-In space was recently renovated by the city of Barrington, moving their offices, pantry and home supplies areas into one, ground level space that is below the city library. 

Cathy, a volunteer for over 20 years, shared about the pantry’s recent move into their new, renovated space:

“We have had to adapt to moving offices, and working with our guests during COVID. It is so nice to have this new space that is on the ground floor and easily accessible to everyone. During this past year, we worked to make sure that not only our space was accessible, but that our services were too. We had volunteer drivers do deliveries for those who were homebound. It’s been a real team effort in figuring out how can we serve our community during COVID-19 times.” 

Cathy also shared that the team recently sent out a survey to ask guests their feedback on their experiences at Tap-In. As a result, they are offering spring-cleaning supplies, the first in a series of seasonal special programs, based on guest feedback, that they launched in April. They have also increased their food pantry household visits and now offer twice monthly food distributions to families. The team is continuing to survey program guests to learn more about what their guests need and want. 

The pantry offers fresh, seasonal produce from McCoy Community Farm in Warren and the Barrington Community Garden. The pantry also offers more than food if guests have a need for more. Tap-In has a full supply of home items for those who need them, and these supplies made a big impact on a recent Tap-In guest who had to leave a housing situation emergently and was just restarting her life in a new apartment with her family.  Because she and her children had to move quickly, they didn’t get to take many of their belongings. On a recent visit, she was able to get food for several weeks, cleaning supplies, blankets, a crock pot and many other things to get settled in her new home. When she left Tap-In, she was able to have enough food and home supplies for the family to move comfortably into their new housing.

Kate, another volunteer, shared:

“We have such a strong community of support here. We were able to use a local church to house the pantry temporarily when we we’re renovating, and everyone in the town always steps up to donate household items, funds or food to support our work. The response from our community has been amazing.”

Please visit their website to learn more: https://www.tapinri.org  

---

Salvation Army Newport Corps’ Food Pantry and Meal Site

The Salvation Army Newport Corps’ Food Pantry and Meal Site programs are located at 51 Memorial Boulevard in Newport. The pantry serves Newport, Middletown, Jamestown, Portsmouth, Tiverton & Little Compton and is open Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. The meal site is open Fridays and Sundays from 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. The location is handicapped accessible and offers Mandarin & Spanish translation.

---

St. Matthew Trinity Lutheran Food Pantry

---

SVDP – Saint Joseph Church Food Pantry

SVDP St. Joseph Church Food Pantry is located at 5 Mann Avenue in Newport. Due to Covid-19, the pantry is offering scheduled delivery services instead of their regular walk-in pantry. Deliveries take place on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays between 10am- 1pm. Pantry Volunteer, Sheila Finnegan, shared that seeing people struggling and being able to deliver enough food for 5 days is a significant part of her volunteer experience at St. Joseph’s.  She said,

“We have a dedicated cell phone for the program and volunteers to connect with guests to get the details needed to arrange a delivery.”

The pantry is located in proximity to other services for residents:

“It’s also wonderful that our program is close to MLK Community Center so that our guests can also visit them to for food and other services.  There are options for people on the Island to get food assistance. We are all part of a larger team.”

Please visit their website to learn more: https://www.stjosephsnewport.org/st-vincent-de-paul-society

---

Federal Hill House – Olneyville Food Center

“We have to keep going, that’s why we’re here – to help people.” Jackie Reyes, FHH Olneyville Food Center Pantry Coordinator. 

Federal Hill House – Olneyville Food Center is a satellite program of the Federal Hill House and is  located at 261 Manton Avenue in Providence. The pantry serves the 02908 and 02909 areas and is open Tue & Fri 9 AM – 2PM and Wed. & Thurs. 9 AM – 3 PM.

Jackie Reyes, pantry coordinator, shared that the center has seen a steady increase in need since the pandemic started,

“The need has stayed high, we’ve been able to meet the needs of the community through our services. We’ve been able to serve everyone by preparing food bags in advance and moving our line outdoors. We’ve got covered space for people to stay warm and dry.”

Jackie shared that the pantry sees everyone from families to seniors and in everyone between, and  serves anyone in need in their service areas.

“We serve anyone who needs help. The poverty level of people living in the area right around the pantry is one of the highest in the city.”

The pantry never ceased operations through the course of the challenges of the last year.

“Our volunteers have seen us through. They’ve been here the whole time, helping us to get food out.”

The pantry sees a high volume of clients from around the city, and the Federal Hill House team works hard to preserve and foster relationships with guest families.

“The families are the most important part of this job for me – those relationships. I’ve known families where the babies have grown up in front of us. Their three-year-old kids are now saying “hi!” and it’s so wonderful to see them. I’ve known them since they were tiny,” Jackie said.

One pantry guest, Milady, shared that she’s been coming to the pantry for 3 years.

“The pandemic hasn’t changed a lot for me. I’ve still needed to come for food, I really like the people and the food here.”

Federal Hill House also has a community garden at their main location, where community members can grow fresh produce for their families, and this resource is available for the food center guests.  The garden is one of the many social services the larger organization offers. 

Please visit their website to learn more: https://www.federalhillhouse.org/programs/food-pantries/

---

Jonnycake Center For Hope

Jonnycake Center for Hope is located at 1231 Kingstown Road in Peace Dale. Their food pantry is open Monday 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM, Tuesday 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM, Wednesday 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM and Saturday 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM. The pantry is part of the larger Jonnycake Center’s programs, which include heat and rental assistance, tax preparation, career counseling and much more. The Jonnycake Center for Hope is currently renovating the former Peace Dale grammar school into a hub for all their services, which will include a demonstration kitchen, social services and food programs, all in the same building.  The pantry temporarily shifted their model due to Covid-19 and is currently operating a low-contact pantry service.

Butch Bush, the Food & Nutrition Programs Manager, runs the pantry. Butch became involved with the Jonnycake Center after being laid off from the restaurant industry during the early days of the pandemic. “I started out as a volunteer. I live right down the road and was able to jump right into this role. I was a cook for a long time. The new kitchen space we’re building is going to open up even more opportunities for nutrition education.” Butch oversees the volunteers that work in the pantry and pantry guests have built relationships with many members of the team. “The volunteers are such a source of knowledge. They know all our guests, and they’ve been so helpful in building relationships with the community.” The pantry sources fresh produce from the Food Bank, local growers in the summer, and through Hope’s Harvest.   Butch shared their favorite part of the work is interacting with guests, volunteers and staff.  They said, “It’s a really good crew, and I meet tons of people. Doing this work in the town I live in is pretty cool.” 

Please visit their website to learn more: https://www.jonnycakecenter.org/the-food-pantry/ 

---

Foster Comprehensive Community Action Program (CCAP)

The Foster Comprehensive Community Action Program (CCAP,) is located at 181 Howard Hill Road in Foster in the Town Hall building. Their food pantry, which has been in operation for nearly 40 years, serves Foster and Scituate and is open Monday through Wednesday from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, and Thursdays from 8:30 AM to 11:00 AM.

In addition to food assistance the Foster CCAP program offers support with healthcare enrollment, social services programs as well as a clothing closet for anyone in need. Many of the people locally have experienced life and job changes because of the pandemic, needing food assistance urgently, but some residents have been continually accessing the resources since before COVID-19 took hold. Cindy, a guest who has been using CCAP services for about three years shared,

“It’s so much more than just food. I’ve signed up for different healthy programs, and the staff here turns you on to a lot of information.

Carol, Foster Director of Human Services said,

“Food is the vehicle by which people come here and then they get access to all the resources.

Cindy shared that she initially came in for support in enrolling for healthcare, but she’s gotten so much more over the years,

“It’s the connection that brings me here. Carol really helps you figure all the resources out.”

Carol runs the Foster CCAP program with the idea that people are not just hungry, and often have lots of accompanying needs.

“I work hard to get the message out about what we’re doing. I put little pieces in the local paper 4 or 5 times a month. Articles on our wish list for the pantry, things we’re running low on and resources we have like SNAP, flu clinic, heating and tax assistance. This free local paper allows people to get familiar with the fact that there is a Foster Department of Human Services and here are all the different things that happen here,” said Carol.

The pantry offers food monthly, as well as assistance with healthcare enrollment, books, and a free clothing closet that is rotated seasonally. Most recently, Carol and the CCAP office has been coordinating transportation and volunteers for the Foster-Gloucester COVID-19 vaccine clinic. Volunteers transport seniors to be vaccinated and staff the local clinic.

“Volunteers are the backbone of this organization. Without volunteers I could not do my job,” shared Carol.

Please visit their website to learn more: https://www.townoffoster.com/human-services/pages/outreach

---

Davinci Center for Community Progress

The Davinci Center for Community Progress is located at 470 Charles Street in Providence. Their food pantry is open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM. In addition to the pantry, the Center offers health classes, bagged lunches for seniors from Blackstone Health, youth programs and job training. They also offer case management. Case workers at the center have been able to support seniors in registering for vaccinations, even supporting transportation to appointments. The staff also shared that they work hard to support guests with not only their food needs, but also in supporting them in pursuing interests and job training through the center’s program. Terry, who is the program coordinator for the center, shared: “We don’t end up just feeding their bodies, we talk with them and make connections, offer programs, so we feed their minds as well.”

The food pantry serves residents of the North End of Providence. Currently, pantry guests use a shopping list to select the food items of their choice, and staff fill grocery bags and bring it to them in their cars.

Executive Director John DeLuca, showed us some baskets full of sundries and said, “We also give out extra items at times, a volunteer recently filled these Easter baskets with toiletries, which we’ve been able to specifically share with some of the homeless people we serve.” John shared that his favorite part of the work is, “seeing our guests succeed, going on to in turn to give back to the Center when they are able.”

Please visit their website to learn more: http://www.davincicenter.org/

---

Capital City Food Pantry

The Capital City Food Pantry is located at the Tavares Community Center at 285 Chad Brown Street in Providence. The pantry is open Monday-Friday: 9am – 3pm. Erin Brady, Food Pantry Manager recently shared:

“Our guests range from young adults to the elderly. We have different days for seniors, and families of varying sizes, as well as a produce day.”

To keep the community safe, they are operating a curbside pickup. Erin also assists individuals and families by connecting them to other resources in the community. Being in proximity to the Chad Brown apartments, allows Erin to  build relationships within the neighborhood, and her volunteers are from the housing community itself. They all know their neighbors and their needs, and can better serve the community because of this.

Tracey a volunteer of 4 years, shared “…the pantry being right here is helpful to all the neighbors.”

When asked what her favorite part of her work was, Erin explained,

“I love the interaction. You meet all different people, and everyone comes from different circumstances. Everyone’s culture is different. It’s nice to get to know people on a personal level.  I get to be personal with the guests here.”

Please visit their website to learn more: https://www.capcitycommunitycenter.org/our-programs/capital-city-food-pantry

---

Limerock Baptist Church Food Pantry

The Limerock Baptist Church Food Pantry is located at 1075 Great Road in Lincoln. The food pantry is open every other Saturday from 9-10am for all, and every other Tuesday from 4:30-5:45pm for Lincoln residents. Stephen Crenshaw, Chairman of the Social Concerns Committee runs the pantry and has been on board for 10 of the 15 years of that the pantry has been open.  Before the pandemic started, Limerock relied on Boy Scout drives, donations from Stop and Shop and local food collection, in addition to the food they get from the RI Food Bank. Stephen shared how they’ve bridged the gap as some of these sources were less available because of COVID,

“What’s been wonderful is the outpouring of support from our community. We tell people they can donate wholesome food together or make a monetary donation, and they’ve been so thoughtful.”

In the warmer weather, Limerock maintains a large community garden, where they grow food for the pantry, another way the community is involved in food assistance. Stephen shared that no matter the town or city, hunger sadly persists everywhere:

“Lincoln is seen as one of the more affluent towns, but you know there’s hunger everywhere. There is no time that hunger is not going to affect someone. There are always emergencies and situations that make bills difficult to pay and then buying food turns into a hardship.”

Please visit their website to learn more: https://www.lrbcri.org/lrbc-food-pantry  (Photo courtesy of Limerock Church.)

---

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center

The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center (MLK Community Center) is located at 20 Dr. Marcus F. Wheatland Blvd. in Newport. The Food Pantry is open M, W, F, from 10:00am – 2:00pm, Wednesday evenings 4:00pm-6:00pm and the 1st Saturday of each month from 10:00am – 12:00pm. The MLK offers a meal site, serving breakfast M-F 7:30 – 8:30am. The Mobile Food Pantry makes rotating visits to neighborhoods in Newport, Middletown, Portsmouth, Jamestown and Tiverton and makes a standing third Tuesday monthly visit to Newport’s Park Holm Senior Center. Heather Hole Strout, Executive Director, shared how food Assistance is a huge part of the MLK Community Center’s work, with the on-site pantry providing food assistance to many people who had never accessed it before the pandemic.

“Our hunger services include an on-site food pantry, a mobile food pantry, daily breakfast programs, Grab n Go hot meal lunch offerings and grocery delivery to seniors and the homebound.”

The mobile food pantry has been a lifeline for the Newport community through the pandemic:

“People were having to Uber or take the bus to get to food resources and we thought let’s bring more food more often to the people. The mobile pantry went out 37 times in 2019, but 134 times in 2020.”

In addition to the fresh produce they receive as a member agency of the Food Bank, the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center works hard to source fresh fruits and vegetables while supporting local businesses. As Executive Director Heather Hole Strout explained about their Veggie Days program:

“We’ve partnered with local farmers and we’re able to offer produce year-round. Grant funding helps support purchasing locally. Our weekly Veggie Days include produce gleaned from farmer’s markets and donated by home gardeners both in the warm months and all year round.”

The MLK Center provides fresh produce to guests but also takes it out to the community through a Mobile Food Pantry that visits neighborhoods in Newport, Middletown, Portsmouth, Jamestown and Tiverton. This resource is particularly helpful for residents who don’t have access to transportation or are unable to visit the Center’s food pantry. Please visit their website to learn more: https://www.MLKCCenter.org/hunger-services

(Photo courtesy of the MLK Community Center Team.)

---

Faith Fellowship Food Pantry

The Faith Fellowship Food Pantry, located at 260 Victory Highway in West Greenwich. The food pantry is open every Tuesday and Thursday from 4-6pm.

The pantry has been open for about 10 years, and Pastor Steve focuses on building relationships with pantry guests:

“It’s all about listening to folks. I find that everybody’s got a story, and especially now with people in their houses all the time, they can’t wait to share their stories. The pantry is very much a relational thing for us as well, making those personal connections with our guests is so important.”

The pantry started distributing Farmers to Families boxes this past December. The once monthly distributions allow guests to access a box of fresh meat, dairy and produce grown locally, and subsidized by the USDA.

“It’s been wonderful to share the abundance in these boxes. To think of what it would cost a family to go out and purchase all this food, it’s so wonderful to be able to give these out.”

Faith Fellowship has been able to reach out to their community to staff the pantry and the Farmers to Families distributions with volunteers:

“We’ve been lucky that we have volunteers to help with all of our work; community members, lots of students and everyone is so willing to help and step up. So many people locally have a heart for this work.”

Please visit their website to learn more: https://www.faithfellowshipaog.com/food-pantry

---

First Unitarian Church of Providence

The Community Food Share Pantry at First Unitarian Church of Providence is located at 1 Benevolent Street in Providence. The food pantry, which has been in operation for 14 years, is open the third Monday of every month from 3:00 PM-5:30 PM. Due to COVID-19, the program has temporarily changed their operations and now supports guests using a drive-through model. Nancy, the church administrator for First Unitarian said, 

“When we had to close our building because of COVID-19, we found a new way to keep the pantry going. We created volunteer shifts and pre-box the food. Some volunteers assemble boxes, some pack the food, and others put the boxes into our guest’s cars.”

Nancy spoke of how the team has continued to pivot their operations:

“We have a very loyal and dedicated group of volunteers. It just amazes me how the staff and volunteers can figure out how to expand their reach and do things completely differently and still keep up with the demand. Last month, we gave out 150 boxes of food.”

Please visit their website to learn more: https://www.facebook.com/First-Unitarian-Church-of-Providence-285189762181/

(Photo taken prior to COVID, courtesy of First Unitarian Staff.)

---

Washington Park Community Center

The Washington Park Community Center Pantry is located at 42 Jillson Street in Providence. Their food pantry is open on Monday, Tuesday, and Fridays, 10:00 to 1:00 PM. The pantry adapted to a new, temporary model to distribute food throughout the pandemic. Fran Murphy, Center Director for 41 years, shares:

“Because we are a licensed daycare, we have had to limit people in the building. We never closed the pantry, but we’ve had to adapt. We have our guests ring the bell and then we pass them bagged groceries. At the beginning, we were doing food assistance five days a week because the need was so great. Now our daycare is open again, and we’re back to three days of pantry.”

The center offers more than just food assistance for guests: rent and utility assistance play a vital role in supporting the community, especially as the winter months increase heating costs. With over four decades of work at Washington Park, Fran shares why the work is so meaningful to her:

(Photo courtesy of Washington Park staff.)Please visit their website to learn more: https://washparkcc.org

The Little Compton Food Pantry is located at 115 East Main Road in Little Compton and serves Little Compton and Tiverton residents. Pantry hours are Saturday 9-11 AM. The pantry is located inside of the Little Compton Wellness Center, and they recently moved into a bigger space within the center. On serving the senior population in the area, Susan Chase, pantry coordinator, shared:

“We have a lot of seniors who shop here, and it’s a very friendly place for them.”

For more information about this program, visit: https://www.lcwellness.org/community/resources

 

This week we are spotlighting Good Neighbors located at 55 Turner Avenue in East Providence. The food pantry is available to residents of East Providence on Wednesdays 9am-12pm & Saturdays 10am-12pm. ​Good Neighbors is a non-profit service organization which normally operates a soup kitchen, food pantry, and day shelter for people experiencing homelessness and/or food insecurity. Due to the pandemic, they have adjusted their operations to provide two weekly, distanced, drive or walk-up food distributions. Celebrating their 30th year, this pantry uses a team of dedicated staff and volunteers who even work to maintain an on-site vegetable and flower garden. 

Learn more here: http://www.goodneighborsri.org/index.html