Celebrating RI Grown Week šŸŽ

The Food Bank Celebrates RI Grown Week

Rhode Island Community Food Bank CEO Melissa Cherney delivers a keynote address at the Farm Fresh RI building during Rhode Island DEM's RI Grown Week
RI Food Bank CEO, Melissa Cherney, delivers a keynote address at RI DEM’s RI Grown Week

RI Grown, an initiative of the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RI DEM) that aims to connect consumers with locally grown food, held their first RI Grown Week this week. On Monday at Farm Fresh RIā€™s Sims Ave headquarters, representatives from RI DEM, state legislators, local nonprofit leaders, and other champions for local agriculture came together to kick off the week. RI Food Bank CEO, Melissa Cherney, delivered a keynote address, highlighting the critical role local food systems play in food security.

Jen Tomassini, Chief Operating Officer of the RI Food Bank (pictured, middle), shared with representatives from DEM that, year-to-date, the RI Food Bank has already acquired 85% more local produce than last year at this time ā€“ hitting our 45% annual target for local food distributed in just the first quarter of the fiscal year.

A group of people, Sam Morcarski (Acquisition Manager, RI Food Bank); Ken Ayres (Chief, Division of Agriculture and Forest Environment, RI DEM); Jen Tomassini (Chief Operating Officer, RI Food Bank); Anada Fraser (Environmental Policy Analyst II, Produce Safety Program Coordinator, RI DEM); and Melissa Cherney (Chief Executive Officer, RI Food Bank), pose in front of a mural of the RI Community Food Bank logo (a tree with apples on it).

ā€œIf we make our local food system stronger, it makes Rhode Island more resilient and able to handle unexpected strains on the emergency system,ā€ Jen shared.

The Food Bank is proud to live the values of RI Grown: Get Fresh, Buy Local. You can support these efforts by shopping local when possible, staying informed on local food policy issues, and supporting the organizations engaged in this work.

Cooking Up Impactful Partnerships: Healthy Habits at the Genesis Center

Creating meaningful partnerships in the community that support our neighbors in a variety of ways is a key part of the work of our Healthy Habits Community Nutrition team.

The team recently partnered with the Genesis Center, a Providence-based organization offering high-quality education, job training, and support services so folks can achieve economic independence. Among other supports, they offer job training programs in healthcare, culinary arts, and early childhood education.

A woman Andrea Aguilar smiles while standing in front of ingredients and cooking supplies

The Community Nutrition team holds tailored Healthy Habits sessions at the Genesis Center weekly during each culinary arts cohort, integrating accessible and practical nutrition education into their curriculum.

ā€œItā€™s partnerships like this that help us extend the impact of our work, building a healthier, more food-secure community together,ā€ said Yesenia Barnier, Director of Community Nutrition at the RI Food Bank.

Support Our Work

Founded in 1982, the Rhode Island Community Food Bank (ā€œthe Food Bankā€ or ā€œRI Food Bankā€) 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 Bankļø±rifoodbank.orgļø±(401) 942-6325ļø±200 Niantic Avenue, Providence RI 02907ļø±contactus@rifoodbank.org

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