A guiding principle of our work is centering the experiences of those we, and our network of food pantries and meal sites, have the honor to serve.
In 2026, we formed our first community advisory group to better understand the challenges our neighbors are facing, to elevate their voices in conversations about food insecurity, and ultimately to shape and influence our services, programs and work. Led by Director of Community Outreach, Lihna Agostini, and Chief Operating Officer, Jen Tomassini, input from the group has helped us remain focused on food access and equity, while understanding some of the underlying causes of poverty and hunger.
“One of my biggest takeaways from this process has been that we have more in common than we have differences,” shared Tomassini. “People are people. Mothers are mothers, no matter where they come from, or what challenges they might be facing in the moment.”
Among the biggest concerns across the group:
- Housing: Finding housing that is both safe and affordable is a universal challenge.
- Education and Job Training: Group members remarked on the lack of access to education and training for Spanish speakers.
- Children’s Healthcare: Moms agreed there is a need for more resources addressing serious health concerns for their kids, such as lead exposure, dyslexia and ADHD.
In July, advisory group members wrote a series of letters to their legislators sharing their voice on issues that many resourced-challenged Rhode Islanders are facing.
“I have learned that advocating for myself is how I move forward,” shared one member of the group. “As a community, we should be supporting each other instead of always relying on people in power to be our voice.”
IMPACT: Over the course of 6 months, we have built trusting relationships, enabling us to utilize our neighbors’ input to advance our work.