The Food Bank held its 2021 Annual Meeting virtually on Wednesday, October 27th. Three new members of the Board of Directors were elected, and we gave out awards to a community partner as well as a member agency representative.
Three new members were elected to the Food Bank’s Board of Directors:
Carmen Diaz-Jusino VP, Community Development Officer, BankNewport
Mathies J. Santos Retired, Former Associate Chief, Patient Services, Providence VA Medical Center
David Veliz Director, RI Interfaith Coalition to Reduce Poverty
GUY ABELSON LEADERSHIP AWARD PRESENTED TO STOP & SHOP
The recipient of the 2021 Guy Abelson Food Bank Leadership Award is Stop & Shop. For years, Stop & Shop has been a huge supporter of the Rhode Island Community Food Bank and other food relief organizations in their footprint. Their generosity includes donating funds as well as food and engaging their customers to help address food insecurity in their communities. Their annual Food for Friends register donation campaign, fiscal support for Meals4Kids boxes and participation in our Retail Rescue program are just a few examples of how Stop & Shop contributes to the work of the Food Bank.
The Food Bank’s Leadership Award is named after the late Guy Abelson, longtime Food Bank supporter and former board member. This award is presented every October at our Annual Meeting to an individual or organization that contributes to the Food Bank and/or its network of member agencies through a significant commitment of funds, volunteer time, or pro bono assistance. Through the recipients that are chosen each year, the award celebrates the generosity of spirit that Guy embodied.
SISTER CAROL MCGOVERN AWARD PRESENTED TO KRISTEN MILETTE
Kristen Milette is the recipient of this year’s Sister Carol McGovern Award. Kristen is the manager of Pete & Andy’s Food Pantry at St. Peter’s & St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Providence. Kristen was nominated by Reverend Maryalice Sullivan. During the pandemic, the pantry grew from 80 families a month to 60 families a week. Kristen helped to establish many systems to make this increase possible including setting up a shopping plan with guest preferences in mind, establishing a partnership with Brown University for feminine hygiene products and researching funding opportunities.
The Sister Carol McGovern award is given to someone who has been nominated for doing an outstanding job working on the front lines to alleviate hunger and poverty in their community. Sister Carol McGovern was Co-Director of Amos House from 1983-1995 and she was a founding board member of the Food Bank from 1983-1990. The Sister Carol McGovern Award is a tribute to her lifetime of work assisting others.
