Holiday Gift Guide 2025

The Rhode Island Community Food Bank’s 2025 Holiday Gift Guide

Jump to: Gifts | Books | Thrift | Food | Misc.

At the RI Community Food Bank, we believe the actions we take – however small – add up to a huge impact. Whenever possible, shopping small, supporting nonprofits we care about, and buying secondhand not only create a more memorable holiday season: these actions use dollars as votes for the more interconnected, just, and sustainable community we seek to create.

Your favorite influencers have posted their holiday gift guides, but we believe there’s no greater gift than food security. If you’re exchanging gifts this holiday season, be it Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or Yule, or are attending a celebration and want to bring a gift for your generous host, we have a few ideas in mind.

Gifts

From jewelry to glassware to the gift that always fits, here are some suggestions that also support food security. These businesses are running promotions where the RI Community Food Bank receives some portion of the sale.

  • For the Minimalist, Activist, or Person Who Has it All: RI Food Bank – An incredible way to honor that hard-to-buy-for person in your life, the dedicated community activist, the person who really doesn’t want any more stuff, or really, anyone at all, is by making a gift to the RI Community Food Bank in their honor. When you provide us their mailing address, they’ll be notified of your thoughtful gift.
  • Local Artwork: Frog & Toad (Providence) – All proceeds from the ‘Iconic RI Foods’ print by local artist Abigail Brown support the RI Food Bank. 
  • Handmade Gifts: Fuzzy Goods (RI-based, shipping available) – 100% of profits support the RI Food Bank. Offerings include handmade jewelry, felted coasters (including a line of maritime signal flag coasters), and other handmade goods. 
  • Handmade Glassware: Gather Glass (Providence) – 50% of proceeds from the purchase of every [gorgeous!] Galaxy Glass benefits your choice of 4 nonprofit organizations, including the RI Food Bank.
  • Lamps & Light Fixtures: Newport Lamp & Shade Company (Newport) – Make a donation to the RI Food Bank and receive a discount on your next purchase. How much you donate determines how much you get off, from 5% to 20%.
  • Handcrafted Mugs: T’s Restaurants (Narragansett, Cranston, East Greenwich) – Purchase an iconic T’s round belly mug and they’ll donate $1 for each sold to the RI Food Bank. Buy online or at the restaurant. Locations in Narragansett, Cranston, and East Greenwich. 
  • Carousel of Caring: Warwick Mall (Warwick) – Did you know the Warwick Mall is locally owned and operated? Stop by to check out everything the mall has to offer, and be sure to stop by the carousel. All December long, 100% of Warwick Mall carousel proceeds benefit Rhode Island Community Food Bank. Bring the kids for a ride on the carousel, grab a bite to eat, and check gifts off your list! 

Books

We believe that knowledge is the first step to ending hunger, and an understanding of food insecurity can start from a young age. For the little ones in your life, consider giving one of the following kids’ books that introduce food insecurity and food pantries in an age-appropriate way: because there’s no greater gift than empathy.

Tip: Your purchase of these books will be more sustainable and have double the community impact when you shop from local bookstores (see below). If that’s not accessible to you, consider buying used (saving you money, and increasing the sustainability of your purchase!) through a small online seller, like ThriftBooks or on eBay.

Book Stores

The picture books above can be pre-ordered through many of the local bookstores listed below.

Even if you’re not buying for little ones, books make great gifts! Check out some of our staff favorites, below:

Thrift

Gatekeeping our favorite thrift stores? Could never be us. 

The following thrift shops are operated by some of the RI Food Bank’s member agencies. In other words, each of the organizations that run these thrift shops also work to feed Rhode Islanders (as well as offer a number of other wraparound services for the community). 

You never know what you’ll find at the thrift, be it housewares, clothing, or seasonal decor (like these incredible vintage Snowbabies [pictured] posted by the Jonnycake Center recently), so check your list twice at our member agency thrift shops. 

 

PS: We believe that if you shop there, you should help replenish their shelves when you have something to give! Doing a closet, toy, or houseware clean-out before (or after) the holidays? All of these thrift shops are great options to donate your gently used goods to. For donation information, visit their websites/Facebook pages, or contact the organization directly.

Food

It might go without saying, but we Food Bank staff consider ourselves to be foodies for food security. You too? Shop in-line with your values: there are a number of generous local restaurants that are offering promotions that support local food security throughout the month of December.

  • Cup of Care: T’s Restaurants (Narragansett, Cranston, East Greenwich) – Start your day with breakfast or brunch from T’s, then purchase an iconic handcrafted T’s Cup of Care mug to take home or give as a gift. They’ll donate $1 for each sold to the RI Food Bank.
  • Eat Around Rhode Island: Newport Restaurant Group (statewide/regional) – With locations across the state and beyond, a Newport Restaurant Group gift card is a great gift. Plus, when you purchase a gift card for the holidays, they’ll donate a percentage to the Food Bank. (Purchase $500 in gift cards, you’ll get a free $100 gift card.)
  • Specialty Chef-Inspired Pizza: Pizza Marvin (Providence) – 12/7 – 12/22, Pizza Marvin is running their annual 12 Pies of Christmas, where each night, 12 local chefs each put their spin on a specialty pizza. What’s even better – proceeds from all 12 Pies of Christmas (plus 2 exclusive ice cream flavors) support the RI Food Bank. (Bonus gift idea: they also have some pretty sweet merch for the foodie in your life.)
  • Spice Up the Holidays: The Indian RI Group (Cranston, East Greenwich, Pawtucket, and Providence) is the family that operates 4 incredible Indian restaurants around the state. They are supporting the RI Food Bank with a gift card deal sure to spice up your holiday gift list: Order a gift card(s) online and get $20 off every $100 with code GCDeal20. For every $100 sold, $5 is donated to the RI Food Bank.
  • NEW ADDITION –  Rosé for RI: Nicks on Broadway – Donate $100+ to the RI Food Bank in December, and Nicks on Broadway chef Derek Wagner will send you a bottle of his favorite rosé when you come in for brunch or dinner at Nicks.
    • Dine at Nicks for exclusive Sunday dinners on 12/21 and 12/28. For each guest who attends those evenings, they’ll donate $10 to the RI Food Bank!
  • Cocktails for a Cause: The East End – After all that holiday shopping, it’s only right to keep your support of the Food Bank going with a stop at The East End. Purchase December’s specialty Cocktail for a Cause, the Hot Mezz, and a portion of your pour will benefit the RI Food Bank.

Groceries

  • Round Up: Urban Greens Co-Op Market (Providence) – Don’t forget the groceries while you’re out! If you’re able, shop small for your groceries. Plus, your small change can help feed neighbors when you round up to the next dollar amount through their Food-For-All program that helps co-op members in need of discounted groceries.
  • Farm Fresh Eggs: Pat’s Pastured (East Greenwich, local farmer’s market pickup, & home delivery) – Amidst the holiday chaos, don’t forget to fill your fridge (and support your local farm!). Purchase a dozen eggs for home delivery or pickup through Pat’s Pastured’s Get & Give program and another 1 dozen eggs will be donated to the RI Food Bank.

Providence Community Bake Sale

If you happen to be reading this before 12/13, you’re in luck: 11 AM – 2 PM on Saturday, 12/13, some Providence favorites have teamed up to bring us a bake sale to end all bake sales. Supporting both the RI Food Bank and Southside Community Land Trust, the Providence Community Bake Sale will feature goodies from local favorites: Oberlin, Gift Horse, Frank & Laurie’s, Club Frills, Little Friend, Asian Bakery and Fast Food, Pickerel, and more.

Misc.

  • (Tiny) Home for the Holidays: If you happen to be in the market for a home, consider flexible, sustainable housing options from ContainerSolutions. Through their ‘Home to Table’ initiative, they’ll donate $5,000 to the RI Food Bank for every 40Home sold.

At a time when food insecurity is on the rise and our neighbors need our support more than ever before, support for small businesses giving back is a way to check two good deeds off of your list this holiday season.

Is there one we missed, or is your business raising funds for the Food Bank? Shoot us a message. 

Support Our Work

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 137 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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