For over ten years, the Food Bank has administered the federal Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) for income-qualified Rhode Island seniors. The USDA provides monthly commodity food boxes to 2,000 seniors a month, which we distribute at low-income housing and senior centers. The program currently has a wait list of over 400 individuals.
With 5% of Rhode Island seniors living in food insecure households and a lengthy wait list for CSFP, the Food Bank is piloting its own senior box program, funded by our donors, to help even more seniors.
“What’s inside a CSFP box is dictated by the federal government, and cannot be changed, even with input from our guests,” shared Jen Tomassini, the Food Bank’s chief operating officer. “We gathered targeted feedback to ensure that our senior boxes include foods our guests want.”
The Food Bank is working with Rhode Island’s Office of Healthy Aging to identify senior housing sites and senior centers in key geographic areas that are unserved by CSFP.
The Food Bank expects to distribute at least 12,000 senior boxes in FY27 as part of the pilot.
What’s in the box?
- Canned fruits & vegetables
- Canned chicken, tuna or salmon
- Beans
- Pasta, macaroni & cheese, or rice
- Pasta sauce
- Stew or chili
- Peanut butter
- Crackers
- Pudding or jello
- Coffee
IMPACT: An additional 1,000 older adults per month will receive the nutrition they need.
