RI Community Food Bank

The Rhode Island Community Food Bank provides food to people in need and promotes long-term solutions to the problem of hunger.
The Food Bank is an innovative leader in solving the problem of hunger. In partnership with our Member Agencies, as well as government and community leaders, we build the public will to ensure that no one in Rhode Island goes hungry. We envision a day when everyone in Rhode Island has access to nutritious food through an efficient and sustainable acquisition and distribution network.

Description:
Since 1982, the Rhode Island Community Food Bank has solicited, stored and distributed surplus food and grocery products to qualified member agency programs that provide food to Rhode Island's hungry. Millions of pounds of donated food and nonfood household products are distributed into the community through our network of nearly 300 member agency food programs in Rhode Island.

The Food Bank employs multiple programs to ensure that Rhode Islanders have access to the nutritious food they need. Our Neighborhood Pantry Express and Direct Delivery programs offer us the ability to efficiently distribute healthy foods to high-need communities.

The Food Bank has additional programs that are aimed at breaking the cycle of hunger. Our Community Kitchen program trains low-income or unemployed adults in food preparation skills, giving them the training, experience and confidence they need to attain gainful employment. While acquiring invaluable skills, students prepare meals for Kids Cafe - a program of Feeding America-The Nation's Food Bank Network which serves evening meals to children at risk of hunger.

History:
On a national level, the concept of food banking was born in the late 1960s when retired businessman, John van Hengel learned that grocery stores discarded food that was either nearing expiration or cast-off due to small imperfections in the packaging. Van Hengel persuaded store managers to donate these products to a community soup kitchen.

Locally, history began for the Rhode Island Community Food Bank in 1982 when a group of community organizers joined together to help offer food assistance to other Rhode Islanders in need, while lowering food waste. During that first year, the Food Bank distributed 350,000 pounds of food out of a rented warehouse on Allens Avenue in Providence.

During 1988, a capital campaign was conducted which raised $1.2 million to finance a 33,000 square foot warehouse in West Warwick. The Food Bank maintained this facility for fifteen years, reaching a distribution capacity of about 6.5 million pounds of food.

In November of 2003, the Food Bank completed an $8.2 million capital campaign and relocated from West Warwick to its current site at 200 Niantic Avenue in Providence. Currently, the Food Bank has an annual distribution of more than 8 million pounds.

The effort which began with a group of individuals offering loaves of bread to those in need has since evolved into a program that is a central part of the state's hunger safety net.

Contact person: Kelly Nichols, Volunteer Manager, (401) 942-6325 x256, (email)

Office fax number: (401) 942-2328

Address:

200 Niantic Avenue Providence, RI 02907-3150 (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.rifoodbank.org

Miscellaneous Information

Handicap accessible?
	Yes
Interests Served:
	Solutions for Children, Youth, Families, Helping People in Crisis, Building Adult & Neighborhood Independence
Does your agency accept court-appointed volunteers?
	No
What type of organization
	Nonprofit 501(c)(3)
What type of VCRI membership did this agency have in 2008?
	Full Year

Last updated on February 19, 2010