PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — The Rhode Island Foundation presented the Rhode Island Community Food Bank with a $100,000 grant Monday that will help them feed the hungry across the state.
The grant comes after proposed federal cuts to the food stamp program, which threatens to overwhelm the state’s food pantries.
“Our goal is not just to address the alarming increase in hunger in our state, but to hopefully provide leadership and to inspire Rhode Islanders to assist their favorite charities as well as to help people in need as we enter the winter months,” Neil Steinberg, the R.I. Foundation’s president and CEO said.
The food bank’s annual report on hunger found that one in eight Rhode Islanders battle hunger in their household and that food pantries in the state serve more than 53,000 people each month. This grant will allow the food bank to purchase staples such as baked beans, rice and fresh produce.
“With this gift, we’ll be able to deliver more food to our member agencies so that they can provide assistance to working families who are struggling to make ends meet,” Andrew Schiff, the R.I. Community Food Bank’s CEO said.
