Category: Rhode Island Programs

Franklin Farm

logofoodbankRhode Island Community Food Bank
200  Niantic Avenue, Providence, RI 02907  401.942.6325
Contact: Chief Executive Officer,  Andrew Schiff 
Website

142 Abbot Run Valley Road, Cumberland
Coordinator: Denise Mudge (401) 334-0133
Email | Website

Organized for charitable and educational purposes including, but not limited to preserving, maintaining and improving the eighteenth and nineteenth century homestead of the Metcalf-Franklin Farm.
Franklin Farm, in Cumberland, RI, is a town-owned historic farm. Recently added to the National Register of Historic Places, Franklin Farm encompasses over 65 acres of land and includes a mid-19th century Greek Revival-style farmhouse; an early-19th century timber-framed barn; a ca. 1903 dairy barn; and a 20th-century garage.

Used for many years as a dairy farm, the land and buildings now belong to the public, under the direction of the Historic Metcalf-Franklin Farm Preservation Association. Many town programs are run on the site, and the farm is home to a community garden and farm stand.

Charlestown Community Garden

logofoodbankRhode Island Community Food Bank
200  Niantic Avenue, Providence, RI 02907  401.942.6325
Contact: Chief Executive Officer,  Andrew Schiff 
Website

100 Park Lane, Ninigret Park Charlestown, RI 02813
Coordinators: Susie Fehrmann and Steve Symonds (845) 559-4561 or (401) 742-7625 Email

In Charlestown, volunteers are doing their part to reduce these staggering numbers and create a healthier, hunger-free community by putting in some time at the Charlestown Community Garden. With the help of its new fiscal sponsor, the Jonnycake Center of Westerly, the efforts are paying off. The garden produced 6,062 pounds of produce in 2014, up from roughly 3,300 pounds the year before.

Located at Ninigret Park, the garden sits on a 15,000-square-foot parcel of land dedicated to growing a variety of crops such as kale, tomatoes and green beans. The garden was originally sponsored by the Town of Charlestown, but about a year ago the Southern Rhode Island Volunteers took over that role. Most recently, the Jonnycake Center of Westerly has assumed the sponsorship position, and both parties could not be happier with the arrangement.

Community Farms

logofoodbankRhode Island Community Food Bank
200  Niantic Avenue, Providence, RI 02907  401.942.6325
Contact: Chief Executive Officer,  Andrew Schiff 
Website

Community farms grow fresh produce for hungry Rhode Islanders while preserving valuable land. Each farm is managed by a volunteer coordinator who works with the Food Bank. The volunteer-run farms rely on schools, businesses and civic groups, as well as families and individuals.  All ages are welcome!

One Company Can

logofoodbankRhode Island Community Food Bank
200  Niantic Avenue, Providence, RI 02907  401.942.6325
Contact: Chief Executive Officer,  Andrew Schiff 
Download Booklet (PDF)

Everybody connects to the issue of hunger. It’s not conceptual. It’s real. Even if you’ve never suffered from hunger, you can understand how it feels. Can one company make a difference? Yes.  Our One Company Can booklet will help you organize a successful food or fund drive at your business or organization while building teamwork and boosting your reputation as a good corporate citizen.   More

RI Kids’ Healthy Recipe Challenge

Governor’s Office, Rhode Island Community Food Bank, Eat, Drink Rhode Island

Showcases the talent of young chefs with kids submitting recipes for healthy food dishes. The winning recipes will be selected in three categories – starter, entrée and dessert and presented at an annual luncheon at the Rhode Island Community Foodbank. In addition, recipes will be published in a special cookbook.

Rhode Island Community Food Bank Events

logofoodbank200  Niantic Avenue, Providence, RI 02907  401.942.6325
Contact: Chief Executive Officer,  Andrew Schiff 
Email  Website  Facebook

Information about organizing an event for the Food Bank. The Food Bank is grateful to individuals and groups who organize fundraising events to benefit hungry Rhode Islanders. Past events have included:

  • Benefit concerts
  • Food sampling or wine tasting events
  • Sales/promotions in which a portion of an item’s price is donated to the Food Bank

Farm Fresh Rhode Island Farm to Food Pantry

Farm Fresh Rhode Island
1005 Main St.  #8130  Pawtucket, RI  02860  401.312.4250 
Co-Executive Directors Sheri Griffin and Jesse Rye  
Website   Facebook   Email

Builds upon all of the great local food infrastructure that Farm Fresh has already been engineering. Now that we have farmers market and trucks in place, it’s so simple to get fresh food to the neediest in our communities. That’s what a community-based food system is all about. Farmers in California are not going to be donating to those who are hungry in Rhode Island. Rhode Island farmers play a critical role in our communities, and we can use farmers markets and Market Mobile as a platform to make sure their harvest reaches Rhode Islanders in need.

Farm to Food Pantry reinforces our belief that the Rhode Island we want to live in – with vibrant farms, healthy communities and easy access to fresh food – is all within our reach. There are so many more win-win opportunities all around us. They just require a little tinkering.

 

Women Ending Hunger

logowomenendingbRhode Island Community Food Bank
200 Niantic Avenue, Providence, RI 02907  401.942.6325
Contacts: Mary Flynn, Ph.D., RD, LDN, and Susan Gustaitis, Executive Director of the Jonnycake Center of Peacedale
Website 

The volunteer group Women Ending Hunger (WEH) works to create long-term solutions to the problem of hunger. Women Ending Hunger works on many issues, including those concerning nutrition education and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly the Food Stamp Program. Under the leadership of Mary Flynn, Ph.D., RD, LDN, and Susan Gustaitis, Executive Director of the Jonnycake Center of Peacedale, WEH also works to educate the public and advocate around hunger issues.

Current projects include:

  • Advocacy concerning issues of childhood nutrition and school meal programs
  • Advocacy regarding the Farm Bill and its impact on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
  • Participation in the Food Bank’s Speakers’ Bureau
  • Volunteer opportunities for events and special programs