Rhode Island Community Food Bank

The RI Food Bank will be closed on Friday, June 19th in observance of Juneteenth and will reopen for regularly scheduled operations on Monday, June 22nd.

If you need immediate assistance during this time, please dial United Way of Rhode Island's 2-1-1 hotline.

We're grateful for the Rhode Island Interscholastic League and the 1,599 pounds of peanut butter collected through their 12th annual Peanut Butter Express Challenge! Congratulations to Smithfield High School (Smithfield Public Schools) for leading the statewide effort with 518.5 pounds of peanut butter collected, Johnston High School for bringing in approximately 330 pounds, and Gallagher Middle School in Smithfield for collecting 317 pounds.

Peanut butter is one of the most sought-after items for our member food pantries because it is protein-rich, family-friendly, and nutritious. Thanks to all the schools who participated and student athletes across Rhode Island, more neighbors facing food insecurity will have access to this healthy staple. 💚🥜

📸 Pictured: 1.) RI Food Bank staff Rob and John picking up peanut butter from RIIL's offices; 2.) students from Johnston High School; 3.) a student athlete from Ponaganset High School (Ponaganset High School Chieftains), who came in 4th place, collecting 115.5 lbs of PB!

For the month of June, our Community Outreach team has put together a helpful, comprehensive guide of LGBTQIA+ resources, available in both English and Spanish. 🌈 The guide features national and local resources for the + community (and those questioning!) + their families, network, and allies - including support, advocacy, health, emergency, youth, and senior resources.

The Rhode Island Community Food Bank's Community Outreach team regularly compiles vetted, reliable community resources for distribution to the public, our member agencies, and partner organizations.

📋 Feel free to use this helpful guide as a resource, and organizations should feel free to distribute to neighbors or however they see fit.

🏳️‍🌈 Resource features: 🏳️‍⚧️ the National Task Force; Advocates for Trans Equality; the Glisten network; Youth Pride Inc.; PFLAG Greater Providence, RI; Pride in Aging RI; AIDS Project Rhode Island; Project Weber/RENEW; Open Door Health; The Trevor Project; the Trans Lifeline; the LGBT National Help Center; Lambda Legal; the national GSA Network; and more. ❤️ 🧡 💛 💚 💙 💜 🤍 🤎 🖤

SUN Bucks is back! DHS will be disbursing a one-time benefit of $120 per eligible child the week of June 15 to help ensure kids continue to have access to nutritious meals during the summer months. Read the press release for more details. https://dhs.ri.gov/press-releases/dhs-issue-sun-bucks-benefits-week-june-15.

O programa SUN Bucks está de volta! O Departamento de Serviços Humanos (DHS) concederá um benefício único de US$ 120 por criança elegível na semana de 15 de junho para ajudar a garantir que as crianças continuem tendo acesso a refeições nutritivas durante os meses de verão. Leia o comunicado de imprensa para mais detalhes. https://dhs.ri.gov/press-releases/dhs-issue-sun-bucks-benefits-week-june-15.

¡Vuelve SUN Bucks! DHS repartirá una ayuda única de $120 por niño elegible la semana del 15 de junio, con el fin de garantizar que los niños sigan teniendo acceso a comidas nutritivas durante los meses de verano. Lea el comunicado de prensa para obtener más detalles. https://dhs.ri.gov/press-releases/dhs-issue-sun-bucks-benefits-week-june-15.

Last night, the FY27 state budget passed the Senate with $2.95 million in funding included for the Food Bank. This significant increase reflects our state leadership's trust in the Food Bank to address the critical need faced by Rhode Islanders. Every dollar of this critical funding will be put toward food acquisition to support the Food Bank's network.

We're so grateful to our sponsors, State Senator Tiara Mack and Representative Scott Slater; to Rhode Island House of Representatives and Rhode Island Senate leadership; and to the entire General Assembly for prioritizing food security. We're also grateful to our supporters who made their voices heard on behalf of Rhode Island families.

And now, we get to work. There is much to be done.

During a week where 5,500 people lost access to their SNAP benefits, we are especially grateful to the Rhode Island House of Representatives for passing a budget that includes $2.95 million for food purchasing. This will support the work of our 137 member agencies across the state.
We look forward to working with Rhode Island Senate as the state budget moves toward final passage.

Last night, the Rhode Island Community Food Bank co-hosted an impactful Community Table conversation with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center Executive Director, Heather Hole Strout, and RI Food Bank CEO, Melissa Cherney, at the MLK Center in Newport.

Moderated by RI Food Bank CPO, Dana DiMarco, the conversation centered around the current state of hunger in Rhode Island, and how the MLK works to uplift neighbors in Newport County.

The MLK Center distributes over 1.3 million meals a year, and being a member agency of the RI Food Bank is a critical component of making this possible: 44% of the food they distribute is received for free from the RI Community Food Bank. 🍎 From Aquidneck Island and beyond, the Food Bank reaches the entire state of Rhode Island through partnerships with frontline agencies like the MLK Center: last year, we distributed a staggering 18.6 million lbs of food around the Ocean State.

Thank you to everyone who participated in last night's event!

Comprehensive Community Action Program (CCAP) in Cranston is growing their own solutions to food insecurity: fruit trees, berry bushes, pollinator-friendly plants, raised beds, 2 greenhouses, and naturally-grown produce are all part of a thriving community garden that distributed 4,700+ pounds of locally-grown produce to food pantry guests in 2025 alone. 🍅

Community gardening is grassroots, community-centric, and sustainable, and Comprehensive Community Action Program, Inc. is a prime example of these ideals in action.

Read the full story⤵️