PR: Local Groups Team Up for a Collective Food Drive & Call on the Greater Community This Winter and Spring

Local Groups Team Up for a Collective Food Drive & Call on the Greater Community This Fall and Winter

Providence, RI – RI Food Bank, RI Food Policy Council, RI State Council of Churches, The Womxn Project, and Youth Pride urge partners to help keep our communities fed this winter.

With food insecurity rising sharply across Rhode Island, The Womxn Project, in partnership with the RI Food Bank, RI Food Policy Council, RI State Council of Churches, and Youth Pride, is issuing a statewide call to action. This group is inviting every nonprofit organization—from sports teams and scouting troops to art collectives and faith communities—to include a food collection at every event they host this fall and winter.

In a recent interview with Rhode Island Public Radio, RI Food Bank Executive Director Melissa Cherney reported that nearly 40% of Rhode Islanders are experiencing food insecurity. “RI has many committed non-profit organizations. That means we have the reach and the power to make an enormous difference if we act together. This is how we show what community care really looks like.” Jocelyn Foye, Executive Director of The Womxn Project.

As the smallest state in the nation, Rhode Island can prove it’s also the biggest in heart. This initiative—called “Big Table Rhode Island!”—urges organizations to normalize giving by encouraging attendees to bring canned or nonperishable goods to every meeting, practice, or event, creating a culture of consistent, everyday support for local pantries.

At a time when the Food Bank’s statewide network of member agencies is serving an average of 89,000 people per month with limited resources, we’re honored to be named in this initiative,” shared Kate MacDonald, the Food Bank’s director of communications. “Whether it’s a donation of food, or a financial contribution that helps us acquire healthy, nutritious staples, we’re so grateful for this support.”
Food is not a privilege; it is a universal human right. With the SNAP funding for 144,000 Rhode Islanders in jeopardy, it is crucial we all do what we can to ensure food access, food security, and food justice for all Rhode Islanders.” – Nessa Richman, Executive Director of RI Food Policy Council
All across our state, Rhode Island’s faith communities are seeing an increase in need for food assistance and a decrease in available supply. We must speak with courage and moral clarity about the ongoing federal attack on programs that provide essential services for the most vulnerable. Now is the time for us to come together, not only to resist, but to advocate for a future where we prioritize our common care for one another.” Jeremy Langill, Executive Minister, RI State Council of Churches
This is a period in history where it is more important than ever for us all to see ourselves responsible for mutual aid. When we take care of one another, we’re building a stronger, healthier Rhode Island for everyone. We will take care of us.” – Jocelyn Foye, Executive Director of The Womxn Project
Food has been used as a tool of control many times throughout history to today. Community taking part to ensure food security for our less-resources neighbors is a vital step towards ensuring a more sustainable, healthy future for us all”.
– Rush Frazier, Executive Director, Youth Pride Inc.

Three Ways to Get Involved

Food Banking Starts Now!
Collect food for a local food pantry or the Rhode Island Community Food Bank at each event. Make giving part of every gathering—because regular, small actions add up to major impact.
Drop-off information available by city and town.

Harvest Fresh Food Locally – Sign up for Spring
Join Hope’s Harvest, a program that has rescued over 1.3 million pounds of produce from local farms with the help of 6,500 volunteers. The food goes directly to the RI Food Bank and community pantries statewide.
Sign up your nonprofit team to volunteer with Hope’s Harvest.

Stretch Your Dollar for Culturally Specific Foods
Financial donations go further when pooled for wholesale purchases through the RI Food Bank and partner organizations, helping supply culturally relevant foods across the state. If logistics are a barrier, donating funds is a powerful alternative.