According to the Rhode Island Community Food Bank’s 2023 status report on hunger in the state, nearly one in three households in Rhode Island can’t afford adequate food. There are a number of contributing factors to that sobering statistic, chief among them the rising cost of housing and food. The report also shows that food costs increased 11 percent between July 2022 and July 2023. Organizations serving communities across the state take unique approaches tackling the issue head-on to support their community members.
Jonnycake Center for Hope just celebrated 50 years of service to the communities of South Kingstown, Narragansett, Block Island, and Jamestown. Last year, the organization supported 2,200 community members, but Kate Brewster, the organization’s CEO, estimates that two to three times that number need assistance.
For the first 45 years of the organization’s life, it was primarily a food pantry and thrift store, but over the last five years, Jonnycake Center for Hope has worked to address some additional unmet needs in the community, such as child and youth enrichment and housing. “You can’t solve poverty just by providing food,” says Brewster. “There are so many facets to the issue, and we’re trying to help in as many ways as we can.”
This winter, the organization plans to open a youth center for middle and high school students who are economically disadvantaged, offering academic help, enrichment, and support for students seeking post-secondary education. The center is also working on a plan to offer 15 different affordable housing units to community members. “We currently have seven families living in our housing,” says Brewster, addressing the way their program impacts the whole person. “We’re not only making sure these people are housed, but we’re making sure they have enough food and that their kids have enrichment opportunities and are doing well in school.”
Providing healthy food remains at the core of the organization’s offerings. To stock their food pantry, the Jonnycake Center purchases nonperishable items from the Rhode Island Community Food Bank and has relationships with local growers and farmers that provide produce. The organization also partially relies on donations from private citizens, and the most needed items are whole-grain cereal, soup, and healthy snack options.
The number of committed volunteers the center enjoys is impressive, and Brewster calls them long-timers. “We have a strong base of highly trained volunteers who work in the food pantry stocking shelves, helping shoppers, and driving food to seniors,” she says. “These people come week after week and year after year. They really want to support our organization and their community.”
For those seeking an organization to support this holiday season, Brewster says that starting a food drive through a church or school to collect food donations for the Jonnycake Food Pantry is a wonderful way to help others.
Plates with Purpose takes a different approach to addressing food insecurity and bringing together community members. Jennifer Capracotta and Jennifer Fantozzi started the organization in December 2020, during the height of the pandemic. The two women had a friend who opened a restaurant mere months before lockdown and struggled as he tried to navigate the pandemic while keeping his new restaurant running. Capracotta and Fantozzi made a financial contribution to his restaurant with the caveat that he pay it forward by preparing and distributing hot nutritious meals to community members in need. Their plan was so well received that they turned it into a nonprofit organization serving communities across the state.
Plates with Purpose makes a small financial donation to partner restaurants, then determines a fair value per meal that would allow the restaurant to cover the cost of the meal, its prep, and its packaging, as well as retain a small percentage per meal as revenue. “We feel strongly that supporting independent restaurant owners is as important as supporting Rhode Island neighbors struggling to meet their basic food needs,” says Capracotta. Since its inception, the organization has partnered with several restaurants, including Iggy’s in Warwick, Atrium on Main in Pawtucket, Blackie’s in North Smithfield, and more, to serve more than 8,200 meals to people experiencing food insecurity.
In addition to their restaurant partnerships, Plates with Purpose took the Little Free Library concept and turned it into a food distribution system they call Hope Chests. These food cabinets are located in Johnston and North Providence, and Capracotta and Fantozzi have plans for expansion. “We place them in areas that are easy to access,” says Capracotta. “Individuals who find themselves with a bit extra in their cupboards are welcome to donate nonperishable items to the Hope Chest and anyone finding themselves a bit short on food is invited to ‘shop’ the Hope Chest.” For those interested in stocking the food cabinets, some of the most requested items are pull-top canned goods, pasta and sauce, pantry staples, and granola bars.
The organization’s work stems from the founders’ mission to enlighten people about the food insecurity crisis in Rhode Island. “We raise awareness through education and community involvement,” says Capracotta. “We believe we can be part of the solution – one community at a time – and we believe we started a movement that brings together restaurants, local organizations, and engaged communities that are motivated to be part of the solution with us.”
532 Wood Street, Bristol
55 Turner Avenue, Riverside
100 Newman Avenue, Rumford
22 Kersey Road, Peace Dale
JonnycakeCenter.org/give-help/
PlatesWithPurpose.org/waystogive
For information on additional food pantries in the area and throughout Rhode Island, visit RIFoodBank.org/find-food.
It costs money to purchase food and run a pantry or kitchen, so financial donations are the best way to have an impact. With your assistance, organizations can buy exactly what clients need to enjoy healthy, nutritious meals.
Food donations are always welcome. Pantries accept non-perishable food items that are not open, beyond the expiration date, or otherwise damaged or unusable. They do not accept glass packaging, perishable goods, or prepared foods.
Many food pantries are run entirely by volunteers or with a small staff. They rely on volunteers to meet the needs of their guests all year long, not just during the holiday season. Contact a food pantry directly to find out how you can make a difference.
The East Bay Food Pantry’s thrift shop accepts donations of clothing, shoes, and accessories for the whole family, as well as housewares, home decor, small appliances, linens, tools, antiques, and vintage treasures.
By Hugh Minor
Open since 2009, the East Bay Food Pantry in Bristol reports distributing 368,973 meals in 2023, which is almost a 50 percent increase from the year before. “We are seeing more food going out the door every day,” says Emily Mushen, executive director of the East Bay Food Pantry in Bristol. “It’s not a unique story for us. It’s everywhere.”
The East Bay Food Pantry is one of many organizations addressing food insecurity in the region. Another is Good Neighbors, which has food pantries in both Riverside and Rumford, along with a community kitchen in the Riverside location. In 2023, they served more than 13,740 hot meals to East Providence residents, along with those in Pawtucket, Central Falls, and Providence.
“There is definitely an increase in need and there’s an increased awareness of what we’re doing here that brings people in,” says Kate Mushipi, executive director of Good Neighbors. At the pantry, the number of households they serve has increased from 40 to over 60 and even as high as 110 households per day. During COVID, they expanded their programs to provide meal and grocery delivery to East Providence residents who may not have access to transportation or were unable to leave their homes. Thanks to a robust network of dedicated volunteers, this helpful service continues, transporting meals and groceries four days a week to 50-60 clients.
In addition to distributing food, the East Bay Food Pantry also runs a thrift shop as a means of generating revenue that goes toward their mission. Donations of household items are sold to shoppers and the funds raised are used to purchase fresh produce and dairy products directly from wholesalers, and to run the pantry.
Nonprofits like these rely on a strong network of volunteers. For Good Neighbors, their delivery services pose a heavy lift, and at the East Bay Food Pantry, nearly 100 individuals contributed over 10,000 hours of work last year, and both organizations are always seeking helping hands – during the holiday season and beyond.
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