According to the Rhode Island Community Food Bank, nearly one in three households are food insecure, meaning they cannot meet their basic food needs. Each month, the Food Bank distributes food to 82,600 people across the state, and in the past two years, they’ve seen an increase of nearly 25,000 people seeking food assistance.
“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.” Open since 2009, the pantry reports distributing 368,973 meals in 2023, which is almost a 50 percent increase from the year before. Through their Access Nutrition Initiative, the nonprofit seeks to ensure clients not only have access to healthy food but also provides nutrition education.
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 executive director Kate Mushipi. At the pantry, where visitors can enjoy hot, delicious meals – prepared entirely by volunteers – five days a week, Good Neighbors has seen the number of households they serve increase from 40 to over 60 and even as high as 110 households per day. Some of their clients don’t have a permanent place to live but many are housed and struggling to care for themselves. For clients who live alone, they often come to the pantry to socialize, as well.
During COVID, Good Neighbors 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. “When we pivoted our pantry programs,” explains Mushipi, “we started delivering meals to people that were homebound and identifying people who were homebound for reasons other than COVID.” 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. “We take stuff from your home and turn it into [dollars to buy] food,” says Mushen.
“We want to offer both consistent choices and variety for our clients so they know they can rely on us to get what they need,” Mushen continues. “We try to offer the same types of items each week, like soup, for example, which they know they can always find on our shelves.”
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. Whether donating goods or contributing your time, there are numerous ways to make a difference in your community this holiday season – and beyond.
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.
532 Wood Street, Bristol
EastBayFoodPantry.org
55 Turner Avenue, Riverside
100 Newman Avenue, Rumford
GoodNeighborsRI.org
For information on additional food pantries in the area and throughout Rhode Island, visit RIFoodBank.org/find-food.
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