Food Bank News for Member Agencies
Annual Agency Conference Held at Bryant University
On May 4, the Food Bank held their annual agency conference for members in the Grand Hall at Bryant University. The conference hosted guest speakers Marti Rosenberg from New Roots Providence, who spoke about the importance of succession planning, and Gerry Fernandez, Food Bank Board member and founder and president of the Multicultural Foodservice & Hospitality Alliance (MFHA), who spoke about cultural awareness and cultural intelligence.
The conference provided a wonderful networking opportunity for agencies and Food Bank staff. Attendees perused our display tables that were full of information about our SNAP Outreach, Community Cooking, Procurement and Agency Support programs.
A special thank you to our excellent guest agency speakers who spoke to the crowd and shared their best practices in the areas of succession planning and cultural diversity: Deb Thurston and Lynn Moran from Tap-In, Bill Morrissette from Tri Town CAP, David Carpenter from SVDP Emergency Food Center, Susan Adler from The Louis and Goldie Chester Full Plate Kosher Food Pantry, Chris Bartlett from the East Greenwich Interfaith Food Cupboard, Stephanie Boucher from Neighborworks Youth Rap!
Click
here for a PDF of Marti Rosenberg’s presentation on succession planning.
Summer Food Service Program Discussed
Fourteen of our partners from 11 different Member Agencies joined Steve Carey and Sandra Fabrizio from the RI Department of Education to learn about the USDA’s Summer Food Service Program (SFSP).
As long-time coordinator of both the SFSP and the School Lunch Program in Rhode Island, Steve is concerned about the significant number of children who may be going hungry during the summer months.
“What happens to all those children who get free or reduced lunch during the school year?” asks Steve. “Do their parents suddenly have lots of extra money for those meals? You work in food pantries, you know the answer to that.”
While there are many organizations participating in the SFSP, there are pockets of poverty throughout Rhode Island that are underserved during the summer. If at least 50% of the children you serve are eligible for free or reduced lunch at school, then you may be interest in learning more about the Summer Food Service Program. Food pantry and meal site programs may be great candidates for being SFSP program sponsors or for partnering with existing program sponsors.
For more information, contact Steve Carey directly at Stephen.carey@ride.ri.gov
SNAP Wrap Up Luncheon
The Food Bank hosted our first SNAP Wrap Up Luncheon for the seven member agencies that hosted our outreach team this fall and winter. Agencies enjoyed lunch, reviewed SNAP eligibility, worked through SNAP eligibility scenarios and ordered some outreach modules.Pictured here are SNAP Outreach Coordinators Marie Cayard and Jamie St. Laurent.
If your agency is interested in hosting our SNAP outreach team, please call or email Erica Hanson, Director of Agency Services at 942-6325 ext. 242 or email ehanson@rifoodbank.org.
Food Bank’s SNAP Outreach Team On the Move
For the past two years our SNAP Outreach workers, Jamie St. Laurent and Cindy Llamas, worked directly in the communities of Woonsocket and Newport helping the clients of Food Bank programs apply for SNAP benefits. This year we have a new member of the team, Marie Cayard. Marie and Jamie are working as a team at Member Agency food pantries throughout the state.
Pictured with Jamie and Marie are food pantry volunteers at St. Robert’s Food Closet in Johnston. St. Robert’s joined the Food Bank as a Member Agency nearly two years ago, and since coming aboard they have converted to client’s choice. This enabled them to greatly expand their program and service to clients. They also have been an outreach site for Marie and Jamie, who help clients understand and access the program and are available to answer questions about SNAP.
If your Member Agency is interested in learning more about SNAP Outreach at the Food Bank, please call Erica Hanson, Director of Agency Services, at 942-6325 ext. 242.
Community Food News
Community Food News is a newsletter for member agencies of the Rhode Island Community Food Bank. Stay current on issues that impact your work and about how the Food Bank is making improvements to help your efforts.
In our latest issue (PDF, 711KB) you'll read about: 1) the Annual Agency Conference on "Cultural Awareness and Agency Succession Planning," 2) how to become a SNAP Outreach site, 3) the Food Bank's 30th Anniversary, and more!
Read past issues of Community Food News:
Spring 2012 (PDF 646KB)
Winter 2012 (PDF 775KB)
Summer 2011 (PDF 240KB)
Spring 2011 (PDF, 304KB)