Food Bank News for Member Agencies
Food Banks Hosts Summer Food Service Program 
Information Session
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
February is Canned Food Month!
Coming soon in our Agency Resource Room
Stay tuned for updates about nutrition resources and demos throughout the month of February.
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.
Workshop Focuses on Helping Family During Vacation
January workshop featured panel of six member agencies
The Food Bank hosted its first “Food Assistance Programs Are Helping Families During School Vacation Months” workshop on
Tuesday, Jan. 24. The workshop was facilitated by Agency Services Coordinator Kristen Allen.
Agencies representatives learned how they can help their program’s participating families feed their children better and how some of our innovative Member Agencies are helping families fill the food gap during school vacations. The workshop featured an experienced panel of six Member Agencies who shared their unique program ideas.
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.
Seeking New Agency Advisory Committee Members
The Food Bank’s Agency Services department coordinates an Agency Advisory Committee comprised of about a dozen Member Agency food assistance program leaders as well as members of the Food Bank’s Board of Directors.
Agency Advisory Committee (AAC) is a place where Member Agency representatives can share information and best practices, get help with solving some problems and celebrate successes with folks who understand what it takes!
AAC meetings are typically held monthly on Thursdays from 3:30pm – 5:00pm and are open to all Member Agencies. The group meets 9 times a year and helps at the Annual Meeting in October and the Annual Conference in the Spring.
To learn more about the Agency Advisory Committee, please email us at aac@rifoodbank.org.
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) Kids Count "Data in Your Backyard" 2) pest prevention in the colder weather 3) Sesame Street's newest puppet, Lily, and more!
Read past issues of Community Food News:
Winter 2012 (PDF 775KB)
Summer 2011 (PDF 240KB)
Spring 2011 (PDF, 304KB)
Winter 2011 (PDF, 220KB)