Nearly one of every three persons served by emergency food programs is a child under the age of 18. Seventy-six percent of those served by emergency food programs have income at or below the federal poverty level.
Additionally, many recipients of emergency food suffer from economic hardships. Of our client households:
- 41% report that they have such limited income that they must choose between paying for food and paying their rent
- 20% report that an adult in the household has been laid off in the past year and remains unemployed.
The Food Bank feeds an average of 60,000 Rhode Islanders each month through a statewide network of emergency food pantries.
The Food Bank provides food to local agencies across the state. Individuals needing food assistance visit meal sites, food pantries and shelters.
During the Food Bank’s last fiscal year (July 1, 2010 through June 30, 2011), the Food Bank distributed a total of 9.4 million pounds of food.
The Food Bank occupies a 75,000 square foot facility. Its warehouse is just over 35,000 square feet and can hold two million pounds of food at one time.
The Rhode Island Community Food Bank distributes quality, nutritious foods to individuals facing hunger. Some of the Food Bank’s regular items include canned vegetables, protein, canned fruit, grains, beverages and cereal. The Food Bank also distributes fresh produce, bread and dairy products.
The Rhode Island Community Food Bank receives food from a variety of different sources in a number of ways:
- Local retailers, distributors and manufacturers donate unsellable product
- Community food drives such as the annual Boy Scout and Letter Carrier drives contribute assorted non-perishable food
- National companies such as ConAgra, Kraft and Nabisco, as well as national farmers and growers, donate food and fresh produce through Feeding America – the Nation’s Food Bank Network
- Wholesale food purchasing
The Food Bank efficiently utilizes $.89 of every dollar donated to distribute food and operate other hunger-alleviating programs. Only $.11 of each donated dollar is designated for administrative and fundraising expenses.
The Food Bank is 94% privately funded and 6% government funded.
The Rhode Island Community Food Bank is a privately funded, non-profit charitable organization that relies upon public support and donations to operate and fulfill its mission of providing quality food to people facing hunger.
The Food Bank is staffed with approximately 45 full- and/or part-time employees who are supported by hundreds of volunteers each year.