History

On a national level, the concept of food banking was born in the late 1960s when retired businessman, John van Hengel learned that grocery stores discarded food that was either nearing expiration or cast-off due to small imperfections in the packaging.  Van Hengel persuaded store managers to donate these products to a community soup kitchen.   

Locally, history began for the Rhode Island Community Food Bank in 1982 when a group of community organizers joined together to help offer food assistance to other Rhode Islanders in need, while lowering food waste.  During that first year, the Food Bank distributed 350,000 pounds of food out of a rented warehouse on Allens Avenue in Providence. 

During 1988, a capital campaign was conducted which raised $1.2 million to finance a 33,000 square foot warehouse in West Warwick.  The Food Bank maintained this facility for fifteen years, reaching a distribution capacity of about 6.5 million pounds of food.

In November of 2003, the Food Bank completed an $8.2 million capital campaign and relocated from West Warwick to its current site at 200 Niantic Avenue in Providence.  Currently, the Food Bank has an annual distribution of more than eight million pounds.

The effort which began with a group of individuals offering loaves of bread to those in need has since evolved into a program that is a central part of the state's hunger safety net, distributing nine million pounds of grocery product each year. 

For a detailed timeline of 25 Years of Neighbors Helping Neighbors please click here.