Food Bank Increases Goal of Summer Food Drive

Help Your Neighbors in Need by Making a Donation Today!

Summer Hunger

Most of us think of the summer as a time for vacations and barbeques. But for many local families, it's a time of increasing need. During the school year, more than 50,000 low-income school children in Rhode Island receive lunches through the National School Lunch Program. Over the summer, children are out of school and no longer have access to the programs that help so many. This places added strain on the already limited household budgets of thousands of families.

With many students not returning to school until after Labor Day, the struggle of low-income families to provide food is extended. In order to alleviate the pressure on already-strained budgets, the Food Bank has increased the goal of this year's campaign to 200,000 pounds, aiming to collect an additional 25,000 pounds of food before the month is over.

The Rising Need for Food Assistance

Over the past two years, coinciding with Rhode Island's struggling economy and record unemployment, the need for food assistance has soared. Currently, the Food Bank’s network of food pantries is serving an average of 56,000 people each month  – an increase of 50% over the same time period just two short years ago. As more and more Rhode Islanders turn for help putting food on the table, the Food Bank is stressed to keep up with the rising demand.

By coordinating the Summer Food Drive, and increasing the goal of the campaign to collect a total of 200,000 pounds of food, the Food Bank is working to ensure that no one goes hungry.

Get Involved and Help Make a Difference

To help the hungry, Ocean State Job Lot has partnered with the Food Bank to sponsor this year's Summer Food Drive. For every dollar donated, the Food Bank can distribute enough food to provide 3 nutritious meals. You can join the Summer Food Drive by donating through the secure link at the top of this page or by organizing a food drive in your workplace or neighborhood.

This summer's most needed food items include peanut butter, jelly or jam, canned tuna fish, soups & stews, rice, canned chili, canned fruits & vegetables, pasta, tomato sauce, macaroni & cheese and cereal.

Donations may be brought to the Food Bank at 200 Niantic Avenue, Providence, Monday–Friday: 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Also, see below for additional drop-off locations.

The Food Bank can provide posters and boxes to support your collection efforts. The Summer Food Drive poster is available for download here.  For more information, please contact Farris Maxwell at (401) 942-6325 or via email.

Community Drop-Off Locations

Throughout the 2010 Summer Food Drive, all BankRI locations will serve as drop-off sites for food donations. To find the BankRI branch closest to you, please click here.