Scouting for Food 2014
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Scouts Ask Community to Give Generously to 27th Annual Scouting for Food Drive
Food Will be Collected This Saturday, Nov. 1 – Beginning at 9am
Thousands of Scouts from across the region dropped off door hangers this past weekend asking their communities to donate nutritious, non-perishable food items to this year’s Scouting for Food drive. Scouts will be collecting donations this Saturday, Nov. 1 beginning at 9 a.m. and ask that all food items be placed in a bag and left in an accessible area for pickup. Donations will be sent to the Rhode Island Community Food Bank to help provide valuable nourishment to families in need.
“We are looking forward to another successful drive,” said John Mosby, Narragansett Council Scout Executive. “This event plays a fundamental role in the Council’s commitment to the community.”
Since the first Scouting for Food drive in 1988, Scouts from the Narragansett Council have collected more than 8.5 million pounds of food for Rhode Island and its surrounding communities. Last year alone, more than 231,000 pounds of food were collected and delivered to the Rhode Island Community Food Bank and other local food pantries.
“We encourage the community to remember those in need and to give generously so we can reach record numbers for this year’s food drive,” added Mosby.
Each month, the Rhode Island Community Food Bank feeds more than 63,000 people per month. According to the USDA, nearly 15.4 percent of Rhode Island households are lacking food and 5.5 percent are at risk of going hungry.
Scouts from over 200 different Packs and Troops delivered door hangers on Saturday, Oct. 25 to neighborhoods throughout Rhode Island. This Saturday, Nov. 1, Scouts will return to collect donations, starting at 9 a.m. Scouts encourage donors to fill bags with the Food Bank’s most needed items:
- Canned Soup, Tuna, Canned Meats, Peanut Butter, Nuts
- Canned Fruits & Vegetables, Dried Fruit, Tomato Sauce
- Nutritious Breakfast Cereals, Whole Wheat Pasta, Rice
- Granola Bars and other healthy snacks
- Canned or Dried Beans
“The Rhode Island Community Food Bank values its long-term partnership with the Scouts. Each year, we know we can count of their hard work and dedication to help local families at risk of hunger,” said Andrew Schiff, Chief Executive Officer of the Rhode Island Community Food Bank. “This event is a great example of working together as a community to help our friends and neighbors who are struggling get by on extremely low incomes.”
Scouting for Food is the largest food drive in New England. It is a cooperative effort supported by the Narragansett Council of the Boy Scouts of America, the Rhode Island Community Food Bank, WPRI Channel 12, FOX Providence, the Rhode Island Army National Guard, The Valley Breeze and several area fire stations.
If the Boy Scouts are not able to cover your neighborhood, please visit www.rifoodbank.org/getfood to find a food pantry near you, or drop your donation off at the Food Bank, 200 Niantic Avenue, Providence any weekday between 8 am and 5 pm.
Pawtucket Wintertime Farmers Market Celebrates November Opening
New England’s Largest Winter Farmers Market Announces 2014-2015 Season
On Saturday, November 1st, Farm Fresh Rhode Island celebrates the opening of the 8th season of the Pawtucket Wintertime Farmers Market. The market, which hosts over 70 vendors and occupies 16,000 square feet throughout the Hope Artiste Village, is the largest wintertime farmers market in New England. The market is open every Saturday from November 1st through May 9th, 2015.
The Pawtucket Wintertime Farmers Market expanded in 2013 to host more farmers, food artisans and prepared food vendors in both of the spacious main corridors and courtyard of the renovated Hope Webbing Company building. The expansion provided a more comfortable customer experience while still offering high-quality, locally-grown and sourced products in a festive, family-friendly atmosphere. 2014 promises to build on Farm Fresh Rhode Island’s track record for success!
“Farm Fresh opened a winter market in 2007 with seven vendors in Downtown Providence at AS220,” said Farm Fresh Co-Executive Director Sheri Griffin. “Since then, increased support of farmers and local food in Rhode Island has resulted in more demand for local produce year-round.” Farmers that participate in the Pawtucket Wintertime Farmers Market have been able to meet this demand through incremental expansion of their businesses and by utilizing growing and storage techniques for cold-weather climates.
As you stroll through the historic halls of the Hope Artiste Village each Saturday this winter, you can enjoy a diverse medley of local farms and vendors, listen to live music, sample fresh produce and enjoy lunch on the spot from prepared food vendors or some of Rhode Island’s favorite food trucks – located outside in the central courtyard of the building.
Wintertime market-goers can expect a variety of locally grown fruits and vegetables including: apples, beets, cabbage, carrots, onions, cranberries, mushrooms, greens, potatoes, radishes, winter squash, and more. Vendors will also be offering: locally-raised eggs, pork, chicken, beef, fish, charcuterie and shellfish; locally-produced applesauce, tomato sauce, jams, jellies, pickles and cheese; granola, bread, cupcakes, crepes, pies & baked treats and dog biscuits.
The Pawtucket Wintertime Farmers Market is now easier to get to than ever before. The Rhode Island Public Transportation Authority’s (RIPTA) new R-Line bus route drops shoppers off right at the front door of the farmers market. For information on the R-Line’s stops and schedules, visit www.ripta.com/r-line-. For customers driving or biking to the market, it is located at both 999 and 1005 Main Street in Pawtucket. Parking lots are located around the perimeter of the building as well as street parking in the surrounding neighborhood. Bike racks are located in the central courtyard.
Earn a Culinary Arts or Baking & Pastry Arts Degree on the Weekend at Johnson & Wales University
Program Review and Tour, Sunday, Nov. 2, 1 P.M.-3 P.M.
Obtaining a college degree doesn’t always require leaving home, dealing with a roommate, or taking online courses from a school on the other side of the country. Johnson & Wales University (JWU) offers its world-class Culinary Arts and Baking & Pastry Arts degree programs on weekends right in Providence, R.I. and will hold a Program Review and Tour on Sun., Nov. 2, 2014 from 1 p.m.-3 p.m. Classes are set to start on Dec. 2.
The programs are designed for the person seeking to add a degree, change careers, or follow a passion. JWU’s weekend programs are as comprehensive as its signature quality education taught by its industry-experienced faculty. However, these programs are offered only on weekends with classes on Saturday through Sunday. Degree programs offered include associate degrees in Culinary Arts or Baking & Pastry Arts. Bachelor degree programs include Culinary Arts and Food Service Management or Baking & Pastry Arts and Food Service Management.
The Program Review and Tour will be held at JWU’s Grace Welcome Center on the Harborside Campus, 120 Harborside Boulevard, Providence, R.I. Seating is limited and an R.S.V.P is required. Call 401-598-2342 or 401-598-2374 to reserve a seat. The event includes a tour of JWU’s state-of-the-art culinary labs, equipment, and facilities with a view of current weekend students and chef instructors at work. University admissions representatives will be available to answer questions about financial aid, tuition, class schedules, and how to enroll. Refreshments will be served.
Founded in 1914, Johnson & Wales University is a private, nonprofit, accredited institution with more than 16,000 graduate, undergraduate and online students at its four campuses in Providence, R.I.; North Miami, Fla.; Denver, Colo.; and Charlotte, N.C. An innovative educational leader, the university offers degree programs in arts and sciences, business, culinary arts, education, nutrition, hospitality, physician assistant studies, engineering and design. Its unique model integrates arts and sciences and industry-focused education with work experience and leadership opportunities, inspiring students to achieve professional success and lifelong personal growth. The university’s impact is global, with alumni from 119 countries pursuing careers worldwide. For more information, visit www.jwu.edu.
