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News Bites: Chair 2 Launches Two New Flavors / New CCRI Environmental Degree Program / Granny Squibb’s Newest Flavor / Hope’s Harvest Joins Farm Fresh RI / Foolproof Brewing Company Joins Mission Beverage

by David Dadekian July 29, 2022
written by David Dadekian

Current news releases—Eat Drink RI is not the source for these items—please follow any links for more information.


Chair 2 Light Beer Launches 2 New Light Flavors

Chair 2 Light Wheat and Light IPA – New 99 Calorie Offerings from Sons of Liberty

Chair 2 Light Beers
Chair 2 Light Beers

Chair 2 Light Beer, a brand by Rhode Island’s Sons of Liberty Beer & Spirits Co., is making waves with its two latest offerings – Chair 2 Light IPA and Chair 2 Light Wheat. The entire Chair 2 Light Beer line, including the light lager, is 4.3% abv, 99 calories per can, and available throughout Rhode Island.

The light IPA (55 IBUS) offers a bouquet of hop aromas followed by a bright and balanced flavor profile that gives IPA lovers what they’re looking for without weighing them down. The light wheat is brewed with orange peel to deliver a refreshing hit of citrus, but is careful not to be a fruit bomb, relying more on the beer itself to do the heavy lifting. 

“We’re very excited to see these two new flavors in everyone’s coolers,” said Bryan Ricard, Chair 2’s Brand Manager. “They definitely fall in line with our simple vision of ‘light beer that tastes like beer’.”

Chair 2 Light Lager, the flagship beer, was named USA’s Best Light Lager at the World Beer Awards in 2021, shortly after its launch. “We’ve taken the same approach with the new flavors as we did with the lager. That’s to make clean, crushable, high-quality beers that aren’t over the top, just easy-drinking,” explained Wil Santiago, Chair 2’s Beerologist. Rhode Islanders are catching on production of Chair 2 has increased to meet demand.

All 3 beers are brewed and packaged at Isle Brewers Guild (IBG) in Pawtucket, RI. “It was important for us to keep this in Rhode Island,” President and Founder, Mike Reppucci, explained, “and Isle has been an excellent partner.” IBG works with many well-established brands such as Narragansett and Night Shift. To follow the latest on and find retailers for Chair 2 Light Beer, visit chair2.com. Or follow on Facebook at Facebook.com/chair2beer and Instagram at @chair2beer.


New Associate degree program at CCRI in “Environment, Sustainability, and Management”

Innovative collaboration with Rhode Island Nursery & Landscape Association and Rhode Island Food Policy Council provides a clear path toward careers in RI’s growing land and sea industries

Environment, Sustainability and Management Associate Degree at CCRI, photo credit: RINLA
Environment, Sustainability and Management Associate Degree at CCRI, photo credit: RINLA

Rhode Island needs a workforce that can meet the current and future needs of the state’s flourishing land and sea businesses, which compose a sector that is quickly rising to the top of the state’s strongest economic drivers. 

A new associate degree in Environment, Sustainability, and Management created by the Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) is a first-of-its-kind program that will prepare students for careers in these industries – including the landscape, farm and food sectors – and arm them with the perspective they need to meet social, economic, and ecological challenges of the world and of business today.

The development of this associate degree program was supported by a grant from the Agriculture Workforce Development Program of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

“This new degree program is a perfect example of industry and policy leaders collaborating with higher education to design and implement an academic and career pathway that responds to labor market demands,” said Meghan Hughes, president of CCRI. “The green economy continues to show tremendous growth in Rhode Island, and CCRI, along with our partners at URI, RINLA, and RIFPC, is committed to providing high-quality, rigorous academic and experiential learning opportunities that will prepare Rhode Islanders for great careers right here in the Ocean State.”

This interdisciplinary program blends science and business; provides work-based learning opportunities for credit; includes courses in Business, Biology, Entrepreneurship, Oceanography, Geology, Economics, Chemistry, and Communications; and positions graduates to chart successful career paths and have important impacts on the social and environmental profiles of the companies for which they work. Graduates will have immediate career opportunities, and can also transfer seamlessly as juniors to the University of Rhode Island’s bachelor’s degree programs in Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems, Plant Sciences, and other programs in the College of the Environment and Life Sciences (CELS). 

“The new Environment, Sustainability, and Management degree will educate the next generation of professionals charged with stewarding, protecting, and responding to a changing environment and for producing food for our community,” said Rosemary A. Costigan, vice president for academic affairs at CCRI.  “In response to industry need, a number of our college’s faculty created new curricula based in science and business such as Biology of Trees and Shrubs, Food from the Sea, and the Human Environmental Impacts and Ethical Business Practices capstone course.”

The Rhode Island Nursery & Landscape Association (RINLA) and the Rhode Island Food Policy Council (RIFPC) collaborated closely with CCRI and advisors from URI to inform the development of this exciting program of study at the intersection of environmental, social, and economic sustainability; agriculture, food, and ecological systems; business ethics; entrepreneurial thinking and processes; land and resource management methods; and impacts of climate change on ecologies, businesses, and industries. 

Shannon Brawley, Executive Director of RINLA and Nessa Richman, Network Director of the RIFPC jointly stated, “This exciting new, interdisciplinary degree program will support the public, private, and nonprofit employers we serve by preparing people to enter these industries by ensuring they have relevant classroom experiences and work-based learning opportunities.” 

Fall classes start August 31, 2022. Enrollment is now open. All Rhode Islanders who want the knowledge, skills, perspective and experiences to impact the social, economic, and ecological challenges of today’s world are encouraged to register. Additional information can be found on CCRI’s website: ccri.edu/pathways/paths/environment


Granny Squibb’s Announces New Organic Iced Tea Flavor, Partnership, and Expansion in Massachusetts Just in Time for National Iced Tea Month

Granny Squibb’s is releasing Porter’s Peach with a portion of the proceeds going Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Jimmy Fund

Granny Squibb's Organic Iced Tea

Today, Granny Squibb’s Organic Iced Tea announced the release of its newest flavor, Porter’s Peach. Further solidifying their commitment to growth in New England with a portion of sales going to their newest philanthropic partner the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Jimmy Fund, and expansion into Roche Bros. 

“Porter’s Peach is the first new flavor we’ve brought to market since before the pandemic. It was created from a beautiful story, which continues our passion for storytelling and philanthropy,” said Kelley McShane, Partner and Owner of Granny Squibb’s. 

Porter’s Peach was the brainchild of a family friend, a twelve-year-old, named Porter from Aquidneck Island, R.I. In Spring 2020, in an effort to boost morale Porter sent a drawing of his idea for the “best Granny Squibb’s flavor, Porter’s Peach.” During the same year, Porter and his family faced multiple losses to cancer triggering Porter to raise $10,000 for cancer research and paving the way for Granny Squibb’s to work with Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Jimmy Fund to help continue Porter’s mission. 

“The story of Porter’s Peach and the generosity of Granny Squibb’s company touches us as an organization,” said Alexa Woodward, VP of Corporate Partnerships at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute. “We know that we impact the lives of so many people right here in New England and beyond. It’s through the work of our supporters that we’re able to continue our mission of treating cancer and continuing to research and develop the latest in new treatments.”

Granny Squibb deeply believes in being part of the community, supporting the people around them. Having supported the Jimmy Fund for more than three years, the addition of Porter’s Peach provides the financial avenue to grow their philanthropy in Massachusetts and deepen partnerships as they grow into greater New England. 

The announcement of Porter’s Peach and the Dana Farber Cancer Institute couldn’t be timelier as Granny Squibb’s expands into all twenty Roche Bros stores in Massachusetts. Now consumers can easily purchase Granny Squibb’s products and know they are supporting local causes.

“At Roche Bros we are committed to providing our shoppers with an array of local and organic products to choose from making the addition of Granny Squibb’s a perfect fit. We are happy to be expanding our partnership with a company that also focuses on providing the best customer experience,” said Tristen Kendall-Barros, Vice President of Marketing for Roche Bros. 


Hope’s Harvest Joins Farm Fresh RI to Provide Hunger Relief Programming

Farm Fresh Rhode Island and Hope’s Harvest are proud to announce that as of June 2022, Hope’s Harvest is officially the home for all hunger relief programming at Farm Fresh RI. 

Hunger in Rhode Island is a significant problem that has only increased in severity and scope in recent years. At the same time, local food producers in the state have seen increased demand, but also volatility in markets and challenges due to erratic weather patterns, shifts in purchasing at a national scale, and other national and global forces. 

Farm Fresh RI, a nonprofit that’s been working to strengthen the local food system since 2004,  has been a champion for local farmers/producers and an infrastructural driver of a re-localizing food system over the past 18 years. Hope’s Harvest, a relative newcomer, has filled an important niche in the RI food system by connecting farmers to hunger relief agencies, promoting food security and non-traditional market access to the emergency food system. 

Hope’s Harvest has been an independent but fiscally sponsored program of Farm Fresh RI since 2018. This sponsorship enabled Hope’s Harvest to accept donations and grants under the Farm Fresh 501c3 nonprofit status. Farm Fresh mentored growth at Hope’s Harvest and provided infrastructure support, like trucks and cold storage, as well as a place to call home when the Hope’s Harvest team parked their trucks and came in from the field. 

“As our program grew, it became apparent that combining Hope’s Harvest and Farm Fresh models and infrastructure would best leverage our assets and public/private partnerships,” explains Hope’s Harvest Founder and Director Eva Agudelo. “Together we can create targeted solutions for both food insecurity and increasingly volatile markets for farmers. We’re excited about all of the collaborations to come — delivering the highest quality of locally grown food to hunger relief agencies and alleviating food insecurity in Rhode Island.”

What does this change mean for Hope’s Harvest? 
By joining Farm Fresh RI’s infrastructure, Hope’s Harvest is building capacity to deliver local gleaned produce to an additional 20 hunger relief agencies via Farm Fresh’s existing Market Mobile local food ordering service. The Hope’s Harvest team will also be administering the Senior Farmer Market Nutrition program and the Local Food Purchasing Assistance program in partnership with the RI Department of Environmental Management.

What does it mean for Hope’s Harvest gleaning volunteers? 
Out in the fields, the Hope’s Harvest team still aims to glean as much food this year as ever! They plan to harvest with even more local farms, and encourage the community to join them out in the fields this season. Learn more about opportunities to volunteer with Hope’s Harvest: www.farmfreshri.org/hopesharvest.

At a Glance: Hope’s Harvest for Hunger Relief at Farm Fresh RI
The Hope’s Harvest program at Farm Fresh RI will include: 

GLEANING 
— Recruiting and mobilizing volunteers to recover surplus food from farms for donation to hunger relief agencies.

DIRECT PURCHASING FOR HUNGER RELIEF
— Surplus Purchasing: Direct purchasing of surplus farm produce for distribution to hunger relief agencies and community partners.

— Contracts for Hunger Relief: Negotiating and administering contracts with growers to ensure a steady supply of fresh, nutritious produce for the emergency food system at competitive wholesale rates.

— Farm to Pantry via Market Mobile: A streamlined system and subsidized purchasing for community partners to order locally grown products for their guests. 

SENIOR FARMERS MARKET NUTRITION PROGRAM 
— Source and pack locally grown produce to meet the needs of older adults throughout RI in partnership with the RI Department of Environmental Management.

ADVOCACY AND PARTNERSHIPS 
— Working with strategic partners in the nonprofit and government sectors to ensure ongoing support for these initiatives as a commitment to supporting public infrastructure for healthy food access.


Foolproof Brewing Company is Now Distributed by Mission Beverage

As of June 2022 Foolproof Brewing Company is now being distributed in Rhode Island by new distributors in the business, Mission Beverage. Mission beverage was started by Kyle Michaud and Nate Costa. After meeting during a fire department fundraising event, Kyle and Nate bonded over their passion for craft beer and began brainstorming ways to collaborate together in the beer industry. Thus began their mission toward starting a distribution company. Mission Beverage officially moved their first case of beer in February 2022. Mission looks to bring the same tenacity to the brands they wish to distribute as they did when starting their business. “We take pride in our partnerships to help grow the brands to get from one level to the next level up,” says Nate Costa.

Foolproof Brewing Company signed with Mission Beverage as their new distributors in Rhode Island in June 2022. Along with this agreement, Mission will also be distributing Foolproof’s sister brands under the Brewery Collective. This includes Shebeen Brewing Company, originally started in Connecticut and moved production to Rhode Island in February. Soon to follow will be the Brewery Collective’s newest Connecticut brand, Velvet Libations, which just opened on St. Patrick’s Day of this year. “We’re focused on distributing in Rhode Island right now and bringing in brands that aren’t in Rhode Island yet.”, says Kyle Michaud, and Velvet Libations will be no exception.

Want to see Foolproof or Shebeen Brewing Company products near you? Contact Mission Beverage and support Rhode Island locally. Email: info@missionbev.co To learn more about the Brewery Collective, visit www.brewerycollective.com. To learn more about Mission Beverage visit www.missionbev.co.

July 29, 2022 0 comment
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News Bites: RI Food Bank 2016 Status Report on Hunger / Farm Fresh RI Matching Donation Challenge / Winter Farmers’ Markets

by David Dadekian November 22, 2016
written by David Dadekian

Current news releases—Eat Drink RI is not the source for these items—please follow any links for more information.

RI Community Food Bank 2016 Status Report on Hunger

Rhode Island Community Food Bank

Low-Income Families are Missing Meals

There is a significant meal gap in Rhode Island today. Low-income families miss out on meals because they cannot afford adequate food. Entire communities remain distressed and are not benefiting from the state’s economic recovery. More should be done to protect low-income families from hunger and bring economic growth to the communities where they live.

Download the Status Report on Hunger in Rhode Island.

MAJOR FINDINGS

  • Over 33 million meals are missed each year by Rhode Islanders at the bottom of the income scale.
  • Government nutrition programs are now the primary source of meals for low-income households.
  • More than one-fifth of the state’s population lives in communities that suffer from extreme economic hardship.
  • Demand for food assistance remains high with 59,000 people served by the Rhode Island Community Food Bank each month.

Thirty-Three Million Missing Meals

The graph shows the different sources of meals for low-income households in Rhode Island. Of the total 217 million meals needed annually, 15 percent – 33.2 million – are missing. SNAP, WIC and School Meals account for more than half of the meals provided.

Read the entire 2016 Status Report on Hunger in Rhode Island.

Action Steps

  • Urge Congress to increase SNAP benefit levels to keep up with the real cost of food.
  • Offer free school breakfast and lunch to all students in high-poverty areas.
  • Prioritize distressed communities in Rhode Island for economic development to improve the lives of low-income residents.
  • Allocate additional state funding to keep the Food Bank stocked to meet the continued high demand for food assistance.

For previous versions of the Status Report on Hunger, visit our Publications page.


Farm Fresh RI Challenged by Newman’s Own Foundation for #GivingTuesday

Farm Fresh Rhode IslandFarm Fresh Rhode Island has been selected to participate in the Newman’s Own Foundation Challenge for #GivingTuesday, a global day of giving that harnesses the collective power of individuals, communities, and organizations to encourage philanthropy and celebrate generosity worldwide.

As part of the Newman’s Own Foundation Challenge, Farm Fresh Rhode Island can earn up to $10,000 in matching funds for donations made (through www.crowdrise.com/FarmFreshRI-GivingTuesday) between November 22 and November 29.

Farm Fresh RI is dedicated to growing a local food system that values the environment, health and quality of life of Rhode Island farmers and eaters. Part incubator, part activator, Farm Fresh’s mission is to preserve Rhode Island farmland, build healthier communities, strengthen local community-based businesses, increase access to fresh food for all, and improve the impact of food production and distribution on the environment. Funds raised in the Challenge will be used to support a wide array of access, education, and distribution programs—such as operating farmers markets year-round; incentivizing and subsidizing EBT/SNAP use at those markets; facilitating buying relationships between RI producers, businesses, and institutions; providing food-industry job training and employment to youth from DCYF’s Juvenile Justice Corrections Services; getting more locally grown, fresh foods into more RI school, hospital, and senior residence cafeterias; and empowering low-income families with tools to shop for and cook fresh foods.

“We love the strong connections Rhode Islanders have to their growers and fishermen. But there is still a long ways for us to go,” says Sheri Griffin, Co-Executive Directory of Farm Fresh RI. “We estimate that just 1% of the food consumed in Rhode Island is locally grown or caught. That is 99% opportunity! Grocery store shelves, cafeterias, schools, senior meal sites — there are so many ways to tie in local food better. We have to ask for these changes to make them happen. They will not happen on their own, but they are so worthwhile, and taste good to boot!”

Occurring this year on November 29, #GivingTuesday is held annually on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday to kick off the holiday giving season. The day is designed to inspire people to collaborate in improving their local communities and to give back in impactful ways to the charities and causes they support.

The Challenge is hosted on CrowdRise, a crowdfundraising platform for nonprofits. A total of 20 organizations were selected to participate by Newman’s Own Foundation, the independent foundation created by the late actor and philanthropist, Paul Newman.

Those who are interested in helping Farm Fresh Rhode Island reach its Challenge goal can do so by visiting: www.crowdrise.com/FarmFreshRI-GivingTuesday.


Winter Farmers’ Markets Offer Perfect Local Fare for Holiday Feasts

Just in time for the holidays, the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) today announced that as part of its “Get Fresh. Buy Local” campaign, winter farmers’ markets will be open across the state this weekend. The markets will feature an array of local products – from seafood to meats, produce, and prepared foods and gifts.

“The winter markets are great places to purchase fresh, delicious local food while supporting Rhode Island businesses,” said DEM Director Janet Coit.  “I can think of no better way to dress the Thanksgiving table than with Rhode Island-grown turkey, locally harvested fish, or farm-fresh potatoes, apples, cider or winter squash.  I hope everyone will join me this weekend in visiting a local market to get fresh, and buy local!”

Markets, locations and operating times are as follows:

Farm Fresh RI Wintertime Farmers’ Market, Pawtucket
Hope Artiste Village, 1005 & 999 Main Street
Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. through April 29

Mount Hope Farm, Bristol
250 Metacom Avenue
Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. year-round

Aquidneck Growers Market, Middletown
Newport Vineyards, 909 East Main Road
Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. year-round

Coastal Growers Winter Farmers’ Market, North Kingstown
Lafayette Mill Complex, 650 Ten Rod Road
Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. through April 29

South Kingstown Indoor Winter Farmers’ Market, Peace Dale
Peacedale Mill Complex, 1425 Kingstown Road
Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. through April 29

Schoolyard Market, Warren
Hope & Main Food Incubator, 691 Main Street
Select Sundays (December 18, January 15, February 19, March 19, & May 21) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Farm Fresh RI Woonsocket Farmers’ Market, Woonsocket
Thundermist Health Center, 450 Clinton Street
Tuesdays from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. year-round

DEM’s Get Fresh. Buy Local campaign supports efforts to increase local awareness and consumption of Rhode Island-sourced products and to build a sustainable food system in the state.  Rhode Island’s food sector is experiencing significant growth, and efforts are underway to develop the state’s first statewide food strategy.  Winter farmers’ markets play an important role in supporting a strong food system by increasing Rhode Islanders’ access to affordable, local products and providing a marketplace for local farmers during the off-season.  Rhode Island’s food system supports 60,000 jobs, and it is one of few states where the number of farms is on the rise, now standing at more than 1,200 farms. The state also leads the nation in the percent of farms selling directly to the public.

For more information on DEM programs and initiatives, visit www.dem.ri.gov. Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RhodeIslandDEM or on Twitter (@RhodeIslandDEM) for timely updates.

November 22, 2016 0 comment
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Rhode Island Community Food Bank Releases 2015 Status Report on Hunger in RI

by David Dadekian November 23, 2015
written by David Dadekian

Rhode Island Community Food Bank

The Rhode Island Community Food Bank has released their latest Status Report on Hunger in RI today. It shows that 54,000 Rhode Island households—that’s 1 in 8 households in the state—still do not have the resources to purchase adequate food. The number of Rhode Islanders served by the Food Bank and it’s member agencies has nearly doubled since 2007, and there are 174,000 Rhode Islanders enrolled in SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) which is double the number from before the recession.

“Hunger has severe consequences for children and seniors. Poor nutrition leads to poor health and undermines the investment that Rhode Island has made in improving healthcare. Fortunately, we know how to solve the problem of hunger. We can begin by making better use of programs that protect children and seniors from hunger,” said Andrew Schiff, CEO of the RI Community Food Bank.

While the number of food insecure in our state is down from the previous 3-year period of 2009-2011, it is still painfully clear that 12.7% of Rhode Islanders are unable to meet their basic food needs. This includes children and the elderly for which hunger can be life-threatening. As the Food Bank’s 2015 Status Report shows:

Hunger is a problem that we can solve. By fully implementing effective nutrition programs and reaching those most in need, we can ensure that no one in Rhode Island goes hungry. To accomplish this goal, we need Rhode Islanders to join us in calling for the following policy changes:

  • Advocate for Congress to reauthorize the child nutrition programs that provide healthy, nutritious food to low-income children and families.
  • Increase SNAP benefit levels to keep up with the rising cost of food.
  • Allocate additional state funding for the Food Bank to meet the continued high demand for food assistance.
  • Raise the state’s Earned Income Tax Credit to boost the incomes of working families.
  • Offer free school breakfast and lunch to all students in high-poverty communities.

You can download and read the entire 2015 Status Report on Hunger in Rhode Island. For more information on the needs and resources in Rhode Island and in each of it’s 39 cities and towns, the Rhode Island Food Policy Council has assembled Rhode Island Food System 2015 Snapshots which includes information on SNAP and WIC participants, food pantries and more.

November 23, 2015 0 comment
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Rhode Island Community Food Bank Releases 2014 Status Report on Hunger

by David Dadekian November 25, 2014
written by David Dadekian

Click the RI Community Food Bank logo to read the full 2014 Status Report on Hunger

Click the RI Community Food Bank logo to read the full 2014 Status Report on Hunger

Food Bank Releases 2014 Status Report on Hunger:

Thousands of Families Left Behind in Recovery

The Rhode Island Community Food Bank released its 2014 Status Report on Hunger today, which finds that one in seven Rhode Island households cannot afford adequate food. Hunger continues at levels virtually unchanged from the all-time high experienced during the recession. The rate of food insecurity in Rhode Island is now 14.4 percent, down from 14.7 percent.

“The economic recovery taking place in Rhode Island has not reached thousands of low-income families who rely on food programs to avoid hunger,” says Andrew Schiff, Chief Executive Officer of the Rhode Island Community Food Bank. “A large portion of our population still doesn’t have reliable access to affordable, healthy food to feed their families. Poor nutrition continues to impair the health of our children and elderly.”

Families Make Difficult Choices
The recent Hunger in America study by Feeding America, the national network of food banks, found that most people receiving food assistance from the Rhode Island Community Food Bank’s network of agencies are living at or below the federal poverty level of $19,500 for a family of three. “This forces unthinkable trade-offs between food and other essentials of life,” said Schiff.

Over the course of a year:

  • 70 percent had to choose between paying for utilities or buying food.
  • 68 percent had to choose between paying for medicine or buying food.
  • 67 percent had to choose between paying for transportation or buying food.
  • 62 percent had to choose between paying for housing or buying food.

The Rhode Island Community Food Bank now serves 63,000 people every month through its statewide network of food pantries. In 2007, the same number of agencies served 33,000 people per month. One in three served is a child under the age of 18, and one in five is a senior 60 years of age or older. The Hunger in America study found that 22 percent of those served at the Food Bank’s member agencies have a family member in poor health.

In addition to providing nutritious food for distribution to hungry families, the Food Bank also has several initiatives aimed at improving the health and nutrition of children and senior adults.

Food Bank Focuses on Fresh, Healthy Food
Last year, the Food Bank distributed nearly 10 million pounds of food, including more than 2 million pounds of fresh produce, to its 169 member agencies. Currently, 89 percent of the food distributed is highly nutritious “core” food that can be used to make a healthy meal for a family.

The continued high demand for food assistance makes it challenging for the Food Bank to acquire enough healthy food to stock food pantries across the state. The quantity of donated food has dropped in recent years due in large part to improved inventory and quality control in the food industry.

“This greater efficiency in the food industry is good for consumers, but it also means there is significantly less surplus food available for donation,” said Schiff. “The Food Bank must now purchase more than 3 million pounds of food per year to meet the need.”

Access to Federal Nutrition Programs Is Critical
Federal nutrition programs are an essential resource for low-income families struggling to feed their families. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) now assists more than 176,000 people in Rhode Island, a significant increase from 2007, when 76,000 people were served. However, many families find that SNAP benefits run out before the end of the month. This is when they turn to food pantries to fill the gap.

The Rhode Island General Assembly failed to allocate state funds for the SNAP Outreach Project at the University of Rhode Island in 2014. The Project identifies eligible families and helps them apply for SNAP.

“With state funding eliminated, Rhode Islanders eligible for SNAP will have more difficulty accessing this federally funded program in the future,” said Schiff.

Child Nutrition Programs Have Room to Grow
More children are now receiving school breakfast in Rhode Island through the federal School Breakfast Program. However, of the 50,480 students who are eligible for free or reduced-price school lunch, fewer than half receive school breakfast, and less than 8,000 receive summer meals provided through the federally funded Summer Food Service Program.

“Participation in the school breakfast program increases when breakfast is served in the classroom at the start of the day, instead of before the school day begins,” said Schiff. “We could also increase participation by adopting a new federal option called “Community Eligibility,” which allows schools in high-poverty areas to serve meals to all students at no charge, eliminating the need for paper applications.

Food Bank Calls for Action
“We urge Rhode Islanders to advocate at the state and national level to prevent hunger and safeguard the health and well-being of thousands of Rhode Island families,” said Schiff. The following steps are recommended:

  • Increase state funding to the Food Bank for the purchase of nutritious food.
  • Raise SNAP benefits to reflect the real cost of food and ensure that low-income families have enough to eat through the entire month.
  • Restore state funding for the SNAP Outreach Project to help eligible Rhode Islanders receive these critical food benefits.
  • Adopt the Community Eligibility option to offer free school meals to all students in high-poverty areas.
  • Boost school breakfast participation in low-income communities by serving breakfast in the classroom as a regular part of the school day.

For more information, visit www.rifoodbank.org or call 401-942-6325.

November 25, 2014 0 comment
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