Central Falls’ New Mobile Food Pantry Brings Fresh Food Closer to Home

Central Falls Mobile Food Pantry Brings Fresh Food Directly into Neighborhoods – New pantry-on-wheels serves approximately 200 households at each distribution

The City of Central Falls has celebrated the launch of a new Mobile Food Pantry designed to bring fresh, nutritious food closer to seniors, families and other residents who may have difficulty reaching a traditional food pantry.

The initiative is a partnership of the City, the Central Falls Foundation and the Centreville Bank Charitable Foundation, with additional support from BankNewport and a federal appropriation secured by U.S. Sen. Jack Reed.

“No one in our city should have to worry about where their next meal is coming from,” said Mayor Maria Rivera. “For many of our seniors and families, transportation can be just as much of a barrier as the rising cost of food.”

The pantry began operating in June and travels to scheduled locations throughout Central Falls, allowing residents to select groceries from shelves built into the vehicle.

Although Central Falls covers only 1.19 square miles, it has more than 23,000 residents and is one of the most densely populated cities in the country. Nearly one in four residents receives SNAP benefits, according to the City, and some older adults, people with mobility limitations and families do not have reliable transportation.

“Our new Mobile Food Pantry is about removing those barriers and making sure our neighbors have what they need,” Rivera said.

Fresh and shelf-stable food

Each distribution offers a combination of fresh and shelf-stable food.

Households typically receive fresh fruits and vegetables, protein such as meat, bread, tortillas and pantry staples including canned goods, cereal, pancake mix and crackers.

The specially equipped truck contains a commercial freezer and temperature-controlled storage, allowing frozen and other temperature-sensitive foods to be transported and maintained safely.

Most of the food is purchased from private suppliers to provide a consistent supply for residents, according to the Central Falls Foundation.

A typical participating household receives approximately 15 to 18 food items. The Foundation estimates that the program distributes approximately $4,000 worth of food each week.

Approximately 200 households served at each stop

About 448 Central Falls households have registered for the program, representing approximately 1,440 residents.

The Foundation reports serving approximately 200 households at each distribution. Since the Mobile Food Pantry began operating in June, it estimates that approximately 30,000 pounds of food have been distributed.

Participants must be Central Falls residents. During their first visit, residents show proof of address, complete a registration form and receive a membership card to use at future distributions.

The pantry operated every Wednesday at different locations throughout the city during July. Going forward, it will generally operate every other week at multiple neighborhood locations, with additional monthly pop-up distributions based on community needs and partnerships.

Residents who are homebound or have special circumstances may also receive assistance. When contacted by a resident or community organization, the Foundation said it can coordinate individual food deliveries based on demonstrated need.

Why a mobile pantry?

Before purchasing the vehicle, the Central Falls Foundation conducted food distributions using tents and tables.

While those distributions helped serve the community, they required considerable setup time, physical labor and coordination. Food also had to be transported, unloaded, arranged and packed up again following each event.

The new vehicle keeps food stocked and organized aboard the truck. It also provides temperature-controlled storage and allows the pantry to rotate among neighborhoods without setting up a complete temporary pantry at every location.

The Foundation said the vehicle has reduced setup time and labor, improved food safety and made it easier to serve residents throughout the city.

“Today marks a milestone for the Central Falls Foundation and for the families we proudly serve,” said Bridgette M. Duquette, executive director of the Foundation. “This Mobile Food Pantry is a symbol of hope, partnership and innovation in addressing food insecurity throughout our community.”

Funding the pantry

The total cost of purchasing, outfitting and branding the Mobile Food Pantry was $102,039.

The Centreville Bank Charitable Foundation provided a $100,000 grant to support the purchase and outfitting of the vehicle, staffing and first-year operations. The bank also provided reusable shopping bags for participating residents.

“Access to healthy food is fundamental to building strong, resilient communities,” said Hal Horvat, chair of the Centreville Bank Charitable Foundation and president and CEO of Centreville Bank. “We’re proud to support a program that removes barriers, serves people with dignity and delivers critical resources directly to those who need them most.”

BankNewport provided an additional $10,000 grant for the Mobile Food Pantry.

The Central Falls Foundation also received a $150,000 federal appropriation secured by Sen. Reed to support food-access initiatives. Together, the three funding sources represent $260,000 in support for the vehicle, food purchases and the Foundation’s food-security work.

Funding remaining after the purchase and customization of the truck is being used for food, staffing, fuel, insurance, maintenance and other operating costs.

The Foundation plans to sustain the program after the first year through grants, corporate sponsorships, private donations, community partnerships and two annual fundraising events supporting its food-security programs.

“The Mobile Food Pantry is a symbol of what can happen when organizations come together around a shared goal,” Duquette said. “Together, we are ensuring that more families have reliable access to healthy food while strengthening the bonds that make Central Falls such a caring and resilient community.”

Distribution dates and other food-assistance information are posted on the City of Central Falls’ food availability page.