Out & About in RI: FeedRI Raises $30,000 for Rhode Island School Food Pantries. PHOTOS

A sold-out gathering of Rhode Island farmers, chefs and food supporters raised $30,000 for FeedRI’s growing network of school food pantries.

The first Field to Fork Farmers Market, held August 19 at the Johnson & Wales University Culinary Arts Museum in Providence, drew 200 guests and featured partnerships between 17 Rhode Island farms and 17 local chefs, restaurants and culinary organizations.

Proceeds will support Feed the Future, FeedRI’s program providing food pantries in Rhode Island schools where students and their families are experiencing food insecurity.

Feed the Future currently operates pantries in 21 schools across the state. FeedRI plans to add at least five more locations by the end of 2026.

“The response to Field to Fork was incredible, and we’re so grateful to everyone who helped make the event a success,” said Rhonda Lapham, executive director of FeedRI. “It was great to see so many people come together to support FeedRI and the work we’re doing in schools across Rhode Island.”

Throughout the evening, guests sampled dishes created through pairings of local farms and food producers with chefs and restaurants.

Among the featured partnerships were Under the Sun Farm and Chef Jason Authier; Brandon Family Farm and Sarcastic Sweets; Lucky Dogs Farm and Pianta; Franklin Farm and Johnson & Wales University; Walrus & Carpenter Oysters and Paula’s; Wright’s Dairy Farm and Big Feeling; Ocean State Shellfish Cooperative and Little Sister; Radical Roots Farm and Waterman Grille; and Growing Hope Farm and Sprout & Lentil.

FeedRI thanked Johnson & Wales University for hosting the event, along with sponsors Meals on Wheels of Rhode Island, Bileau Built, Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island, The Masonic Grand Lodge Charities of Rhode Island, Landmark Medical Center, Roland and Cynthia Jacob, East Bay Printing & Copying, Gordon Food Service and Falvey Linen Supply.

Photos: Spencer Gossy

About FeedRI

Founded in 2008 as We Share Hope, FeedRI is a Rhode Island-based food rescue organization that collects surplus food from industry partners and distributes it to people and community organizations throughout the state.

More than 100 volunteers support its three primary programs:

• Feed the Future, which establishes and maintains food pantries in high-need schools
• Hope on the Rhode, which connects surplus food with nonprofit and community organizations
• Hope Market, a budget-friendly marketplace in Rumford whose proceeds support FeedRI’s food rescue and distribution programs

FeedRI reports that its programs serve more than 3,500 Rhode Islanders each month.

More information is available at FeedRI.org.