Food drive at BankRI branches for RI Food Bank, feeding 21% more since January

The RI Community Food Bank is currently feeding 80,000 Rhode Islanders per month, a significant jump of 21% more than the beginning of the year. Today, BankRI begins a month-long food drive at all its branches to help restock the shelves of local food pantries.

BankRI Begins Month-Long Food Drive at all 21 Branches Statewide

With the issue of hunger in Rhode Island on the rise in recent months as a result of the end of pandemic-related emergency benefits and increased costs, Bank Rhode Island (BankRI) today began a month-long food drive at all 21 of its branches. The collection will continue through Friday, August 18.

According to the Rhode Island Community Food Bank, the organization’s network of member food pantries served 80,000 people per month in March, April, and May, compared to 66,000 people in February – an increase of 21%.

“While we’ve moved further from the challenges of the past few years, many of our neighbors are still feeling the effects, especially families with children,” said Will Tsonos, President and CEO of BankRI. “When you combine the high price of food with the loss of the breakfast and lunch meals kids receive at school, you have the perfect storm for rising food insecurity. Every donation we receive will help.”

Throughout the BankRI food drive, all branches feature collection bins in their lobbies for donations of nonperishable food items. Among the foods needed most by pantries are soups and stews, pasta, nutritious breakfast cereal, peanut butter, canned fish and meat, tomato products, and canned fruits and vegetables. The Food Bank and its network also seek culturally relevant foods like jasmine, yellow, and basmati rice, dried black, kidney, and fava beans, and items such as sofrito, fish sauce, coconut milk, and adobo. Any donations of sauces or spices must be in plastic bottles or cans only – no glass.

Additionally for the drive, each branch has partnered with a pantry that serves its community to ensure the food it collects stays local to feed area residents. In total, 14 pantries are benefiting from the Bank’s food drive, and all are members of the Rhode Island Community Food Bank’s network.

“We’re so grateful for BankRI’s partnership and support,” said Andrew Schiff, Food Bank CEO. “The need for food assistance today is greater than even during the height of the pandemic. Food drives like these are critical to our ability to put as much food as possible on the tables of those who need it.”

For a full list of BankRI branches, their address and phone number, please visit BankRI.com/locations.