New CEO of RI Community Food Bank will be Melissa Cherney, CEO, Great Plains Food Bank, ND

Photo, Melissa Cherney

The Rhode Island Community Food Bank today announced Melissa (Sobolik) Cherney, a leader and advocate in hunger relief for nearly two decades, as its next chief executive officer. Cherney succeeds Andrew Schiff, who is retiring after 17 years of dedicated service.

Since 2019, Cherney has served first as president and then as chief executive officer of the Great Plains Food Bank, North Dakota’s largest hunger relief organization and its only food bank. There, she led initiatives to expand food access, mobilize legislators, advocate for policy change, and strengthen community partnerships on behalf of the more than 70,000 people served through 200 distribution sites each month.

“From her personal experience to her strong record of advocacy and nonprofit leadership, Melissa is the right leader for this moment as the Rhode Island Community Food Bank navigates uncertainty nationally and unprecedented need locally,” said Jyothi Subramaniam, president of the Board of Directors. “Melissa has the skills and experience necessary to carry out our mission of ensuring that no Rhode Islander goes hungry.”

A native of North Dakota who grew up on her family farm, Cherney’s dedication to ending hunger is deeply personal. As an undergraduate in Minnesota, she struggled with food insecurity. For three months, SNAP benefits helped her make ends meet, and she saw firsthand the difference that these critical supports could make.

“I am incredibly honored to join the Rhode Island Community Food Bank. I look forward to carrying on the work and legacy that Andrew Schiff has built over the years, improving the lives of hundreds of thousands of Rhode Islanders,” said Cherney. “Food insecurity continues to impact far too many families, and I can’t wait to work alongside the amazing food bank team, as well as partners and supporters across the region to address hunger with urgency, compassion, and innovation.”

In addition to her tireless work at the Great Plains Food Bank, Cherney serves on the Food Sourcing Advisory Council and as vice-chair of the Policy Engagement and Advocacy Committee (PEAC) for Feeding America, a nationwide network of more than 200 food banks that feed more than 46 million people. Cherney will take over as chair of PEAC on January 1, 2026, and will serve in that role for two years.

Prior to serving as president and CEO at the Great Plains Food Bank, Cherney worked in development, programming, and advocacy roles for the organization, and has years of other nonprofit experience. She was previously elected to and served four years as a City Commissioner on the Fargo City Commission.

Cherney is in the process of relocating to Rhode Island and will assume the role in summer 2025, leading the organization through its next chapter of growth and impact. For more information, visit www.rifoodbank.org.

About the Rhode Island Community Food Bank

The Rhode Island Community Food Bank serves as the central hub for food distribution across the state, ensuring that nutritious food reaches those who need it most. Through donations, federal programs, and community partnerships, the Food Bank supports a network of agencies working to eliminate hunger in Rhode Island.