Rhode Island Community Food Bank
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rifoodbank.bsky.social
Rhode Island Community Food Bank
@rifoodbank.bsky.social
Improving the quality of life of all Rhode Islanders by advancing solutions to the problem of hunger.
Reposted by Rhode Island Community Food Bank
Cheers to outstanding staff & volunteers of Good Neighbors RI for putting together a delicious Thanksgiving feast!

Great to join Mayor Bob DaSilva & @rifoodbank.bsky.social CEO Melissa Cherney to help serve up hot meals & a slice of community to neighbors in need.
November 26, 2025 at 7:08 PM
Food Bank CEO Melissa Cherney spent Thanksgiving Eve serving lunch at Good Neighbors RI with @reed.senate.gov and East Providence Mayor Bob DaSilva. 🦃 Her first Thanksgiving [Eve!] as a Rhode Islander was spent feeding neighbors alongside partners dedicated to ending hunger. 💚
November 26, 2025 at 7:43 PM
Reposted by Rhode Island Community Food Bank
NEWSMAKERS: @rifoodbank.bsky.social CEO Melissa Cherney joins @timwhiteri.bsky.social and me to discuss the record high 100,000 Rhode Islanders seeking food aid a month - even before the recent SNAP crisis

Watch online now - tonight/Sunday on 12+ and TV - or get the pod www.wpri.com/news/newsmak...
November 21, 2025 at 8:22 PM
Food Bank CEO, Melissa Cherney, recently joined @tednesi.bsky.social and @timwhiteri.bsky.social on @wpri12.bsky.social's Newsmakers to discuss food insecurity in RI, what we're seeing across our network, and how community support makes an impact.

Watch: www.wpri.com/news/newsmak...
www.wpri.com
November 25, 2025 at 9:26 PM
@antoniafarzan.bsky.social of the Providence Journal took the SNAP challenge—living on $6/day—just as SNAP benefits were cut off.

"I was returning to my normal, privileged existence, while other people's lives were about to get measurably worse."

tinyurl.com/bdh9mz29
The average SNAP recipient gets $6 a day. What's it like to live on that little?
Even before benefits stopped arriving in November, relying on SNAP for food aid wasn't easy.
tinyurl.com
November 18, 2025 at 8:42 PM
Rhode Islanders are feeling the impacts of the shutdown and paused SNAP benefits, and the RI Community Food Bank is doing everything we can to help. Since late October, we've purchased nearly 1M lbs of food for distribution through our 137 member agencies statewide. 🚚
November 17, 2025 at 8:27 PM
This year's @wpri12.bsky.social Day of Giving was our most successful in its 5yr history! @kimkalunian.bsky.social

With matching funds from Washington Trust & Arpin International Group, we raised $233,651 total - funds that will put food on neighbors' tables this holiday season. 🍽️

Thank you.
November 14, 2025 at 4:39 PM
🚨 TODAY, Thurs. Nov. 13, is @wpri12.bsky.social's Day of Giving to benefit the RI Community Food Bank! 🚨

Tune in anytime to WPRI 12 or visit their website — crews are broadcasting from our warehouse, encouraging generosity from every corner of RI.

tinyurl.com/bddb7mj6
November 13, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Thank you to our friends at Stop & Shop and Garelick Farms for their generous holiday support and year-round partnership! 🥛 Their donation of shelf-stable milk will be available to all of our member agencies.
November 7, 2025 at 8:51 PM
We're grateful to Mayor Brett Smiley and the City of Providence for standing with the Food Bank and our neighbors during this critical moment. Thank you for visiting us last week to see the work happening firsthand, and for your continued support.

Need food or want to help? rifoodbank.org/shutdown
November 5, 2025 at 4:52 PM
"'How can the Food Bank fill the gap?'

We can't," writes RI Community Food Bank CEO Melissa Cherney in today's Providence Journal op-ed.

"We don't have enough food or funds to replace the $29M in lost SNAP aid—or another $29M if the shutdown continues."

Read more: tinyurl.com/9ex3kwtj
October 30, 2025 at 8:39 PM
Reposted by Rhode Island Community Food Bank
SNAP (food stamps) interruption:

@govdanmckee.bsky.social declares state of emergency, mobilizing RI agencies and community organizations to get food to those in need.

@peterneronha.bsky.social joins multi-state lawsuit.

@rifoodbank.bsky.social deploys resources.

motifri.com/snap-emergen...
SNAP (Food Stamps) Emergency: RI announces support during federal shutdown – Motif
motifri.com
October 29, 2025 at 3:00 PM
With SNAP funding halted by the federal shutdown,
@govdanmckee.bsky.social declared a State of Emergency + will deploy $6mil in TANF funds to help families with children. It's a crucial step—but many others will still lose food assistance when benefits do not deploy on Nov. 1.
October 28, 2025 at 11:26 PM
🚨 SNAP BENEFITS HALTED 🚨

Because of the federal government shutdown, SNAP (food assistance) benefits for the month of November are on hold. (🧵)

rifoodbank.org/shutdown/
October 27, 2025 at 5:52 PM
Reposted by Rhode Island Community Food Bank
With SNAP benefits set to end Nov. 1, @rifoodbank.bsky.social CEO Melissa Cherney says, "We are in a hunger crisis," and asks for donations to food bank and local food pantries.
October 27, 2025 at 2:25 PM
As federal food assistance funding hangs in the balance, RI food pantries are bracing for an unprecedented surge in need. Good Neighbors RI & the MLK Center in Newport are already seeing increased need. (🧵)
🗞️ @rhodeislandcurrent.com 📝 @nancyklavin.bsky.social
🔗 tinyurl.com/wccpdka3
Rhode Island food pantries slammed as SNAP beneficiaries brace for funding to run dry • Rhode Island Current
As a lapse in federal food assistance nears amid the government shutdown, food pantries across Rhode Island have already seen a surge in demand as clients prepare for the potential loss in SNAP benefi...
tinyurl.com
October 23, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Reposted by Rhode Island Community Food Bank
We were pleased to welcome Congressman Gabe Amo, members of his staff, & representatives from our state and community partners to the RI Community Food Bank yesterday for a discussion on the impacts of the ongoing government shutdown, and the importance of strong federal nutrition programs.
October 21, 2025 at 6:45 PM
A beautiful full-circle moment at the Rhode Island Community Food Bank:

The apple trees on our property are bearing fruit this season, just like the apples in our logo. Both are symbols of nourishment, community, and the lasting impact one person can make. 🍎🌳❤️
October 19, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Cheers to The Guild for hosting our Pints with Purpose kick-off! 🍺 Try Full Bellies Brew, a crisp lager named by contest winner Claire Walker—on tap now! Through Oct. 23, a portion of sales supports the RI Community Food Bank.
October 17, 2025 at 6:31 PM
Corinne, a single mom & landscaper, works hard to support her family. When seasonal work slows, she turns to St. Mary of the Bay Food Pantry in Warren for help. 🍽️
Read her story in the Food Bank's Fall Impact Report: https://tinyurl.com/y8u2hyuc
October 16, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Last week marked the first official RI Grown Week! At the kickoff, RI Food Bank CEO Melissa Cherney spoke about how local food systems strengthen food security. So far this year, we've acquired 85% more local produce than last year—hitting our 45% annual target in Q1. 🌱 Get Fresh, Buy Local!
October 13, 2025 at 3:40 PM
The Food Bank will be closed on Monday, October 13th and will reopen for regularly-scheduled operations on Tuesday, October 14th. If you are in need of immediate assistance, please dial United Way of Rhode Island's 211 hotline.
October 10, 2025 at 5:50 PM
As part of RI Grown Week 🍎, we offered a tour of the RI Food Bank to our friends at RI DEM today. Together with partners in the food system, we're committed to exploring how local agriculture supports food security, recovery & distribution across Rhode Island.
October 7, 2025 at 6:56 PM
The food pantry at Connecting for Children & Families in Woonsocket is getting a refresh! With help from Rhode Island School of Design students, new plans unveiled during CEO Melissa Cherney's tour will make the space more welcoming & dignified. The Valley Breeze 🗞️ https://tinyurl.com/6x7wrc8v
RISD students help reimagine Woonsocket food pantry as demand surges
WOONSOCKET – The Family Center at 719 Front St. has grown into the largest food distribution hub in northern Rhode Island, serving more than 250 families each week.
www.valleybreeze.com
October 5, 2025 at 2:35 PM