The Rhode Island Community Food Bank is one of 36 food banks in 18 states to receive a $1.1 million grant as part of the Feeding America campaign from the Bank of America Charitable Foundation. The donation will help to connect low-income families and individuals with the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly named the Food Stamp Program. This donation is the largest gift in the organization’s history.
At the food bank, the $45,000 grant will support outreach efforts for SNAP by providing prescreenings to determine eligibility and application assistance for low-income families and individuals seeking emergency food assistance. These resources will improve access to this program for many eligible households not yet participating.
Due to the state’s struggling economy and high rate of unemployment, the number of Rhode Islanders seeking food assistance has soared over the past two years. The Food Bank currently serves more than 55,000 people each month, a 50 percent increase in just two years. •
