5Q: Andrew Schiff | CEO, Rhode Island Community Food Bank
1. How much more food is being distributed by Rhode Island Community Food Bank during the coronavirus pandemic? Before the COVID-19 crisis, the food bank distributed 225,000 pounds of food per week through our statewide network of food pantries and meal programs. Now, we’re closer to 300,000 pounds. That’s one-third more food leaving our warehouse every week. Our trucks are also making more frequent deliveries to our member agencies to keep up with the high demand for food assistance.
2. What is the biggest challenge impacting the food bank’s operations thus far? The food industry has less surplus food to donate because of record-setting sales at grocery stores and supermarkets. Large food drives, including the Letter Carriers Food Drive, have been canceled due to the pandemic. As a result, the food bank is purchasing more food. We’re bringing in truckloads of the most critical items that families need to make healthy meals at home.
3. How is the food bank handling operations without volunteers? To keep everyone safe, there are no volunteers at the food bank right now. Without them, food bank staff members are working overtime to sort and pack food for distribution. We look forward to having our loyal volunteers back when this crisis is over.
4. What areas of the state have had the greatest need for food assistance during the pandemic? The need for food assistance runs from Westerly to Woonsocket. We’re particularly concerned about vulnerable children and seniors in each community. With schools closed, children are missing out on school breakfast and lunch. We’ve distributed more than 8,000 Meals4Kids boxes, each containing a week’s worth of food for a hungry child. Working with [Federal Emergency Management Agency] and [R.I. Emergency Management Agency], we are also distributing 180,000 ready-to-eat meal kits, which are a great resource for seniors and others who can’t leave their homes to shop for food during this crisis.
5. What is the food bank’s greatest need right now? The best way you can support our work is to make a financial donation to the food bank. We anticipate that the high demand for food assistance will persist for months as the economy gradually recovers. Every donation ensures that we can maintain our operations and continue to acquire and distribute healthy food to our neighbors in need. Just go to our website, rifoodbank.org.
James Bessette is special projects editor at PBN. Contact him at Bessette@PBN.com.
