R.I. Food Bank receives $10K,
food items from Blue Cross

THE RHODE ISLAND Community Food Bank received a $10,000 donation and more than 6,200 food items from Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island on June 25 during the nonprofit’s launch of its 2019 Summer Food Drive. Pictured are Blue Cross President and CEO Kim A. Keck and Rhode Island Community Food Bank CEO Andrew Schiff. / COURTESY RHODE ISLAND COMMUNITY FOOD BANK

PROVIDENCE – The Rhode Island Community Food Bank received multiple donations from Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island as the nonprofit launched its 2019 Summer Food Drive on June 25.

The food bank said it received $10,000 from the Providence-based health insurance provider, which it will use to purchase and distribute food this summer. Additionally, Blue Cross collected more than 6,200 food items – weighing more than 3,600 pounds – during the company’s Summer Snackdown initiative.

“This donation from Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island, combined with the efforts of our many corporate partners, goes a long way,” Rhode Island Community Food Bank CEO Andrew Schiff said in a statement. “But the fact is our member agencies across the state continue to serve thousands of people each month – even during the summer. The need doesn’t end because it is vacation time.”

Blue Cross President and CEO Kim A. Keck complimented the company’s staff for doing an “incredible job” collecting food for families in need, adding the company was happy to present the additional food donation to “continue the effort to ensure that Rhode Island children do not go hungry in the summer. ”

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The food bank’s Summer Food Drive, and the donations received for it, will assist children who are vulnerable to hunger when school closes for the year as they no longer have access to free and reduced-priced lunches they received throughout the school year. Also, food pantries see a decrease in donations during the summer, leaving the pantries needing to scramble in order to keep food available to assist needy families.

The food bank says the public can pick up collection bins at the facility at 200 Niantic Ave., Providence, on any weekday, except for holidays, between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. during the Summer Food Drive. The food bank is also accepting monetary donations via its website at rifoodbank.org.

The food bank hopes it can collect 150,000 pounds of food during the drive, which runs through Aug. 31.

James Bessette is a PBN staff writer. Email him at Research@PBN.com.

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