It is a seeming contradiction that during the height of the growing season in Rhode Island, food scarcity is at its most acute.
The reason: School’s out.
The Rhode Island Community Food Bank provides 10 million pounds of food to 160 agencies in the course of a year. But that is still not enough to meet the need.
Many children benefit from subsidized school breakfasts and lunches. According to the food bank, 82,000 meals are served every school day in the state. It becomes clear then why summer can be a difficult time for those in need, especially children.
The food bank is the recipient of public and private support in the course of the year, and while it could use more, it’s not just about the magnitude of the support. It’s about the consistency.
On the public side, the General Assembly could return to its previous level of support, $350,000 per year. That would amount to a doubling of the current subsidy, and it would cover the cost of 10 percent of what the food bank looks to provide every year.
But Andrew Schiff, the CEO of the food bank, would like to see private contributions be made part of corporate business plans throughout the year as well. Volunteerism is great, but regular contributions allow for better planning and service.
In a real way, both the public and private donations to the food bank are an investment in the state’s future economic health. Undernourished children cannot concentrate as well in school, with the end result being a workforce that is not as productive as it could be. And a state that cannot fire on all cylinders.
