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COVID-19 Update -
Food Bank Distributes 42% More Food
Letter
Carriers' Food Drive Postponed
Help
Us Raise $35,000 to Replace Food from Annual Drive
 This Saturday, May 9, would have been the National
Association of Letter Carriers' food drive, which usually collects 100,000
pounds of food. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the food drive has been put
on hold so we can keep our letter carriers safe.
Please join us in thanking and recognizing these front line workers by
making a donation to the Food Bank in their honor. $35,000 is needed to
replace the 100,000 pounds of food that the Letter Carriers would have
collected through this annual drive.
Click here to donate
and thank you for helping us feed our struggling
neighbors. You can also download a special note that you can leave for
your letter carrier.
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Reaching More Neighbors in Need
During the month of April, the Rhode Island Community Food Bank
distributed an unprecedented amount of food to meet the demand in the
community.
 Compared to the same time period last
year, we
delivered 42% more food to member agencies, community
organizations and through our state, city and town emergency
management agencies.
We regularly serve 53,000 guests each month at our 168 member agencies
throughout the state. In a survey of just ten of our largest
member organizations, they reported that together they saw a total of 3,000
more guests for the month of March when comparing 2019
to 2020.
In addition, we’re providing assistance to thousands of Rhode Islanders
at other locations in collaboration with the RI Emergency Management
Agency.
By the Numbers
Since the COVID-19 crisis began in March, the Food Bank has
distributed:
 10,049 Meals4Kids Boxes
These boxes contain a week’s worth of breakfasts, lunches and snacks
for kids. Contents include soup, crackers, pasta, juice, apple sauce,
mac & cheese, fruit cups, oatmeal and milk. They’re distributed
through member agencies and community partners.
113,904 Meals,
Ready to Eat Kits
We continue to work with the Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency
to distribute pre-packaged Meals, Ready-to-Eat
(MREs), individually prepared food rations containing one meal,
side dish, and snacks.
928 FEMA Family
Meal Boxes
 These boxes contain 5 breakfasts and 5
lunch/dinner meals, including cereal, milk, rice and beans, canned
green beans, canned meats, fruit cups, and snacks. With the
distribution of these boxes, families gained access to 9,280 more
meals.
Thank you to everyone who has supported the Food Bank during this
crisis for helping us continue this important work.
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What's Happening at Our Member
Agencies?
 One of the neighborhoods hardest hit
by COVID-19 is in the 02909 zip code in Providence where member agency
Federal Hill House coordinates two food pantries along with many other
critical social services.
Food Bank CEO Andrew Schiff recently spoke with its Executive Director
and Food Bank Board member Kimberly Fernandez to get an update on how
they're responding to the increased need in the community.
Watch the video
of their conversation.
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