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Bank Rhode Island (BankRI) is set to host its annual food drive to support the Rhode Island Community Food Bank and its network of emergency food programs. From July 12 to August 20, each of the Bank‘s 20 branches statewide will collect non-perishable food items to benefit their local pantry. During the 6-week effort, BankRI will also match all donations made to the food bank, up to a total of $ 10,000. The match includes gifts made online on the Food Bank’s secure website.
“One of the biggest challenges Rhode Islanders face today is having enough food to feed their families – more than 60,000 of our neighbors turn to the local food bank and pantries for food. ‘help every month,’ said Mark J. Meiklejohn, President and CEO of BankRI in a statement. “Every donation to our fundraiser will help put food on a family’s table when they need it most. We invite everyone to participate and give what they can.
For driving, everything BankRI branches will have collection bins in their halls for non-perishable food donations. Each branch has in partnership with a pantry who serves their community to ensure that the food collected at this branch stays local to feed the residents of the area.
The Middletown branch of BankRI has partnered with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Center in Newport, one of the 15 community pantries members of the Food Bank network.
These 15 community pantries also receive a grant of $ 1,000 towards the purchase of additional food. In total, BankRI is committing $ 25,000 this summer to fight hunger statewide.
The BankRI Matching Donation Challenge on behalf of the food bank aims to help the organization increase donations for the purchase of additional food. Thanks to its ability to buy food in bulk, every dollar donated to the Food Bank helps to purchase three meals. After distributing a record 13.8 million pounds of food in 2020, the Food Bank is on track to surpass 16 million pounds this year.
“BankRI’s support comes at a critical time for Rhode Islanders in need,†Andrew Schiff, CEO of Rhode Island Community Food Bank, said in a statement. “Even as our economy reopens, tens of thousands of our neighbors struggle with food insecurity. This contribution of food and funds will help ensure that no one goes hungry. “
Foods that pantries need the most are peanut butter, nutritious breakfast cereals, canned fruits and vegetables, canned macaroni and cheese, whole wheat pasta and tomato sauce .
To donate non-perishable foodstuffs to a BankRI branch, the locations and their schedules are available on BankRI.com/placements.