Everyone Deserves Fresh Fruits and Vegetables
The mission of the Rhode Island Community Food Bank is to improve the quality of life for all Rhode Islanders by advancing solutions to the problem of hunger. The Food Bank distributes food to individuals and families in need through a network of 160 partner agencies located throughout the state. Together, the Food Bank and these agencies serve nearly 60,000 people each month. Half of those served are among the most vulnerable – children and seniors.
The Champlin Foundation has supported the work of the Food Bank for many years, providing grants for critical capital projects. Thanks to the Foundation, the Food Bank maintains a fleet of six trucks. These trucks make the entire network more efficient, because the Food Bank can deliver to agencies, reducing the need for each agency to have its own vehicle. In addition, because the entire fleet is refrigerated, the Food Bank is now able to acquire and deliver significantly more fresh produce. Over 20 percent of the 10 million pounds distributed by the Food Bank each year is fresh fruits and vegetables. The generosity of the Foundation makes it possible for the Food Bank to meet one of its most important goals: providing healthy, nutritious food to our neighbors in need.