RI Community Food Bank
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.
Crossroads
Hitting the Road to Tackle Homelessness
The mission of Crossroads Rhode Island is to help homeless or at-risk individuals and families secure stable homes. Those served achieve this by engaging in a range of services including housing, basic needs, shelter, case management, referrals and education and employment services.
The Crossroads Rhode Island Street Outreach Program provides services in the field to highly vulnerable people trying to survive outside without housing or shelter. The Street Outreach Program has been very successful in housing some of the most underserved and difficult to engage street homeless.
In 2016, Crossroads received a grant from The Champlin Foundation to purchase a new vehicle for the program. The Subaru Outback replaces a very old van that was unreliable, expensive to operate and unsuitable for the project. The new vehicle is equipped with a GPS system and other technology that was desperately needed. It is also a suitable vehicle for reaching people living in outdoor camps or tents.
Engaging homeless individuals through the Street Outreach Program is the first step in helping these citizens find housing, followed by supportive services in their homes. Thanks to the Champlin Foundation, we have an important new resource in this critical process.
In the past 2 years, Crossroads Outreach Program has helped 140 individuals; of these clients, 71% have moved off the streets to permanent housing or safer places.