Providence Allocates $25,000 to Rhode Island Food Bank
Mayor Brett P. Smiley announced this week that the City of Providence is implementing its Emergency Food Plan in response to the expected interruption of the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which currently supports approximately 25,000 Providence households, including 16,000 children.
“The federal inaction right now is leading to a serious threat to families and children in our community. These are families and seniors who are often on a fixed income with limited resources to fill this financial gap. A purely political action is going to have real consequences in the kitchens across Providence, and it could have devastating impacts,” said Mayor Brett Smiley. “While the City will do our part to make sure the needs of our community members are met, we need Congressional leadership to take action. Americans should not have to choose between quality affordable healthcare and being able to put food on the table. Rhode Islanders should not have to choose being paying their rent and purchasing food. We know that as a community, we can prioritize providing the resources for both and it is unconscionable that the Federal Government is unnecessarily putting vulnerable people into more these unimaginable circumstances.”
Additionally, the City of Providence joined a lawsuit with over 26 other municipalities, non-profits and unions in federal court in Rhode Island against the U.S. Department of Agriculture for declaratory and injunctive relief.
The City’s Emergency Food Plan, which was published in 2024, outlines immediate and short-term operational actions, to help stabilize local food access. As part of that response, City departments have convened and collaborated to:
- Surge resources to the Rhode Island Food Bank, which serves as a central distribution hub;
- Ensure infrastructure, including refrigeration at meal sites, is operational and maintained throughout the response;
- Increase capacity at city supported meal sites for children;
- Coordinate Providence-based resources in an accessible way.
To support families throughout Providence in immediate needs, the City has worked to:
- Create a central and accessible hub of Providence-based pantry and food bank information, including a map of locations, hours of operation and important information for distribution.
- Double the amount of meals available at the participating Providence Recreation Centers and Providence Community Library locations. Dinner and snacks are available for youth 18 and under with family-friendly programming.
- Support transportation options for seniors who require assistance to food pantries. Seniors looking for transportation in the City of Providence should call 3-1-1 for support.
- Allocate $25,000 in direct financial aid to the Rhode Island Food Bank to support their services.
Any residents who need additional help should call United Way of Rhode Island’s 2-1-1 for 24/7 bilingual assistance. All donations are welcome during this crisis, and the City is encouraging any financial support to be sent to the Rhode Island Food Bank or the Rhode Island Foundation’s recently announced efforts through their Community Partner Resilience fund.
Food donations are being accepted at the following locations during business hours:
- Providence City Hall, 25 Dorrance St., Room 101
- Providence Public Safety Complex, 325 Washington St.
All donations will be delivered to the Rhode Island Food Bank weekly and is accepted donations will be limited to:
- Soups and Stews
- Pasta, Macaroni and Cheese
- Breakfast Cereals
- Rice
- Canned Fish & Meat
- Canned Fruit
- Canned Vegetables
- Tomato Products
- Beans & Lentils
- Nut & Seed Butters
- Sauces, Spices and Condiments
All items must not be expired and packaged in bags, boxes or plastics bottles. No glass will be accepted.
SNAP participants who received October benefits should expect EBT cards to work as usual at authorized retailers through the end of the month. Any unused funds will roll over into November. Unless federal action is taken, November benefits will not be available beginning November 1.
For live updates, visit providenceri.gov/food.