As food insecurity continues to climb across Rhode Island, Bank Rhode Island has launched its annual summer food drive with an early start date to address what officials are calling an unprecedented level of need in local communities.
The five-week collection effort began Monday at all 22 BankRI branches statewide, including the bank’s Middletown and Newport locations on Aquidneck Island. Both branches will be collecting nonperishable food items specifically to benefit the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center through Friday, August 15.
The urgency behind this year’s drive is stark. According to the Rhode Island Community Food Bank, more than 89,000 people are now being served each month—an all-time high that reflects the mounting pressure of rising costs for essential items and increased demand at food pantries across the Ocean State.
“No one in our community should have to worry about where their next meal is coming from,” said Will Tsonos, President and CEO of BankRI. “The unprecedented need right now is extremely troubling, and it calls on all of us who are able to act.”
The bank’s decision to begin collecting earlier than in previous years underscores the severity of the current situation. By positioning their branch lobbies as convenient collection sites, BankRI aims to make it easier for community members to contribute to the effort.
The drive prioritizes keeping donations local, with each branch partnering with food pantries in their immediate communities. This approach ensures that contributions from Newport and Middletown residents will directly support neighbors on Aquidneck Island through the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center.
Collection bins in both branch lobbies are accepting donations of high-need items including peanut butter, tuna, canned and dried beans, nutritious breakfast cereals, rice, canned chili, soups and stews, pasta, tomato sauce, canned fruits and vegetables, and macaroni and cheese.
The food drive represents one of 13 partnerships BankRI has established with local food pantries across Rhode Island for this summer’s collection effort. The bank hopes the five-week timeframe will allow for sustained community engagement as families and individuals face continued economic pressures.
For more information about BankRI branch locations and hours, visit BankRI.com/locations.
