The Rhode Island Community Food Bank battles a worsening hunger problem
By IAN DONNIS | December 12, 2007
ONTHE FRONTLINES: More than 11 percent of Rhode Islanders are hungry, a problem that keeps
Schiff and the Food Bank’s staff and volunteers very busy. |
How to help:While there are many worthy social organizations in Rhode Island, these are some of the largest umbrella groups:
Amos House
Amoshouse.com
401.272.0220
415 Friendship St.
Providence, RI 02907 The Rhode Island Community Food Bank
Rifoodbank.org
401.942.6325
200 Niantic Ave.
Providence, RI 02907 Crossroads Rhode Island
Crossroadsri.org
401.521.2255
160 Broad Ave.
Providence, RI 02903 The United Way of Rhode Island
Uwri.org
401.440.0600
229 Waterman St.
Providence, RI 02906 The Fund for Community Progress
Fundcp.org
401.941.7100
1604 Broad St.
Providence, RI 02905 |
Most of the food banks and soup kitchens across the United States emerged during the so-called Reagan recession of the early 1980s, in what was considered at the time as a temporary solution to a growing problem. Yet although the economy improved, the problem of hunger has continued to worsen, due in part to shrinking federal support, leaving a national network of volunteers, donors, and emergency providers striving to meet the need.
The Rhode Island Community Food Bank has played an important local role since it was established in 1982, distributing food to more than 150 emergency food programs across the state, including those not just in cities, but in towns and suburbs like Smithfield, Cumberland, Coventry, Barrington, Charlestown, East Greenwich, and North Kingstown.
Leading the effort is Andrew R. Schiff, previously the assistant director at Boston-based Project Bread, who succeeded longtime executive director Bernie Beaudreau in May. While the food bank has an ambitious plan to eliminate hunger in Rhode Island, it — like other social agencies — faces the fierce combination of a worsening economy, Rhode Island’s staggering budget deficit, and a widespread foreclosure crisis. To help illustrate the ongoing problem posed by hunger, the Phoenix talked with Schiff last week in his office at the food bank’s Niantic Avenue headquarters, in the Reservoir section of Providence.
How serious is the problem of hunger in Rhode Island, and why is the problem getting worse?
It’s all about the economy. People who are caught between low wages, fixed incomes, and the high cost of living often are unable to afford adequate food. There are just more and more people in that situation. They don’t make enough, and then they can’t afford to pay their bills.
The US [Department of Agriculture] does a survey each year of the prevalence of hunger; in Rhode Island, it’s 11.3 percent of all households. So that’s 48,000 households that report being at risk for hunger, and it’s a significant increase over the last 10 years.
That’s a lot of households, and although the stereotype might be that we’re thinking about people who are homeless, in fact, we’re talking about many people who pay rent, many people who are working at low-wage jobs, and we’re talking about — as it turns out in Rhode Island — many, many people who are eligible for government benefits, but are not taking advantage of them.
Topics:
News Features
, Public Finance, Recessions and Depressions, Hunger, More 
, Public Finance, Recessions and Depressions, Hunger, Federal Budget, State Budgets, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rhode Island College, Government Spending, University of Rhode Island, Social Services Funding, Less 
