Fourteen community-based food pantries around the state have received donated food and funds to support their work to help those facing hunger thanks to Bank Rhode Island (BankRI). The Bank recently concluded a six-week food drive at all 21 of its branches, leading to more than 4,000 pounds for the pantries. Additionally, each pantry received a $1,000 grant for food acquisition. BankRI also provided $10,000 in funding to the Rhode Island Community Food Bank.

In Cranston, the Bank’s four branches teamed up to support Comprehensive Community Action Program, while its Warwick locations helped to restock the shelves at Westbay Community Action.

“BankRI customers, colleagues, and local community members are incredible in helping their fellow Rhode Islanders, and we all understand hunger is an issue that can affect anyone at any time,” said Will Tsonos, BankRI’s President and CEO. “I appreciate everyone who supported this year’s drive. Together, we put food on the shelves of local pantries at a time when so many of our neighbors need it most.”

Right now, hunger in the Ocean State is at an all-time high. According to the Rhode Island Community Food Bank, its network of member food pantries served 80,000 people per month from March through June, a 25 percent increase over the same time period last year.

Beginning July 17 and continuing until August 18, each BankRI branch partnered with a food pantry in its community to collect food on their behalf and ensure donations remained local to help area residents. A full list of the pantries to benefit from this year’s drive is:

• Better Lives Rhode Island (Providence)
• Blackstone Valley Emergency Food Center (Pawtucket)
• Comprehensive Community Action Program (Cranston)
• Connecting for Children & Families (Lincoln + Woonsocket)
• Coventry Friends of Human Services—Coventry Community Food Bank (Coventry)
• Domestic Violence Program of Crossroads Rhode Island (Providence: East Side)
• Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center (Middletown)
• East Bay Community Action Program (East Providence)
• East Greenwich Interfaith Food Cupboard (East Greenwich)
• Jonnycake Center for Hope (Wakefield)
• North Kingstown Food Pantry (North Kingstown)

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• St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry at St. Philip Church (Smithfield)
• Tri-County Community Action Agency (Johnston)
• Westbay Community Action (Warwick)

As the state’s largest hunger-relief organization and the distribution hub for a network of 143 member agency food pantries, the Rhode Island Community Food Bank will use its $10,000 grant to acquire and distribute more healthy, culturally relevant food.

“We are grateful to BankRI for engaging their customers and employees in such a successful food drive for the Food Bank’s member agencies,” said Food Bank CEO Andrew Schiff. “These contributions of food and funds will do so much to help families that are struggling to afford enough food right now.”

About Bank Rhode Island

Bank Rhode Island, a wholly owned subsidiary of Brookline Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ:BRKL), is a full-service, FDIC-insured financial institution headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island.  The bank operates 21 branches and more than 30 ATMs throughout Providence, Kent, Newport and Washington Counties. For more information, visit www.bankri.com.