The East Bay Food Pantry (EBFP) and its companion Thrift Shop were established in response to a growing need for assistance in the East Bay community that was identified by Pastor Daniel Barron Randall and the leadership of Bristol’s First Congregational Church. With support from the East Bay Community Development Corporation, state legislators, HUD, and the Town of Bristol, space was secured on the ground level of the Franklin Court Assisted Living building on Wood Street in Bristol (rent and utility free). Over 200 volunteers, including professionals in the construction trades, spent over 3,000 hours cleaning, painting and preparing the space for the August 2009 opening. The East Bay Food Pantry began serving the community in August 2009, and received 501(c)3 status in December 2009. The EBFP is a RI Community Food Bank Member Agency, having met stringent training and compliance requirements.
Clients from the East Bay area are served free of charge at the Food Pantry and have exclusive shopping privileges at the Thrift Shop every Wednesday. The Thrift Shop is open to the public from Thursday to Sunday, with thrift shop proceeds used to support our food programs. The EBFP currently serves over 900 East Bay households (over 3000 individuals, 850 being children) with food distribution and meaningful community-based programs utilizing best practices for effective service delivery and evaluation.
EBFP operates with a part-time Executive Director, part-time Thrift Shop Coordinator, and part-time Food Programs Coordinator. There are currently fifty-five active volunteers serving in both the Pantry and Thrift Shop, who bring varied professional and personal skills to the agency; including a nutritionist, nurses, educators, physicians, IT professionals, engineers and business leaders. Our valuable community partnerships assist us in meeting our mission of “engaging, educating and empowering the East Bay in creating a hunger-free community”. Our 2010-2011 Annual Report is available here.
Partnerships
The Aide Foundation – food and clothing support
Bristol County Elks – East Bay Cares – regular food donations, holiday baskets
Bristol Warren School District – food and clothing support
Division of Youth, Children, & Families – food and clothing support
First Congregational Church in Bristol – holiday programs, food donations, volunteers
URI SNAP Education Department – SNAP registration, healthy food tastings
We Share Hope – weekly bread delivery
Women’s Resource Center – food and clothing support
Memberships
Rhode Island Community Food Bank
Bristol County Basic Needs Network
Healthy Eating and Active Living Collaborative, RI Department of Health
Downtown Bristol Merchants Association
Hours of Operation:
For clients: Food Pantry & Thrift Shop – Wednesdays 10 am–5 pm
Fresh Food Friday – Fridays 10 am – noon
For the public: Thrift Shop – Thursday through Saturday 10 am-5 pm
Current Program Statistics:
Client Households – over 900
Individuals – serving over 3,000 East Bay residents (over 850 of those are children)
Volunteers – Currently 60 active volunteers in the Food Pantry and Thrift Shop
Statistics about hunger and food insecurity are available from the Rhode Island Food Bank. For the most recent details, click here.
Board of Directors 2010:
- Jodi Leffingwell, President – Educator, Ed.D; St. Mary Academy Bay View Advisory Council
- Mary Lynne Hixson, Vice President – MA, RD, CDOE Nutritionist, Miriam Hospital, Weight Management Program, Senior Services Advisory Board, Town of Barrington
- Jerome Williams, Treasurer – Senior Vice President for Finance and Administration, Roger Williams University
- Andrew MacKeith – Software Engineer at Dassault Systemes Simulia Inc.
- Mark Johnson, M.D. – Radiologist, Naugatuck Valley Radiological Associates
- Bart Ferris – CEO/Founder Wicked Good Co.
- Cliff Drawbridge – BSME, Senior Designer for East Coast Interiors, Inc., Member Herreshoff Marine Museum
- Gerald Bloom – Specialty and Natural Foods Manager, Clements Market
- Laura Temple – Bookkeeper, Certified Teacher Assistant
- Denise Arsenault – Educator, Bristol/Warren School Board
- Kathleen Keating – Attorney at Law
- Susan Daponte – Market Segment Manager, Blue Cross Blue Shield RI
Staff:
- Anita Randall, Executive Director – Educator, B.A and M. Ed.
- Sandra Tolley, Thrift Shop Coordinator
- Karen Griffith-Dieterich, Food Programs Coordinator
Grants to Date: The East Bay Food Pantry has received grants from the following organizations:
- The Rhode Island Foundation
- The John Clarke Trust
- Roger Williams University, Bristol FCA Grant
- The Mary Dexter Chaffee Fund
- The Bristol Home for Aged Women
- The Bristol Female Charitable Society
- The Adelaide Dawson Lynch Memorial Trust
- The Harry M, Miriam C, and William C Horton Fund
- Bank Newport
- Andrade Faxon Charitities for Children
- The Carter Family Charitable Trust
- RI Attorney General – Vitamin Grant
- The Hassenfeld Foundation
