Access Nutrition Initiative

We are working to build nutrition consciousness into the culture of EBFP. Our goal is to consistently offer whole grains, a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, and high quality protein and dairy items to our clients who rely on EBFP to supplement their food needs. In addition to nutritious foods, our Access Nutrition Initiative also offers educational opportunities to our clients, volunteers, and staff through workshops, cooking classes, targeted food tastings, and printed materials. We are energized by the real potential for positive impact this initiative can make in the lives of some of the most vulnerable RI families.

Food Pantry

We are working to build nutrition consciousness into the culture of EBFP. Our goal is to consistently offer whole grains, a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, and high quality protein and dairy items to our clients who rely on EBFP to supplement their food needs. In addition to nutritious foods, our Access Nutrition Initiative also offers educational opportunities to our clients, volunteers, and staff through workshops, cooking classes, targeted food tastings, and printed materials. We are energized by the real potential for positive impact this initiative can make in the lives of some of the most vulnerable RI families.

Food pantry hours are Wednesdays, 10am-5pm. Clients may shop once each month.

Fresh Food Fridays

We offer fresh food (produce, bread, etc.) to our clients every Friday. In an effort to encourage our clients to incorporate more fresh foods into their diets, clients may shop every week if they wish.

Although this is a year-round program, we make a special effort to partner with local farms and gardeners to provide local, seasonal produce during the growing season. We are committed to getting produce and bread to our clients in its freshest and most nutritious state.

Fresh Food Friday hours are Fridays, 10am-3pm. Clients may shop weekly.

Food4Kids

Many low-income children receive free or reduced-price breakfast and lunch through the National School Lunch Program when they are going to school. Often this program provides a major portion of the nutrients that the children receive. However, over weekends and school vacations, children lose access to this important source of food, setting up roadblocks to the learning process.

The Food4Kids program is designed to fill the nutrition gap and make sure children can get the nutritious meals they need. Over the summer this program provides families with food to make 5 nutritious breakfasts, lunches, and snacks for their children each week. During the school year, the program provides food to make breakfasts, lunches, and snacks for each weekend, with additional food provided over school vacations. While this program is designed to fill the needs of children participating in the National School Lunch Program, any client child 17 or younger is eligible.

In accordance with our Access Nutrition Initiative, the program focuses on nutritious foods such as eggs, low-fat milk, yogurt, whole grains, and fresh fruit.

Food4Kids hours are every Friday, 10am-noon during the summer; or the 2^nd and 4^th Fridays of each month, 10am-noon during the school year. Clients may shop weekly during the summer and twice monthly during the school year.

Commodity Supplemental Food Program

Without proper nutrients, seniors are at risk of increased disability, decreased resistance to infections, deteriorating mental health, longer hospital stays, and chronic diseases such as diabetes.

The Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) is a federal nutrition program for low-income seniors age 60 and over that works to improve their health by supplementing their diets with nutritious USDA foods. We are proud to be a distribution site for this program, which is offered in cooperation with the RI Community Food Bank, the Department of Elderly Affairs, and the US Department of Agriculture.

Registered seniors can receive a supplemental box of nutritious food once a month.

Holiday Food Bags

In November and December, EBFP provides extra food for the holidays. Each client who shops at the food pantry during these months receives a bag with special holiday foods at the time of their visit. No advance registration is required.

Mobile Pantry