Get to Know Our Story

Since 2009, the East Bay Food Pantry (EBFP) has worked to reduce hunger and increase nutrition across the East Bay, operating with a mission “to engage, educate, and empower the East Bay in creating a hunger-free community.” Our efforts have been recognized by the RI Community Food Bank with multiple “Best of the Best” awards and we are best practices certified. Last year, EBFP served 2,400 food-insecure individuals in 1,170 households, a 20% increase over the year prior.

We serve food-insecure individuals and families from three counties: Bristol, Providence, and Newport. In addition to food distribution at our client-choice food pantry in Bristol, we also deliver food to the homebound, supplement meals for children when school is closed, provide supplementary
food and toiletries for seniors, offer fresh food weekly (produce and bread), partner with local farms to ensure enough fresh produce, and provide nutrition education to help clients make healthy food choices for their families.

Our food pantry uses a client choice model with flexible hours (including one evening each week) and online ordering is available to help reduce wait time. Materials are offered in Spanish, Portuguese, and English and volunteers are available to help translate for non-English-speakers.

Our thrift shop is open to the public and is supplied by donations of clothing, housewares, and more from the community. All thrift shop proceeds fund the food pantry.