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.

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 when they are not receiving meals through school or daycare. This program provides families with food to make nutritious breakfasts, lunches, and snacks for their children. 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 currently every Friday, 10am-noon. Guests with children 0-17 may utilize this program as needed.

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. Anyone in our service area who needs food assistance is eligible to receive Holiday Food Bags containing special foods such as stuffing, cranberry sauce, quick bread and dessert mixes and more! Additional fresh produce for the holidays is available through our Fresh Food Friday program as well. Please contact us for details.

Mobile Pantry

Mobile Cart

The East Bay Food Pantry is located just around the corner from the Franklin Court Assisted Living building. Many of the residents there are low-income, and after paying for room and board, there is very little left over to meet their other living expenses. We developed our Mobile Cart Program to provide fresh fruit, snacks, and personal care items to those residents who need a little extra help.

Mobile Cart delivers items right to the Franklin Court Assisted Living facility to make it easy for residents to access the program.