Today's Hours:
Food Pantry: Demo Text
Thrift Shop: Demo Text
Food Pantry
Thrift Shop
Both Closed
Monday: 10am-4pm
Tuesday: 10am-4pm
Wednesday: 10am-6:30pm
  • Guest choice
  • Pre-bagged
  • Online order pick-up
Thursday: Closed
Friday: 10am-3pm
  • Pre-bagged
  • Online order pick-up
Fresh Food Fridays
  • Guests may shop every Friday for produce and bread
  • Offerings vary each week.
Food4Kids
  • 10am – Noon
  • Guests may shop every week
Food4Seniors
  • 10am – Noon
  • REGISTRATION REQUIRED
Mobile Cart
  • Franklin Court Assisted Living Residents Only
  • 2nd and 4th Fridays 9:30-10:30am
Saturday: 10am-4pm
Sunday: Closed
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Easy Bay Food Pantry & Thrift Shop
2009
  • EBFP is established as an outreach of the First Congregational Church in Bristol in response to a recognition of growing need in the area.

  • Received non-profit status in December, operating as an independent organization that included (as it does today) a food pantry supported by a thrift shop.
2010
  • Added a voucher program for families/individuals in need of Thrift Shop items.

  • Developed the Access Nutrition Initiative to improve healthy food options in our pantry and encourage healthy choices through education and community engagement. The Access Nutrition Initiative has grown to the point where we now spend at least 95% of our food purchasing dollars on healthy foods.
2011
  • Added Fresh Food Friday to provide weekly access to fresh produce and bread. Fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs, and greens make up approximately ¼ of the food we distribute.
2012
  • Developed our Food4Kids program to provide supplementary breakfast and lunch foods for kids 0-17 to ensure they have the nutrition they need, especially during weekends and school vacations when they may lose access to meals through school or daycare.

  • Partnered with SNAP Ed to provide monthly cooking classes (later we transitioned to partnering with the Bristol Health Equity Zone to provide monthly cooking classes).
2015
  • Became a Core member of the Bristol Health Equity Zone (BHEZ) and a member of the BHEZ Steering Committee.
2016
  • Partnered with the RI Community Food Bank (RICFB), US Department of Agriculture (USDA), and RI Division of Elderly Affairs to provide monthly Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) boxes for low-income seniors.
2017
  • Developed our Mobile Pantry program to deliver groceries to homebound individuals and families in need.

  • Became the RI Community Food Bank Anchor Agency for the East Bay area due to our size, leadership, and consistently exemplary performance.
2018
  • Began our Farm2Pantry program to grow additional fresh produce for Fresh Food Fridays and our Food Pantry.
2019
  • Developed our Mobile Cart program to deliver supplementary food and personal care products to residents in Franklin Court Assisted Living.
2020
  • Began providing pre-bagged food due to Covid restrictions. When we returned to guest-choice programming, we retained the option of pre-bagged Food Pantry and Food4Kids food for those guests who prefer it.
2021
  • Developed Online Ordering to combine the convenience of pre-bagged food with greater choice and a regularly updated inventory.

  • Partnered with Hugh-Cole School to provide food deliveries to families unable to access the Food Pantry due to transportation or language barriers.
2023
  • EBFP sees its largest year yet, both in terms of amount of food distributed and thrift shop revenue. All food programs grew to accommodate increased participation.

Make a contribution to Reimagine | Renovate!

Click the donate button below to donate by credit card, EFT, PayPal or Venmo.

If you would like to pledge your donation over a series of installments, please also complete a pledge form. 

Checks can be made out to East Bay Food Pantry and mailed to 532 Wood St, Bristol RI 02809

 

The need for the East Bay Food Pantry and Thrift Shop has never been greater!

This growing need reflects the effects of reduced government support and rising food, housing and energy costs, all of which increase food insecurity in our community:

  • Over the last two years Food Pantry visits increased 35%.
  • In 2024, EBFP served 2,414 individuals across a combined 32,598 visits, distributing the equivalent of 403,574 meals — an 8% increase from 2023.
  • Additionally, due to rising food prices, our cost to stock the pantry with healthy options reached $211,000 in 2024, a 15% increase from 2023 and an 80% jump since 2022.
  • 97% of our food purchasing budget has been dedicated to carefully selected, nutritious foods for our guests.

The existing layout of the EBFP Food Pantry and Thrift Shop can no longer accommodate the increase in guests and food storage needs.  The Reimagine | Renovate project will totally transform and expand the layouts of both the Food Pantry and Thrift Shop and more efficiently utilize the total space within the facility, giving each its own distinct area with ample space to display items for guests to select from, and providing increased space for food storage.

We plan to begin the renovation work in the first quarter of 2026 and it will be completed over three phases:

Phase I

Build an additional fire exit:

A new fire exit in the rear of the building will allow us to open up more space to the public that is currently only usable for storage.

Phase II

Design a new space for the Thrift Shop:

In 2024, the Thrift Shop had another record-setting year; sales grossed $324,000, with net proceeds supporting the Pantry. To help ensure its continued success, the Reimagine | Renovate project will:

  • Create a new retail layout with better flow and continuity for guests.
  • Provide a separate boutique shopping area near the main entrance of the building.
  • Renovate spaces to store and showcase the many fine items the Shop offers, as well as new flooring, and fresh paint throughout. 
  • Enhance the safety of the space with a new climate control and air quality system.

Phase III

Build the expanded Food Pantry: 

  • Design the space to resemble a small town market.
  • Double the size of existing space for guests to shop for food.
  • Provide additional storage space.
  • Install glass doors leading into a welcoming reception and waiting area with comfortable seating for guests to wait during busy shopping.
  • Create a new office layout that will allow guests to meet with staff with more privacy. 
  • Install new flooring, soft lighting, and attractive shelving.
  • Install a large walk-in freezer to more than double the cold food storage capacity.
  • Paint the walls throughout.

The Reimagine | Renovate project
has full community support

 

The Town of Bristol and its Community Development Department, the Bristol Historic District Commission, and the East Bay Community Development Corporation granted permission to renovate and expand the facility.

The Board has launched a fundraising effort to enable greater community support of the Reimagine | Renovate project.  To date, the project has received grants from the Champlin Foundation and the 1829 Legacy Fund.

Click the donate button at the top of the page to support the Reimagine | Renovate project. Thank you!

How will this affect me if I use the food pantry or shop at the thrift shop?