According to the Rhode Island Community Food Bank’s 2023 status report on hunger in the state, nearly one in three households in Rhode Island can’t afford adequate food. There are a number of contributing factors to that sobering statistic, chief among them the rising cost of housing and food. The report also shows that food costs increased 11 percent between July 2022 and July 2023. In South County, organizations are tackling the issue head-on to support their community members.
Jonnycake Center for Hope just celebrated 50 years of service to the communities of South Kingstown, Narragansett, Block Island, and Jamestown. Last year, the organization supported 2,200 community members, but Kate Brewster, the organization’s CEO, estimates that two to three times that number need assistance.
For the first 45 years of the organization’s life, it was primarily a food pantry and thrift store, but over the last five years, Jonnycake Center for Hope has worked to address some additional unmet needs in the community, such as child and youth enrichment and housing. “You can’t solve poverty just by providing food,” says Brewster. “There are so many facets to the issue, and we’re trying to help in as many ways as we can.”
This winter, the organization plans to open a youth center for middle and high school students who are economically disadvantaged, offering academic help, enrichment, and support for students seeking post-secondary education. The center is also working on a plan to offer 15 different affordable housing units to community members. “We currently have seven families living in our housing,” says Brewster, addressing the way their program impacts the whole person. “We’re not only making sure these people are housed, but we’re making sure they have enough food and that their kids have enrichment opportunities and are doing well in school.”
Providing healthy food remains at the core of the organization’s offerings. To stock their food pantry, the Jonnycake Center purchases nonperishable items from the Rhode Island Community Food Bank and has relationships with local growers and farmers that provide produce. The organization also partially
relies on donations from private citizens, and the most needed items are whole-grain cereal, soup, and healthy snack options.
People who depend on Jonnycake Center for Hope only have to provide the organization with residency information once a year to access all of its services. The food pantry is set up like a grocery store. Unlike some organizations that give clients a bag of what is available, Jonnycake members can visit the pantry once a month, take a grocery cart, and shop for the items they need, limited only by household size.
The number of committed volunteers the center enjoys is impressive, and Brewster calls them long-timers. “We have a strong base of highly trained volunteers who work in the food pantry stocking shelves, helping shoppers, and driving food to seniors,” she says. “These people come week after week and year after year. They really want to support our organization and their community.”
For those seeking an organization to support this holiday season, Brewster says that starting a food drive through a church or school to collect food donations for the Jonnycake Food Pantry is a wonderful way to help others.
Plates with Purpose takes a different approach to addressing food insecurity and bringing together community members. Jennifer Capracotta and Jennifer Fantozzi started the organization in December 2020, during the height of the pandemic. The two women had a friend who opened a restaurant mere months before lockdown and struggled as he tried to navigate the pandemic while keeping his new restaurant running. Capracotta and Fantozzi made a financial contribution to his restaurant with the caveat that he pay it forward by preparing and distributing hot nutritious meals to community members in need. Their plan was so well received that they turned it into a nonprofit organization that serves South Kingstown and Narragansett, as well as several other communities in the state.
Plates with Purpose makes a small financial donation to partner restaurants, then determines a fair value per meal that would allow the restaurant to cover the cost of the meal, its prep, and its packaging, as well as retain a small percentage per meal as revenue. “We feel strongly that supporting independent restaurant owners is as important as supporting Rhode Island neighbors struggling to meet their basic food needs,” says Capracotta. Since its inception, the organization has partnered with several restaurants, including Narragansett-based SoCo Vedge and Terminesi’s Cafe in Wakefield, to serve more than 8,200 meals to people experiencing food insecurity.
In addition to their restaurant partnerships, Plates with Purpose took the Little Free Library concept and turned it into a food distribution system they call Hope Chests. These food cabinets are located in Johnston and North Providence, and Capracotta and Fantozzi have plans for expansion. “We place them in areas that are easy to access,” says Capracotta. “Individuals who find themselves with a bit extra in their cupboards are welcome to donate nonperishable items to the Hope Chest and anyone finding themselves a bit short on food is invited to ‘shop’ the Hope Chest.” For those interested in stocking the food cabinets, some of the most requested items are pull-top canned goods, pasta and sauce, pantry staples, and granola bars.
Although the women behind Plates with Purpose respect the privacy of the people they serve, they can’t help but form relationships. “Jen and I tend to get attached to people very easily, it’s just who we are,” says Capracotta. “We are both Libras and in the true spirit of that, take pride in making others feel comfortable and cared for in a gentle way. We feel blessed by having met each and every one of the people we have come to serve.”
The organization’s work stems from the founders’ mission to enlighten people about the food insecurity crisis in Rhode Island. “We raise awareness through education and community involvement,” says Capracotta. “We believe we can be part of the solution – one community at a time – and we believe we started a movement that brings together restaurants, local organizations, and engaged communities that are motivated to be part of the solution with us.”
Non-perishable food donations can be brought to their facility at 22 Kersey Road in Peace Dale. Learn more about ways to volunteer or contribute to their Holiday Drive (with a deadline of December 13) by visiting JonnycakeCenter.org/give-help/.
For restaurant owners interested in participating, email PlatesWithPurpose.RI@gmail.com. A Hope Chest inside the Elizabeth Buffum Chase Center, a domestic violence and sexual assault shelter, exclusively serves the center’s clients. Find their Amazon wishlist and other ways to donate at PlatesWithPurpose.org/waystogive.
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