Stop & Shop, RI Community Food Bank Donate 5 Tons Of Fresh Food

LITTLE COMPTON, RI — Grocery giant Stop and Shop partnered with the Rhode Island Community Food Bank to donate five tons of fresh produce to hunger relief agencies across the state. Volunteers gathered at Young Family Farm in Little Compton Wednesday to fill 1,000 bags for distribution.

Once filled, the bags were loaded into a Community Food Bank truck, which brought them to four organizations, including the Martin Luther King Center, the East Bay Community Action Newport and the Little Compton Assistance Association.

According to Feeding America, as many as 54 million Americans could experience food insecurity by the end of the year, increased by the coronavirus pandemic.

See also: Millions Made Hungry By Pandemic Could Include Your Neighbor

Since the state of the pandemic, the Food Bank has increased its food distribution by 45 percent to help meet the increased need, now serving 68,000 Rhode Islanders per month, up from 53,000.

"As a neighborhood grocer for more than 100 years, Stop & Shop is proud to join the movement in taking a stand against hunger by providing Rhode Island communities with fresh produce which is so critical during this public health crisis," the company said in a statement.

Patch has partnered with Feeding America to help raise awareness on behalf of the millions of Americans facing hunger. Feeding America, which supports 200 food banks across the country, estimates that in 2020, more than 54 million Americans will not have enough nutritious food to eat due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. This is a Patch social good project; Feeding America receives 100 percent of donations. Find out how you can donate in your community or find a food pantry near you.