RI Labor Unions, Community Organizations and Faith Leaders Unite To Help Fill Empty Food Bank Shelves
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    RI Labor Unions, Community Organizations and Faith Leaders Unite To Help Fill Empty Food Bank Shelves
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    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, October 31, 2025

    RI Labor Unions, Community Organizations and Faith Leaders Unite To Help Fill Empty Food Bank Shelves

    31 October 2025

    A labor-led coalition of caregivers, food workers, faith leaders, and community partners launch “The Neighbor Food Network,” emergency food drop-off centers to deliver to state food banks 

    The websites neighborfoodnetwork.org and solidarityfoodnetwork.org will be live November 1 to connect volunteers with drop-off centers and local food pantries.

    PROVIDENCE - The ongoing federal shutdown has led to strain for many families in Rhode Island and the demand on our food pantries is sky high. On November 1, at least 25 states will be cutting off SNAP benefits for millions of low-income Americans, including 145,000 Rhode Islanders as well as thousands of federal workers who have not received a paycheck in weeks. Even as federal judges step in and demand that SNAP be protected, the uncertainty has already deepened the crisis. With so many families unsure where their next meal will come from. With food pantries already running on empty we are stepping up. This week, Governor McKee announced a State of Emergency and committed $6 million in funding for SNAP assistance, a small fraction of what Rhode Island is required to cover residents’ monthly food needs.

    To meet this crisis, a labor-led coalition of caregivers, food workers, faith leaders, and community partners are launching “The Neighbor Food Network,” emergency food drop-off centers open for food donations from the public. Teamsters truck drivers will pick up and transport donations from drop off locations to existing distribution centers. In addition, the coalition is encouraging members to donate to the United Way and volunteer at food pantry locations.

    Our neighbors are in need, and we in the labor movement are first going to make sure they and their families have the food they need to get through this crisis.  But we are not afraid to point out that this is a crisis of choice – and President Trump and Congressional Republicans are choosing to make our neighbors hungry. Lastly, it’s time we ask ourselves why 145,000 Rhode Islanders need to rely on SNAP to begin with. When we get through this, that is the question organized labor will demand answers to."

    - Patrick Crowley, President of RI AFL-CIO

    One in every eight Rhode Islanders rely on SNAP benefits to cover some of their monthly food expenses with over 30% of those being working families and nearly 50% being families with children. The average recipient gets $262 a month in assistance which helps many of them keep their fridges full of fresh foods.

    For two years, my only job has been to take care of my mom who is fighting stage 4 lung cancer. The SNAP program has been my mom’s lifeline for the last ten years and has been a huge help to the whole family. When I received a call that her SNAP benefits were ending, I could not believe this was actually happening. I am grateful to be part of a union where we look out for each other, even in times of crisis like this."

    - Socheat Proeun, Home Care Attendant from Central Falls, member of SEIU 1199NE

    Access to nutritious food is a basic human right, and this right becomes even more urgent when public supports are cut off. We urge every Rhode Islander who can to participate in our Neighbor Food Network. Because when SNAP benefits vanish, the gap is not a question of ideology — it’s a question of survival for too many families, so we’re stepping up to make sure no neighbor goes hungry."

    - Lev Poplow from Indivisible RI

    Collections start on Monday, November 3rd, everyday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the following locations:

    1. Rhode Island AFl-CIO:  194 Smith Street, Providence, RI 02908
    2. SEIU 1199NE: 319 Broadway, Providence, RI 02909
    3. Rhode Island Laborers District Council: 410 South Main Street Providence, RI 02903
    4. RI AFSCME Council 94: 1179 Charles St, North Providence, RI 02904
    5. Rhode Island Federation of Teachers and Health Professionals: 356 Smith St, Providence, RI 
    6. UFCW Local 328: 328 278 Silver Spring St, Providence, RI 02904
    7. ATU Local 618: 172 Longfellow St, Providence, RI 02907
    8. AAUP/URI 303: Roosevelt Hall University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881  
    9. NEARI 99: Bald Hill Rd Cranston, RI 02920
    10. Teamsters Local 251: 121 Brightridge Ave. East Providence, RI 02914
    In addition to the groups hosting drop-offs, dozens of other organizations are working to drive food, money and volunteer hours to the drop-off locations and distribution centers including:
    • RI Council of Churches
    • BluHope Rising Alliance
    • Cranston Forward
    • India Point Bridge Brigade
    • Indivisible RI Metro
    • Lil Rhody Visibility Brigade
    • RI Black, Latino, Indigenous, Asian-American and Pacific Islander Caucus 
    • South County Rising
    • South County Resistance
    * Locations will be collecting donations only, no distributions will be done at these sites. All donations should be non-perishable food goods like rice, pasta, canned vegetables and fruits, tuna fish, cereal, soups, etc. Please do not bring items that need to be refrigerated or frozen.

    Contact the Communications Office of SEIU 1199NE at 860-280-6443 or comms@seiu1199ne.org to coordinate a drop-off location visit, speak to a coalition member or see a Teamsters pick-up.