By Tiffany Williams –
The city of Providence, Rhode Island, announced a partnership with RIDE to expand the community meals program to every city youth in every neighborhood.
Currently, after-school meals are served at all eleven recreation center locations in Providence, but they will now be available at four library locations throughout the city.
“Access to proper nutrition is vital for the success, growth and well-being of all of our students,” said Providence Mayor Brett P. Smiley. “Food insecurity can be one of the first barriers to our students’ ability to learn and be successful in the classroom. By expanding our community meals program we are making it easier for student to focus on what matters most– learning.”
The community meals program will now be at Knight Memorial Library, South Providence Library, Washington Park Library, and Olneyville Library.
“Expanding access to healthy food is vital,” said City Council President Rachel Miller (Ward 13). “We want families to know that help is available and to take full advantage of this program to combat hunger this winter.”
The Providence community meals program will provide free dinners and snacks in fifteen locations across the city, year-round to youth age 18 and under.
“Children need healthy meals to learn, and Providence Public Schools is thrilled with this investment into community meals program so more healthy meals will be getting into Providence students and families,” said Providence Public Schools Superintendent Javier Montañez. “We encourage our families and students to use this wonderful resource.”
Meals and snacks for the community meals program are provided by Sodexo and funded by The Child and Adult Care Food Program; a federally funded program administered by the Rhode Island Department of Education.
“Nutritious meals fuel healthy growth and development, and RIDE is proud to support the City of Providence in this effort to expand access to food in our communities,” said Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green. “We invite Providence youth to visit their closest meal distribution site if they are in need.”
The Community Meals Program is managed by the City of Providence Parks Department, which is responsible for training staff, finding new locations to provide meals, vendor management, and helping to facilitate inspections of new locations.
This pilot program is part of the City’s plans to expand the community meals program to include all nine community libraries by the summer of 2024.