Trinity Rep has had a long and active partnership with the Rhode Island Community Food Bank. For years, we have collected canned goods and other non-perishable items during the holiday season, and everyone in Rhode Island, from schoolchildren to senior citizens who come to see our holiday shows, has made a donation of food during this time, states Curt Columbus, Artistic Director. This is our fourth season asking for monetary donations for the Food Bank, and Rhode Islanders were continued their generosity this year! Over $52,000 was raised in donations of cash, checks, and, yes, pocket change - money that will go directly to families in need in our state. We are proud to be part of such an important, fruitful partnership.
The past year has been one full of challenges for thousands of Rhode Islanders, stated Andrew Schiff, Chief Executive Officer of the Rhode Island Community Food Bank. With so many of our neighbors facing difficult times, the generosity exhibited by Trinity Rep and their patrons, particularly during the holidays, is touching beyond words. The timeless story of hope, and the inspirational transformation of Ebenezer Scrooge, truly capture the holiday spirit. The outpouring of support that Rhode Islanders showed for those in need will go a long way towards helping local families this winter.
Currently, the Food Bank feeds more than 50,000 Rhode Islanders each month through a network of more than 300 member agency programs across the state. This represents an increase of 27% over last year. Additionally, SNAP, formerly the Food Stamp Program, now helps one in ten Rhode Island households purchase food with a 31 percent increase in recipients over the past year.