At the Food Bank this morning, Foundation President & CEO Neil Steinberg said, "Every day we continue to see evidence that Rhode Island has been hard hit by the national economic downturn and, unfortunately, slow to recover...Thanks to the generosity of hundreds of Rhode Islanders with permanent funds at the Foundation, we are uniquely positioned to make these emergency dollars available for food, rent, shelter, heating assistance, and critical prescription medication - basics we believe all Rhode Islanders should not have to do without."

Other Foundation staff members made the announcement at the community action programs in Cranston, Johnston, Newport, Pawtucket, Providence, Wakefield, Warwick, and Woonsocket.

Read the release and see additional photos from the announcements.

 

In the photo above, left to right, Major David Dunham, Salvation Army; David Hirsch, chairman, The Rhode Island Foundation; Neil Steinberg, president & CEO, The Rhode Island Foundation; Ben Lessing, executive director, Family Resources Community Action; Michael Ryan, regional president of National Grid and chairman, Salvation Army "Warm Thy Neighbor" campaign; Joanne McGunagle, president of the Rhode Island Community Action Association (RICAA) and executive director of Comprehensive Community Action; Paula McFarland, executive director of RICAA; and Andrew Schiff, chief executive officer, Rhode Island Community Food Bank.