Successfully Serving the Public
Alexandra Riewer
Issue date: 3/4/10 Section: News
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Q: The center's programs have risen dramatically in success since 1999. Can you talk about this success and the significant revisions you've implemented?
A: The circumstances of the community have changed radically over the last 10 years and we have been efficient about keeping up with those needs. The major sources of food are the Rhode Island Community Food Bank and the USDA Commodity Foods Network. The supply of food is incredibly cut from what it was ten years ago, so we're not able to get nearly as much from them. Our success has been in responding to the change in community need and from those entities.
Q: How has the recession affected the number of families who utilize the food pantry?
A: The frequency which people are using the food pantry is really the issue. People that used to come once a year are coming once a quarter. People that used to come once a quarter are coming once a month. We try to organize the food pantry so people leave here with five days worth of meals to be able to get over the immediate crisis. As far as donations, there has been an increase in participation in the food drives. On the financial side, a lot of our major funders have less money to play with. But we've also seen a numerical increase in the number of individual donors.
Q: How have the after-school programs fared with regards to resource availability such as tutors, text books, and computers?
A: We try to invest wisely in resources when we have the opportunity to do so. We've had an increase in the number of people who have wanted to volunteer as tutors. When people don't have the money to give, they volunteer their time. As far as books and consumable supplies, we try to raise funds to purchase those things. We just received a donation of about 15 or 16 boxes from our friends at the Newport Library.
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