Giving Thanks
Message from the Manager
As Thanksgiving approaches, many of us look forward to gathering around the table with loved ones, sharing favorite dishes, and celebrating traditions. For me, Thanksgiving isn’t complete without green bean casserole! But, for many of our neighbors, putting together a full holiday meal is simply out of reach.
At the NK Food Pantry, we are seeing the need grow every day. While we’re stepping up to meet it, we can’t do it without you. This holiday season, you have the opportunity to make Thanksgiving brighter for a local family in need.
For just $100, you can provide a family with everything they need for a joyful holiday dinner: a full turkey, fresh produce, classic side dishes, and desserts, plus even enough for the next day. More than just a meal, your gift provides dignity, comfort, and the reassurance that they are not alone.
Together, we can make sure every family has the chance to celebrate with warmth, tradition, and hope (and green bean casserole!)
Donate today and share the joy of the Holiday Season. Please include “Thanksgiving” in the memo line when giving online or by check, so your gift is directed to this program.
Kristin Jahne, Pantry Manager
Another Great Neighborhood Food Drive!
Once again, our neighborhoods are responding to the call. The pantry has been suggesting hosting a neighborhood food drive as a way to help us replenish our pantry shelves. Thank you, Rick, Amy, Sherry and all those who helped to support the Cydot/Barolay neighborhood in this much needed drive. The drive was able to donate much needed food and hygiene products as well as cash donations!
Want to support a great cause as well as gather with some of your neighbors - organize a neighborhood food drive. This is the perfect time of the year as the holiday season is right around the corner!
Recent Construction Images
Construction of our new addition and expansion continues into its third month.
The animated photo below shows our new receiving area with the new storage area behind it.
Make sure to take a look at the progress with every newsletter we send out. Also, follow the progress and keep updated on our NK Food Pantry Facebook and Instagram pages.
Pantry Happenings
September continued to be busy at the pantry with multiple food drives, events, donations, and community support efforts:
NK Food Pantry Volunteers supporting our weekly Produce Day
Rumford Pet Express - pet food donations
Community Service Volunteers - helping after program hours
Stop & Shop - continued support through weekly donations
Neighbors in the Community - local food drives
So many great things are happening here. Thank you to our local community for your continued support of the Pantry!
Food Requests
As the fall season settles in, our pantry shelves are turning to breakfast favorites! We’re seeing an ongoing need for essential items to help our local families start their day right. Right now, we’re especially in need of:
Boxed Milk | Canned Fruit | Syrup | Cereal | Pancake Mix | Breakfast Foods
Feeding Our Community, Building Hope
Capital Campaign
Foundation Spotlight: Navigant Credit Union Charitable Foundation
We are so fortunate to have such amazing corporate partners for our Capital Campaign and Navigant Credit Union Charitable Foundation is no exception! The mission of the Navigant CU Charitable Foundation is to create lasting impact and promote well-being for all. Our Pantry expansion and renovation proved to be a perfect fit for Navigant's charitable priorities.
Tim Draper, Senior Vice President of the Foundation, shares his thoughts on Navigant's $40,000 campaign gift:
"One of our most important pillars of impact is Social Service, which encompasses the critical issue of food insecurity. We believe that access to nutritious food is a fundamental human necessity. Without it, individuals cannot fully focus, thrive, or maintain mental well-being and happiness. The mission of the North Kingstown Food Pantry is to feed and assist the hungry people of North Kingstown. It is a vital lifeline for the community and the NCU Foundation is proud to partner with the food pantry to deliver on their mission.
When I toured the Pantry earlier this year what resonated with me the most doesn’t really have anything to do with delivering on the mission. I was moved by the way the pantry utilized every available square inch of the current building to store all that they will give to the community. What resonated with me wasn’t so much the mechanics of delivering on the mission, but rather the ingenuity and determination I saw in the pantry itself. I was struck by how every available square inch of the building had been transformed into storage for the food they provide to the community. Shelves filled offices and meeting rooms, embodying the old saying, 'stuffed to the rafters.' It was clear they needed more space and we had to help them get some.
Our inspiration to support the Campaign is simple - the Pantry team has a proven model. They are supported by a community of volunteers and funders who believe deeply in their mission, and with thoughtful, forward-looking planning, the North Kingstown Food Pantry is positioning themselves for long-term success in fulfilling it."
We are so grateful to Mr. Draper and the Trustees of the Navigant Credit Union Charitable Foundation in support of our "Feeding Our Community, Building Hope" Capital Campaign!
Pictured from left to right: Tim Draper of Navigant CU Charitable Foundation; Teri Ohs, Pantry Board Member; Kristin Jahne, Pantry Manager; Kathy Orovitz, Navigant CU CEO; Dr. Kimberly Page, Board Chair and Capital Campaign Chair; Stephanie Northup, AVP & Branch Manager of Navigant CU's North Kingstown Branch; Mike Rossi, Navigant CU Regional Manager