Amid Rhode Island Hunger Crisis, RI Delegation Calls for the Return of Promised Food Shipments to Feed the Hungry

Providence, RI - TODAY, Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) joined Congressmen Gabe Amo (D-RI) and Seth Magaziner (D-RI) in sending a letter urging the Agricultural Marketing Service, an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture, to replace the 16 canceled bonus commodity shipments of food designated for the Rhode Island Community Food Bank. The shipments would have provided roughly 673,080 pounds of food, valued at $398,532.26, to feed Rhode Islanders in need.

"Serving up to 100,000 Rhode Islanders per month, RICFB relies on bonus commodity shipments from AMS to supplement their work in addressing the growing hunger crisis in Rhode Island," wrote the lawmakers. "Without the 16 canceled or returned shipments, RICFB will not be able to reach as many Rhode Islanders who need nutrition assistance. As such, we urge you, within all applicable rules and regulations, to prioritize the Rhode Island Community Food Bank for future bonus commodity shipments."

A full copy of the letter can be found HERE.

Background

As a member of the House Budget Committee, Congressman Amo is fighting to protect food assistance and help Rhode Islanders put food on the table.

In the Big, Ugly Law, Republicans cut $187 billion in funding from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), leaving working families even more vulnerable to Trump and Republicans' cost-of-living crisis. Since the law's enactment, approximately 4 million Americans, including 1.5 million children, have lost their SNAP benefits.

Lower SNAP benefits and higher grocery prices due to Trump's tariffs are expected to drive more people to rely on local food pantries to feed their families.

Since Trump and Republicans began their efforts to slash food assistance programs, Amo has visited the Rhode Island Community Food Bank and food pantries across the First Congressional District.

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