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3/26/2026
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Speaker Shekarchi, President Lawson join governor at RI Community Food Bank
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 PROVIDENCE, RI — Today, House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi, Senate President Valarie J. Lawson, Governor Dan McKee and Rep. Scott. A. Slater (D-Dist. 10, Providence) joined Rhode Island Community Food Bank CEO Melissa Cherney and other local and state leaders to highlight the important work done by the Rhode Island Community Food Bank.
“A staggering 34% of Rhode Island households deal with food insecurity. I am incredibly proud that in the current state budget, the General Assembly doubled the funding we allocate to the Rhode Island Community Food Bank, because the Food Bank and its partner organizations across the state do incredible work to ensure that families don’t go hungry,” said Speaker Shekarchi (D-Dist. 23, Warwick).
“The Rhode Island Community Food Bank, along with its many partners, does truly incredible work to support people in need across our state. At a time of unprecedented demand for food assistance and significant uncertainty surrounding federal funding and policy, it is more important than ever that we sustain the Food Bank and embrace its mission on the state level,” said President Lawson (D-Dist. 14, East Providence). “Over the years, I have been extremely proud to support solutions that connect Rhode Islanders with nutritious food, such as the SNAP ‘Eat Well Be Well’ program. I am grateful to Governor McKee for the resources his budget plan commits to the Food Bank, and in the weeks ahead, my colleagues and I will work with all stakeholders to provide whatever support we can to meet the needs of the moment.”
The governor’s proposal would increase that state’s support from $1 million to $2 million. Of this funding, $250,000 will support community food organizations across Rhode Island, helping expand the reach of efforts to address food insecurity.
“Rhode Islanders deserve reliable access to healthy food and the RI Community Food Bank is an invaluable partner in that work,” said Governor McKee. “But as we’ve seen, changes at the federal level are putting added strain on families and driving up food insecurity. That’s why my administration is proposing increased support for the food bank and its partners to help ensure every Rhode Islander live a healthy, productive life.”
Last fall, President Trump and Congressional Republicans threatened 145,000 Rhode Islanders relying on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) funding during the federal shutdown. To support Rhode Island’s families and children, Governor McKee issued a State of Emergency, deploying millions of dollars for families with children and directing $200,000 in emergency support to the RI Community Food Bank.
“Governor McKee’s proposal to double state funding to the Rhode Island Community Food Bank is a powerful statement about who we are and how we respond when our neighbors need help,” said Melissa Cherney, CEO of the Rhode Island Food Bank. “One in three Rhode Island households experience food insecurity, and demand for assistance continues to grow across our network of 137 member agencies. We need everyone to work together to reverse these trends and eliminate hunger. We are grateful for the governor’s leadership and for the partnership of the legislature—especially Speaker Shekarchi, Senate President Lawson, Representative Slater and Senator Mack—to ensure we can meet this moment.”
IN PHOTO: From left, Rep. Scott A. Slater, Senate President Valarie J. Lawson, House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi, Governor Dan McKee and Rhode Island Community Food Bank CEO Melissa Cherney.
For more information, contact:
Larry Berman, Communications Director for the Office of the Speaker
State House Room 322
Providence, RI 02903
(401) 447-2655
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