In January 2024, the food bank fulfilled 1,600 requests, which included 482 children. These numbers represent increases of 68 percent and 48 percent, respectively, over January 2023.”

Mary Anne Crittenden, president of the St. John’s Lodge Food Bank

PORTSMOUTH — Three local organizations have received grants from the Rhode Island Foundation to provide services to Portsmouth residents. The work includes providing recovery services, offering relationship violence prevention education in Portsmouth schools and stocking a local food bank.

“We are grateful to be able to help these organizations carry out their crucial work. We are fortunate to partner with passionate donors who make it possible for us to support nonprofits that are on the frontlines of serving the needs of their communities,” said David N. Cicilline, the Foundation’s president and CEO. 

The Eastern Rhode Island Conservation District received $9,693 to support its AgInnovation Farm on Jepson Lane, which provides experiential learning opportunities for middle and high school students. The primary goal is to build foundations in STEAM literacy by engaging students academically with agricultural science through school day instruction, promotion of healthy eating, and hands-on after school programs and summer camp. 

“Students gain the knowledge and skills to promote stewardship on a broader community level. Additionally, the program fosters career development by exposing students to various agricultural professions, from farming and crop management to environmental science and agribusiness, all with a strong focus on sustainable practices,” said Sara Churgin, executive director. 

“Through partnerships with local organizations, and academic institutions, the farm expands students’ horizons and inspires them to consider career paths that contribute to a greener, more sustainable future. Students develop essential skills, empowering them to contribute to sustainable agriculture and food systems in the future. AgInnovation is not just a place of learning; it’s a catalyst for the state’s farmers and environmental leaders of tomorrow.” 

St. John’s Lodge Food Bank on Sprague Street received $7,500 to serve the needs of food-insecure residents of Portsmouth and the surrounding communities. The organization maintains an inventory of fresh and non-perishable foods at the St. John’s Masonic Lodge and relies on volunteers to pick-up food donated by local merchants, to assemble food packages for recipients and to distribute the packages to clients at the Lodge. 

“Newport County has a 6.9 percent food insecurity rate among its 85,000 residents according to Feeding America’s 2023 Map the Meal Gap study,” said Mary Anne Crittenden, president. “These figures are borne out by our experiences at the St. John’s Lodge Food Bank, where visitor numbers show a steady increase year to year. In January 2024, the food bank fulfilled 1,600 requests, which included 482 children. These numbers represent increases of 68 percent and 48 percent, respectively, over January 2023.”

The Katie Brown Educational Program received $7,000 to provide evidence-based, relationship violence prevention education to Portsmouth students in grades 4-12. Through the KBEP students learn skills necessary to recognize, avoid, and prevent relationship violence by shifting unhealthy attitudes and changing behaviors. 

“Our programming will improve their ability to identify warning signs of violent or unhealthy relationships and their acquisition of protective social emotional learning skills as well as decrease the prevalence and longevity of violent relationship experiences in youth,” said Claire McVicker, executive director. “While eliminating their interactions with violent individuals are a statistical impossibility, improving their ability to more quickly and effectively identify risk behaviors and highlight safe exit strategies are likely to reduce the amount of time spent in violent relationships and encourage safer disengagement.”

Newport County Fund

The American Red Cross, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Newport County, the East Bay Community Action Program, Girl Scouts of Southeast New England, Meals on Wheels and the Newport County YMCA are among the nonprofits that also received grants through the Foundation’s Newport County Fund. 

The Newport County Fund awards grants of up $10,000 to strengthen or expand established programs, to support policy or advocacy efforts on behalf of community concerns, to fund new projects that focus on significant problems or opportunities, and to leverage strategic collaborations and partnerships. 

In making the funding decisions, the Foundation worked with an advisory committee comprised of residents from every community in Newport County. 

Established in 2002, the Fund has awarded more than $6 million in grants for programs and services for residents of Portsmouth, Jamestown, Little Compton, Middletown, Newport, and Tiverton over the years. It is just one of the grant programs that enable the Foundation to serve Newport County communities. Since 2022, the Foundation has awarded more than $10.9 million in grants to Newport County nonprofits. 

For more information about the Rhode Island Foundation, visit rifoundation.org.