Neighborhood Friends Network
You’ve heard the saying, “It takes a Village.” That’s what they say about solving the big problems people face every day. We couldn’t agree more. In our case, “It takes a Neighborhood.”
Nearly two out of five households in our neighborhood of Providence and across Rhode Island don’t always have enough to eat. Our Neighborhood Friends Network brings together people and organizations working with us to help our neighbors put food on the table. YNFP thanks all our Neighborhood Friends below and invites you to join us.
Join our Friends Network
YNFP is a member of the Rhode Island Community Food Bank, which supplies us with food staples, equipment and training on how best to serve our neighborhood.
Providence City Councilman Justin Roias hosted our Grand Opening, bringing Mayor Brett Smiley and fellow councilmembers together in a united front against hunger. He remains an active supporter to this day.
A seed grant from the Rhode Island Foundation was pivotal to the launch of our new pantry serving the North End of Providence. The foundation recently renewed its grant, for our ongoing operations.
Early support from Feast & Fettle helped kickstart the success of YNFP, with ongoing charitable donations of their incredible meals.
The Power of Partnership
Our pantry partners with the Mount Hope Community Center on initiatives benefiting both of our stakeholders on an ongoing basis, with the essential coordination of YNFP Boardmember Sharon Lee Waldman.
Our pantry has filled bags with nourishing food to be delivered to Mount Hope neighbors. In turn, the Community Center has provided YNFP with support including holiday gifts and clothing for the children who visit our pantry.
Hope's Harvest brings fresh, local produce to our pantry shelves.
In May 2025, the Stop & Shop on Mineral Spring Avenue in North Providence will again support YNFP with its Bloomin' 4 Good Program. The Providence store on W. River St. has also run this program with us.
3P HR Consulting has been a major funder and fundraiser for YNFP.
Brown University has generously sent us interns, and its Watson Institute has supplied us with IT equipment.
Thanksgiving Friends Network
Each year, YNFP's annual Thanksgiving Food Drive demonstrates the power of networking for tackling hunger. In 2024, we provided Thanksgiving meal kits to over 250 households. Supporters have included the Make A Difference Foundation, PVD Food Insecurity Collective, Moses Brown School, Dave's Fresh Marketplace, Hope's Harvest, City Councilman Justin Roias, Sika Emseal, Rhode Island Community Food Bank, Central Congregational Church, Stop & Shop, and individual donors, volunteers and board members. Thanks to all these and more!
The Lighthouse Shop at Riverside Congregational Church generously provides YNFP with bulk foods at deep discounts.
Thanks to the Wanskuck Library, we offer free books to children who come to the pantry.
PVDPERIOD. regularly supplies the pantry with free period products.
Johnson & Wales interns have helped out at the pantry, and the school supported a student fundraiser for YNFP.
Hope Street Friends
During the annual Giving Season, the Hope Street Merchants Association has supported YNFP with food drives and other activities.
In 2023-24, merchants and shoppers participated at the East Side YMCA, Henry Bear's Park, J Marcel, Kreatelier, Like No Udder & PVDeli, LULI Boutique, Rhody Craft, Seven Stars Bakery and Stock Culinary Goods.
YNFP and the DaVinci Center have partnered to fill needs in the North End of Providence.
YNFP can only do its work with the help of our dedicated board members and volunteers.
We are a member of the 1 of 52 Hunger Network.
The Google for Nonprofits program is helping YNFP spread the word.
New to the Network
In 2024, we continued to add partners to the network, welcoming Shaw's Supermarket in North Providence, which is now helping YNFP to expand our pantry's range of options for neighbors in need.
Please consider how you might contribute as part of YNFP's Neighborhood Friends Network. Contact Executive Director Jacqueline Gardiner at ynfp22@gmail.com.
On October 29, 2023, the PVD Food Insecurity Collective held a concert and costume contest with all proceeds going to YNFP.
End Hunger New England has generously supplied YNFP with its nutritious meal pouches of rice and beans, oatmeal and more - all packed by volunteers in Massachusetts.
Jersey Mike's on Branch Ave. donated subs for our Grand Opening.
Microsoft is helping us connect with pro bono cloud services and applications.
Dunkin' Donuts on Branch Ave. gifted coffee and donuts for our Grand Opening.
Oak Street Health on Branch Street has partnered with us at the pantry to bring healthcare information to our neighbors.