Two nonprofits pooling resources to address historically high food insecurity in New England
Rumford, RI – Spoonfuls, Massachusetts’ largest food recovery organization, announced a new partnership with FeedRI that brings Spoonfuls’ recovered food to Rhode Island for the first time. Spoonfuls recovers nearly 140,000 pounds of still-good, unsalable food each week that would otherwise go to waste. The two nonprofits are combining Spoonfuls’ food sourcing with FeedRI’s local network to get more fresh food to more neighbors in need.
The partnership is Spoonfuls’ first expansion beyond Massachusetts, where it began operating in 2010. It comes as people across New England grapple with historically high rates of food insecurity exacerbated by federal hits to the safety net. Spoonfuls recently surpassed a milestone of 50 million pounds of food recovered and distributed, driven largely by a surge in need.
Since the partnership pilot began over the summer, Spoonfuls and FeedRI have worked together to distribute 57,000 pounds – enough for 45,600 meals.
“Every day, we see the growing need for food assistance throughout Rhode Island. That’s why we are so excited to partner with Spoonfuls, an organization that shares our commitment to rescuing food and fighting hunger,” says Rhonda Laphem, FeedRI’s Executive Director. “Knowing that nearly 38% of Rhode Islanders are struggling with food insecurity, this collaboration allows us to reach more people, save more food, and strengthen our communities one meal at a time.”
“We’ve been having exploratory conversations with key stakeholders in nearby states to learn if – and how – Spoonfuls’ work could be useful,” says Erin Ash, Spoonfuls’ Head of Programs. “We know Massachusetts is not the only one grappling with the dual issues of food waste and hunger happening side by side.”
With new food retail and brand partnerships in Southeast Massachusetts and several food donors eager to ensure their donations reached more of their New England neighbors, says Ash, both Spoonfuls and FeedRI saw the opportunity for a powerful partnership leveraging both organization’s resources to provide more food to more people. “Many of the brands donating food to Spoonfuls serve not just Massachusetts, but New England. They’re excited for their food to be reaching more communities in the region through this partnership.”
Spoonfuls, which primarily recovers excess or unsold perishable foods such as produce, meat, dairy, and baked goods, is on track to recover and distribute over 7 million pounds of food – 5.6 million meals – in 2026 alone. It will be the most in the organization’s 16-year history. Nationally, around a third of all food goes to waste, according to the nonprofit ReFED. At the same time, many people are experiencing food insecurity, including 38% of Rhode Island households, according to the Rhode Island Food Bank.