ANNIVERSARY SPEAKER Celebrity Chef Jeff Henderson Tuesday headlined the 30th anniversary celebration of the Rhode Island Community Food Bank. Photo by Steve Klamkin WPRO News

RI Food Bank marks 30 years with celebrity chef

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Posted: 5/9/2012 3:15:26 PM
Updated: 5/9/2012 3:29:02 PM

The Rhode Island Community Food Bank Tuesday celebrated 30 years of helping feed the state, with help from a celebrity chef.

Chef Jeff Henderson, author of the autobiography "Cooked", and host of the "Chef Jeff Project" on the Food Network headlined the Food Bank's anniversary luncheon, that drew about 700 supporters to the Rhode Island Convention Center.

"This is about the community," Henderson said. "Its about a movement of people from this community that is coming together for fellowship to raise money and awareness to make sure that we take care of the folks in this state and this community to make sure that everybody has a little something on the plate to eat."

"It's very gratifying to see so many supporters of the Food Bank gathered together today," said Andrew Schiff, the Food Bank's Chief Executive Officer. He said the need for the food services is as great as ever.

"We've been hoping to see economic recovery in the communities that we serve for the last year.  We haven't seen it yet.  We know it's coming.  What we need is jobs and better wages, and that will really help people get back on their feet.  But, until then, we have to feed everybody who doesn't have enough food in their home."

Schiff said the cupboard, although not bare, is much diminished at the Food Bank at this time of year, and he is hoping this Saturday's food drive by letter carriers will help to replenish the supply.

"Here is a statewide effort, led by the letter carriers, to bring in food to the Food Bank at a time when we really need it.  May is a time when we're very low.  We're depending on Saturday and folks' generosity."

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