Tanzi Wins $1,000 For Jonnycake Center

Rep. Teresa Tanzi (D-Dist. 34) secured a $1,000 legislative grant for the Peace Dale food bank that is stretching to provide resources for South Kingstown's needy this holiday season.

The money will be used to  purchase food, said Director Susan Gustaitis, who said that demand for the center’s  services has increased significantly in the last few years as the economy has  worsened.

“The Johnnycake Center  is an incredibly important resource for so many families in our community,  and the need now is greater than ever," said Tanzi, who volunteers at the Johnnycake Center,  distributing holiday baskets and arranging and picking up produce donations  from local farms. "It provides not just food but the kind  of fresh, healthy food that is, unfortunately, out of reach for many families and is often hard to get at other pantries. I’m glad to help this vital  organization in any way that I can."

The Jonnycake Center provides clients with monthly nutritionally balanced food baskets that  contain enough food, including milk, eggs and frozen meats, to prepare three  meals a day for an entire week for all household members. It also offers  holiday meal baskets and breakfast and lunch during school vacations and  summer for the children of clients who qualify for free and reduced-price  school lunches. The center also operates a thrift store that generates  funding for the pantry and is a source of free clothing and household goods  for clients.

For more information on how to donate to the center or to volunteer, call 789-1559 or visit its website.