Best of Rhode Island 2020
While the pandemic changed life as we knew it, we’ve still got a lot to celebrate. Check out this list of do-good Rhode Islanders with whom we are lucky to share this place we call home, plus the results of our annual readers’ poll.
Pantry Philanthropy
Food businesses that help out needy neighbors and co-workers.
Courtesy of India Restaurant
India Restaurant
India Restaurant provided more than 3,000 free meals for frontline emergency and health care workers over the first three months of the COVID-19 crisis. Meals were offered each day for pickup and included a vegan dish of the day or chicken masala. The team found a way through food to give back to frontliners who are fighting to protect our community. indiarestaurant.com
Narragansett Beer
This local fave launched the #BuyNeighbor movement, encouraging followers to buy gift cards from Rhode Island-owned gems. People received a gift card to a small business, and then gave one to someone else, creating a chain of support for businesses during the pandemic. Narragansettbeer.com
Hope and Main, Nourish our Neighbors Program
Nonprofit food business incubator Hope and Main’s Nourish Our Neighbors program raised funds from more than 300 donors and a grant from the Rhode Island Foundation’s Coronavirus Emergency Response Fund to prepare 22,000 meals for those in need. Distribution included free breakfast and lunch for schoolchildren and nutritious meals made by member businesses to food-insecure families, seniors and other vulnerable populations. makefoodyourbusiness.org
Eli Dunn, Eli’s Kitchen and Ric Wild, Good Neighbors
“Chopped” champion Eli Dunn of Eli’s Kitchen in Warren was challenged by Ric Wild of Good Neighbors to create a meal with the food pantry’s ingredients live on Facebook. Viewers learned to get fancy with humble ingredients and helped raise $8,500 for the nonprofit too. eliskitchenwarren.com
Paquette’s Family Restaurant and Kobi Dennis
Paquette’s Family Restaurant in East Providence started Soup and Smile Saturdays with Kobi Dennis, of the Greater Providence YMCA, to deliver free soup across the state. Anyone who ordered takeout at the restaurant could donate $5 to help feed people in need, and the restaurant matched it by filling bowls with hearty meals. Paquette’s made the soup and Dennis delivered it. paquettesrestaurant.com
Derek Wagner, Nicks on Broadway and Perry Raso, Matunuck Oyster Bar
In response to schools closing due to COVID-19, restaurant owners Derek Wagner and Perry Raso separately started providing free lunches for students who began remote learning. Restaurants offered different pickup locations or delivery options for students who otherwise relied on school lunches for meals during the day. nicksonbroadway.com; rhodyoysters.com
Kaitlyn Roberts and Ashley Vanasse, Easy Entertaining
Easy Entertaining cafe and catering company volunteered resources to help feed their employees after they were forced to lay off many due to the pandemic. Owner Kaitlyn Roberts and executive chef Ashley Vanasse worked together to provide meals each week for the company’s staff and members of their household. The meals were prepared and ready for pickup. easyentertainingri.com
Funding Futures
GoFundMe campaigns that come through in the clutch.
Courtesy Cromwell Lunch Ladies
Cromwell Lunch Ladies’ Meals for School Families
Rooms and Works, Knead Doughnuts and Providence Kitchen Collaborative
This dynamic trio partnered as the Cromwell Lunch Ladies to help the Providence School Department feed people in need through donations. They delivered 300 meals a week to the school department for pickup around the city. gofundme.com/f/98p3b-cromwell-collaboration
Meals for Healthcare Workers
Kristen and Jonathan Beres Tilly’s Cheesesteaks
The Beres couple created a campaign to provide meals for health care workers, raising more than $3,450; they offered donors a boxed lunch or housemade mac and cheese for every $15 contribution. gofundme.com/f/tillysmeals; tillyscheesesteaks.com
New England PPE
Jungil Hong
Artist Jungil Hong launched a fund to buy personal protective equipment for health care workers throughout New England and New York. What started as a small group sewing cloth face masks became a larger network that raised more than $37,000 to date. Hong also commissioned face shields from local design collective, Pneuhaus. gofundme.com/f/ppe-for-new-england039s-covid19-frontlines —Isabelle Paquette
