The North Kingstown Food Pantry w/ Kristen Jahne

  Written by: Mia Cooper

So many of the unsung heroes in our community are  those who truly dedicate their day to day to making others lives better.  I was fortunate enough this week to interview Kristin Jahne who is the Pantry Manager at the North Kingstown Food Pantry. Kristin’s positive attitude and passion for her work was shining through our entire conversation and it was truly a joy to learn more about her important work. 

Kristin began her time at the North Kingstown Food Pantry as a volunteer and worked her way up through the ranks to eventually run the pantry. Her job consists of overseeing so many of the wonderful programs the pantry offers, managing the volunteers, going shopping for some of their perishable goods, organizing food drives and collection, and truly any other task that keeps the Pantry running in the way that it does. Kristin took the time to explain their six main programs that provide aid in the community. The wide range of programs reaches all different populations in unique ways to ensure people get the nutritious food they need. 

Community Member at Food Pantry

     Their most recurring event is the monthly shopping program where individuals can come in and shop the Pantry based on how many individuals are in their household. They also receive fresh produce, eggs, bread, milk, butter, and other items that are not shelf stable. The Pantry also hosts what they call the “Vacation Nutrition Program”, which occurs the 5 Fridays before school breaks. Parents can come pick up ingredients that students may not otherwise be getting (because they are not at school), based on their household size. Kristin excitedly shared one of her favorite programs, “Produce Day”, where local farmers and grocery stores donate fruits and vegetables. She explained to me that it's almost like a farmer's market where clients can go around and get their fresh produce. This event is for clients only, but to become a client you just have to prove that you live in North Kingstown. 

"Produce Day" at the food pantry

     The Pantry also hosts a “Senior Day”, where they provide food specifically for clients who are 60 years and older. They also hold a Thanksgiving and Christmas distribution. “This is an all hands on deck event- a truly massive undertaking!” Kristin shared. “We provide full Thanksgiving and Christmas meals to 500 families in North Kingstown.” A whole group of volunteers bands together to collect and distribute the food. “It's a lot of work upfront,” Kristin said, “but the joy and gratitude from clients makes it worth it.” Kristin told me that each year after the event occurs, a survey is distributed to the community and there is overwhelming positive feedback.  The final program we talked about is the Recipe of the Month. This program provides clients with healthy recipes with all ingredients from staples they receive at the food pantry. We have been sharing them on our Wheelhouse Health Instagram. Make sure to check out the highlights on our Instagram or the North Kingston Food Pantry website to find some easy recipes to make. 

A group of Volunteers during the summer at the North Kingstown Food Pantry

     The Food Pantry does not run without a village of people supporting their efforts! Local high school seniors and scouts will hold food drives for non-perishable items. Kristin shared that they had recently received 250 lbs of food from a local high school senior completing a school project. Restaurants will give day-old baked goods, grocery stores donate, and farmers will give extra produce to the food pantry! She explained that they get a lot of goods around the holidays that last through the year, but remember that food pantries need donations all year, not just around the holidays!! 

     Kristin and I also spoke in depth about the importance of food pantries in our communities. She shared with me that almost 40% of people in Rhode Island experience food insecurity - a statistic that may be surprising to some people. She explained that a huge barrier is transportation. “If you're taking a bus, you can only carry a few bags with you,” Kristin explained. “When getting the food from the store to your house, that is a real barrier on what you can get.” To help combat this, the Pantry partners with a transportation organization that gives people rides from the Pantry to their homes. Kristin explained another misconception some people have is that their clients just don't want to eat healthy, but transportation is a real barrier to accessing the healthy food they desire. She said that they pay attention to food waste and educate their clients on other recipes they can make with the food they receive from the Pantry. 

Fresh vegetables at the food pantry!

     When I asked Kristin about the most difficult part of her job, she explained that it was the lack of space in the pantry. She said that they are beginning to raise money to expand their physical space because they could truly make a difference by doubling or tripling their reach. Kristin also explained the unfortunate rising cost of food and how it affected their ability to purchase goods such as eggs. Nevertheless, they are able to help so many people all year long, ensuring families get the food they need and deserve!! 

     If you are interested in volunteering at the North Kingstown Food Pantry, you can do so by contacting the number found on the website! “Another way to help is by having conversations with your peers,” Kristin said. “People have misconceptions, but when you have positive conversations and have stats to back things up, these discussions can really help to break down barriers and spread positive awareness”. To read more on the North Kingstown Food Pantry, check out their website and get involved in helping your community!!