KINGSTON, R.I.- March 27, 2018- Imagine that you are a college student who doesn’t know where your next meal is coming from. Thankfully, Rhody Outpost Emergency Food Pantry is here to help URI students who are food insecure.

And thanks to fundraisers similar to the one held by the University of Rhode Island Police Department, Rhody Outpost is able to continue its mission.

Earlier this year, URI Police Officer Paul Hanrahan planned, organized, and executed a fundraiser that now helps those in need buy exactly the food they require, instead of relying on packaged food items.

The URI Police Department, with help and donations from URI’s Department of Public Safety, the Dean of Students Office, staff from the Division of Student Affairs, along with several other University divisions, and members of the North Kingstown Police and Fire departments, raised approximately $6,000 for Rhody Outpost and the Student First Fund.

“The police department was made aware of the need to help replenish the food pantry, especially during winter and summer breaks,” said URI Police Maj. Michael Jagoda. “We also recognized that this would be a great opportunity for a community policing initiative that would help those in need of essential food items.”

The entire URI Police Department volunteered time or money and worked with local businesses and restaurants to gather donations. The groups sold tickets to the fundraiser, during which guests participated in a silent auction, which helped raise a large portion of the proceeds.

“Myself, (Public Safety) Director Stephen Baker, and (Police) Capt. Michael Chalek fully support community events like this fundraiser that make a positive difference at URI and in our extended community as well,” said Jagoda.

Rhody Outpost was established in 2013 to help students supplement their food needs. Nearly four years later and with the help of fundraisers and donations, Rhody Outpost has partnered with URI Dining Services to offer food scholarships to 10 students in need starting next fall. Dining Services will provide a 40 percent match to the money raised by the URI Police Department to allow those students to purchase a basic dining plan at a discounted price.

“While we are calling these scholarships, they are completely unrelated to other University financial aid,” said Jacqui Tisdale, assistant director of Outreach and Intervention. “Eligibility for these scholarships means that students have exhausted all other financial aid opportunities beside applying for a Parent PLUS Loan. Priority will be given to students who do not have that option.”

Additionally, the Dean of Students Office provides programming for students to help them work out a budget, make a food plan to maximize their resources, assess how they spend their available funds and take steps to see if they are eligible for food stamps in conjunction with the URI SNAP outreach project or other benefits.

Meal tickets for lunch and dinner at the dining hall at half the usual cost were also purchased through the funds raised by the police. The remaining funds will remain within the URI Student First Fund to support continuing operations for students in need.

Rhody Outpost is also looking to partner with local businesses, including Ocean State Job Lot, which has the potential to provide certain costly international foods and items for those with food allergies, including gluten free products.

“Our goal is to maximize our resources and bring the highest quality food to students at the lowest possible price,” said Tisdale. “In addition to partnering with Dining Services, we hope to pair with the Agronomy Farm on campus to harvest, wash, clean, and prepare fresh produce and make it available to students in a farmers market-style setting at no cost.

“Members of the University Police Department have been wonderful supporters of our mission to determine who the hungry are and in what way they are hungry,” said Tisdale. “They have been vital in the process of taking steps toward resolving food insecurity issues on our campus and in our community.”

The Rhody Outpost Emergency Food Pantry provides food and volunteers who refer students to the appropriate services and resources. In an effort to partner with students in need across the state, students from Community College of Rhode Island and Rhode Island College can benefit from the pantry. It is located in St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church, 15 Lower College Road, Kingston, R.I. Learn more about Rhody Outpost and its hours of operation.

URI is currently conducting an Institutional Review Board approved URI Food Security Study to learn more about the specific food needs of our students through Mar. 31.

Olivia Ross, an intern in the Marketing and Communications Department at URI and public relations major, wrote this press release.