Donations from Chobani, LLC & Edesia Added to Free Youth Grab & Go Meals, Brown University Supports to Supplement Meals for Residents in Need
April 9, 2020
PROVIDENCE, RI—Mayor Jorge O. Elorza, Healthy Communities Office Director Ellen Cynar, President of Chobani Peter McGuinness and Edesia Founder and CEO Navyn Salem today announced the donation of over 24,000 units of Chobani yogurts and 24,000 units of Edesia’s MeWe enhanced-nutrition peanut butter packets to the City of Providence to be incorporated into free grab and go meals for Providence youth.
“Businesses like Chobani and Edesia are leading by example by supporting our city during a time of need,” said Mayor Jorge Elorza. “Today, we need the support of our community and companies like these to plan for our tomorrow. We know that our families and youth depend on the meals they would normally receive at school for consistent and nutritious meals. While we don’t know how long this will last, we will work together to continue to protect our city health and safety as long as we need to.”
On Friday, the yogurts and MeWe packets will be offered as enhancements to meals distributed at school sites and recreation centers in response to COVID-19.
“Communities need help, now more than ever, and in particular, children who rely on the meals they receive when school is open. We want to do our small, humble part by providing good food for free grab and go meals for Providence youth. We are really happy to come together and partner with the City of Providence leaders and Chobani Incubator alumni Edesia,” said President of Chobani Peter McGuinness.
In addition to the charity of these organizations, the City is proud to announce that Brown University Dining Services is supporting residents at this time by donating 200 packages of food a week- an equivalent of 3,000 meals- to supplement current critical food distribution. The City is coordinating delivery to organizations that serve those most in need of distribution including Dorcas International and Mathewson Street Church.
“For 10 years Edesia has been responding to humanitarian crises around the world, but now the crisis is here, in our own backyard. Food is a basic human right, and we will help deliver the nutrition children need, wherever they are. It is our honor to partner with Chobani and the City of Providence,” said Edesia Founder and CEO Navyn Salem.
The City and Providence Public Schools has continued to offer free, packaged breakfast, lunch, and dinner meals to all Providence youth 18 at its school sites and recreation centers. Meals for multiple days are available for pickup on Tuesdays and Fridays 11:00-2:00PM at 14 Providence Public School locations and at all Providence recreation centers on Tuesdays and Fridays 4:00PM-6:00PM. Parents or guardians can pick up meals for their children and are asked to bring the child’s name, school name, and student identification number. Providence youth 18 and under can pick-up meals at recreation centers and no ID is required. Each box of food will weigh approximately 8 pounds, so residents should plan accordingly when picking up their family’s supply.
For more information on the local response to COVID-19, resources, or operational changes, residents can visit our website, call to connect to the Mayor’s Center for City Services by dialing 3-1-1, visiting www.PVD311.com or downloading the PVD311 mobile app on your smartphone for 24/7 access. Residents can register to receive CodeRED emergency notifications by phone, email, text, and/or mobile alerts for the latest updates from the City and to reach out to the Rhode Island Department of Health’s COVID-19 Assistance Line at 401-222-8022 Monday through Friday during regular business hours should they have additional questions.