Food & Basic Needs Assistance

Emergency Information and Assistance:

  • Local Police/Fire or Medical Emergency: Dial 9-1-1
  • 988 National Suicide & Crisis Hotline: Dial 9-8-8
    If you're facing mental health struggles, emotional distress, have alcohol or drug use concerns, or just need someone to talk to, counselors are available. Call or text 24-hours a day, 7-days a week, 365-days of the year; you are not alone.
    - To learn more, this is not a municipal service. Please visit their website directly: https://988lifeline.org/
  • United Way: Dial 2-1-1
    50 Valley Street, Providence (Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.)
    - 24/7 support and connections to resources: dial (401) 444-0600 or dial 2-1-1 directly to be connected to the United Way of Rhode Island, this is not a municipal service.

Food Assistance for the North Kingstown Community:

  • North Kingstown Food Pantry
    (445 School Street, North Kingstown)
    (401) 885-3663
    - Call to make an appointment
    Hours: 
    - Monday - Friday, 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
    - Last Tuesday of the month: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
    - Last Saturday of the month: 10:00 a.m. - Noon
    *Hours have been extended to address the lapse in SNAP funding due to the shutdown of the Federal government. Please contact the North Kingstown Food Pantry directly for complete details.
  • Tri-County Community Action
    (415 Tower Hill Road, North Kingstown)
    (401) 515-2432
    - Call or contact Tri-County Community Action directly for complete details regarding all services and programs available; for food assistance directly: (401) 351-2750x1913.
    - Food Pantry on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month: 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
  • North Kingstown Senior Center at Beechwood
    (44 Beach Street, North Kingstown)
    (401) 268-1590
    - For those ages 60+ or disabled, meals in the Seabreeze Dining Room are available for a suggested donation of $3.00; call to make reservations and for complete details on available assistance, including Meals on Wheels, etc.
    - No one will be turned away for lack of ability to pay.
    - Please contact North Kingstown Department of Senior & Human Services directly for complete food assistance details; this a service of the Town of North Kingstown and supported by donations and memberships of the North Kingstown Senior Association and its volunteers.
  • North Kingstown Community Sunday Dinner
    (44 Main Street, North Kingstown)
    - Dinner is served weekly at 12:30 p.m. on Sundays in the fellowship hall at the First Baptist Church of Wickford through a partnership between First Baptist Church of Wickford, First Baptist Church of North Kingstown, North Kingstown United Methodist Church, and St. Bernard's Roman Catholic Church
    - Families in need are welcome for a hot dinner at no-cost; to-go meals are also available. Program mission: to nourish our neighbors in body and spirit by providing a hospitable and safe place to gather and eat and be in community.
    - For complete details, please see the Community Sunday Dinner flyer or contact a participating parish directly. 
  • Rhode Island Center Assisting those in Need (RICan)
    (805 Alton Carolina Road, Charlestown)
    (401) 364-9412
    - Food Pantry Drive-Thru Only: 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. and 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. on Wednesdays and 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. on Fridays
    - Food Pantry In-Store Shopping: 9:00 a.m. - Noon; sign-up required
    For complete details, please contact RICan directly
  • Rhode Island Community Food Bank
    200 Niantic Avenue, Providence
    (401) 942-6325
    - Provides food pantry connections and resources for to additional food assistance programs/food banks throughout the State of Rhode Island, including a Commodity Supplemental Food Program for seniors, and SNAP shopping programs for qualified recipients; inquire about programs and services directly with RI Community Food Bank
  • East Greenwich Interfaith Food Cupboard
    (99 Peirce Street, East Greenwich - St. Luke's Episcopal Church)
    - Food Pantry is available in Room 3 on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays: 10:30 a.m.  - Noon
    - Volunteers and donations are welcome. Inquire with St. Luke's directly.
  • Meals on Wheels
    - Nutritious, medically tailored meal delivery, well-being checks, and social connection for homebound and/or older adults and at-risk Rhode Islanders: https://www.rimeals.org/
    Phone: (401) 351-6700
  • Project HandUp
    - A non-profit organization that helps people from all walks of life shop for groceries for a $6 donation to help stretch paychecks so they do not have to choose between eating and paying their bills.
    - Shopping is no-contact, curbside pickup once per week, for a $6 donation where recipients will receive roughly $200 in groceries or more, according to the following schedule:
    - Tuesdays, 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. for people with last names A - K, ages 60+, and veterans
    - Thursdays, 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. for people with last names L - Z, ages 60+, and veterans
    - Fridays, 3:00 - 4:30 p.m. for remaining shoppers, ages 60+ and veterans
    - To learn more about Project HandUp, please see their website directly: https://projecthandup.net/

Additional Information:

As of November 3, 2025: The continuing shutdown of the Federal Government has created a lapse in SNAP food benefits for millions of Americans, including 1,813 individual SNAP recipients in North Kingstown alone.

To address the increased need this shutdown has created, especially at a time of year with typically high levels of need, the State of Rhode Island's online resource SNAPSUPPORT.RI.GOV is the most current resource for those in need of assistance, and for those looking to donate or help those in need.

Please Note:

Resources shared on this page, outside the North Kingstown Department of Senior & Human Services, are not services or programs of the Town of North Kingstown. 

Information is as accurate as possible at the time it was published and /or updated, but for the latest details, we strongly encourage you to visit or contact the resource suggested here directly via the website or phone number we've provided.

Food Assistance for North Kingstown School Department Students:

  • Blessings in a Backpack is a national program available to North Kingstown School Department students that provides registered students experiencing food insecurity at home with a bag upon Friday dismissals during the school year with food for two lunches, two snacks, and two breakfasts over the weekends
    - Registration for each student receiving food support is required, please contact NKSD and complete this form for more information.
    - Donations are also welcome; $200 covers the cost of weekend food for one child for the entire academic year.
    - Website: https://www.nksd.net/page/blessings-in-a-backpack

Non-Food and Basic Needs Assistance:

  • Neighbors Helping Neighbors RI
    (PO Box 406, Charlestown, RI)
    (401) 601-5621
    - Application for HUD-defined low-income homeowners is online: https://neighborshelpingneighborsri.org/free-home-repair.html. NHNRI uses volunteers to provide/perform necessary home repairs allowing them to stay in their homes and remain independent, helping to stretch paychecks, disability payments, or Social Security income.
  • Rhode Island Center Assisting those in Need (RICan)
    (805 Alton Carolina Road, Charlestown)
    (401) 364-9412
    - Thrift Shop: Monday - Saturday: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (donation hours: 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.)
  • Tri-County Community Action
    (415 Tower Hill Road, North Kingstown)
    (401) 515-2432
    - Call or contact Tri-County Community Action directly for complete details regarding all services and programs available, including childhood education programs, heating assistance, behavioral and substance abuse counseling; dental care services ;employment and training, weekly food pantry, and more.
  • The Furniture Connection
    Christ Church East Greenwich's "The Furniture Connection" program accepts and distributes used furniture in good condition (twin, full or queen sized beds; bureaus; nightstands; love seats; chairs; coffee tables; lamps; etc.)
    - For more information, please call or contact Christ Church EG directly.
  • The Sharing Locker
    Westminster Unitarian Church (119 Kenyon Avenue, East Greenwich)
    (401) 884 - 5933
    - The Sharing Locker's goals are to assist people in meeting their basic needs for living, to increase their quality of life, and to fill the gap for those who are struggling. Most of the items provided are not covered by the SNAP program, and are non-food items such as: all purpose cleaner, bandaids, bar soap, bath tissue, batteries, body lotion, deodorant, diapers, dry pet food (dogs & cats), facial tissue, laundry detergent, liquid dish soap, maxi pads, panty liners, tampons, paper towels, shampoo, shaving cream and razors, sponges, toothpaste, and toothbrushes.
    - Donations and volunteers are welcome. For complete details, contact Westminster Unitarian Church directly.