Meet Our Donors

A Passion for Food and a Legacy of Caring

Ellen Shalvey had a lifelong passion for food, for her community and for being an advocate for children. When she passed away in 2021, her estate plan included a generous bequest to support the Food Bank to continue her legacy of giving back.

Giving His Home to Help Others

Harris Pitnof certainly has many more years to spend in his home but he can rest easy knowing that he leaves a legacy that will support others.

Making a Difference That Lasts

“Estate planning allows us a way to express where we want to have some impact.” When the Goodwins decided to support the work of the Rhode Island Community Food Bank, they wanted to have an impact now and into the future. In addition to making an annual gift, they arranged for the Food Bank to receive a legacy gift from their estate.

Helping Others—Now and Into the Future

“We want to help people; that's the most important thing to us, each and every day.” James Wojtyto gets emotional when he thinks about Rhode Islanders struggling to meet their basic needs. "Nobody should go hungry" he says, “In my house, we always had plenty of food.” He hates to think of kids going to school with empty stomachs or families without a place to call home.

One Woman's Gift Does Make a Difference

Even though she was born and raised in Philadelphia, Rhode Island always held a special place in Natalie "Tally" Kampen's heart. When Tally passed away, her estate plans included a generous bequest to support the Rhode Island Community Food Bank. Though a modest donor in her lifetime, including the Food Bank as a beneficiary of her will allowed Tally to make a significant and long-term impact on our efforts to alleviate hunger in Rhode Island.

Will and Catherine O'Reilly Collette: Creating a Legacy of Social Action

Will and Catherine O'Reilly Collette deeply understand the importance of playing a role in the well-being of our neighbors in need. As social activists, they support organizations fighting poverty. “I’m a lifetime organizer, and it’s always been important for us to help those on the front lines working for social change,” explains Will.

Former Food Editor Sees Benefits of IRA Charitable Rollover Donation

Donna Lee has been involved with the world of food for most of her life. She grew up in Nebraska and Iowa and studied food journalism at Iowa State. She was food editor at the Boston Herald and later went on to become food editor for The Providence Journal Bulletin from 1982 until she retired in 2001.

Meet Our Donors

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