Today, Councilman Michael J. Correia (Ward 6) has announced a partnership with the YMCA of Greater Providence, Manton Heights Housing Development, Providence Housing Authority, the Nonviolence Institute, and Amos House “More Than A Meal” catering company to provide healthy and nutritious meals to the families who live in the Manton Heights Housing Development.
“Food insecurity is an ever-growing concern not just in my community but around the state. We learned last year that one in four families in the State of Rhode Island are food insecure, and I am proud to have worked to bring together these amazing community partners to ensure that the families in Manton Heights can access healthy meals. In 2021, families going hungry is a sad reality, but we can all work together to make a change. I’m excited to be part of the solution for my neighbors,” stated Councilman Michael J. Correia.
The program will begin on April 12, 2021 and run through August 31, 2021. It will be part of the after-school programming that the YMCA site located at the Robert L. Bailey IV Elementary School on Gordon Avenue in Providence does weekly. Meals will be delivered on Mondays and Thursday’s from More Than A Meal catering company, an Amos House program, for youth up to the age of 18.
“It is with great pleasure to be able to partner with Manton Heights, Councilman Correia, and the POH team to be able to provide youth with meal support. Supporting the community in which we serve in any way we can is always the main goal. This initiative was able to kick-off due to the advocacy of one Joseph Shepard. With his passion and dedication to the community, he grew up in (Manton Heights) Joseph Shepard reached out to me about the support needed in the Manton Heights community,” stated Marcus Washington of the YMCA of Greater Providence.
Families will register for the program with the Resident Service Coordinator at Manton Heights. There will also be a waiting list to ensure that as many families can access the program as possible. Grant dollars are funding the program, and the partnering organizations will be coordinating the food distribution.
“PHA is grateful for Councilman Correia’s leadership in bringing the partners together to serve our families, and to the YMCA, the Non-violence Institute and Amos House for your support and commitment,” said Melissa Sanzaro, Executive Director of the Providence Housing Authority. “This is one more example of how housing can be a platform for health and well-being.”
To access the program, families will go to a central location in the Manton Heights Housing Development to pick up the “Grab & Go” meals. The process will be seamless, and all volunteers will be trained in safe food delivery techniques and protocols.
Councilman Correia continued, “I want to thank the YMCA of Greater Providence, the Providence Housing Authority, the Nonviolence Institute, Amos House, and the City Council staff who have worked so hard to bring this program to fruition. I look forward to continuing advocating for the members of my community and helping provide quality of life programming that is essential to their well-being.”
Councilman Correia has been a long-time advocate for Manton Heights’ families and has been dedicated to ensuring that the young residents have access to after-school programming and other essential services.