CUMBERLAND, R.I. — Meet Aria Grajales, a 7-year-old with a big heart. She recently donated 200 pounds of food to the Northern Rhode Island Food Pantry. “It made me feel good and happy inside to help other people,” she said.
Aria, along with her mother, Jessica, organized a food drive through a homeschool lesson. Jessica emphasized the importance of helping others: “When you invest time in people, you grow as a person.” Together, they made flyers and shared videos on social media to promote their cause.
Paul Cox, a board member for the pantry, noted the impact of their efforts, especially coming from a young child. Their outreach was successful; the pantry was so well-stocked that they needed extra space for all the donations.
The Northern Rhode Island Food Pantry serves around 1,400 families every month—up from just 200 families a few years ago. Richard Telesmanick, the pantry’s Co-Executive Director, highlighted the need: “No one wants to go to a food pantry. They’re here because they need to.” About a quarter of the food comes from the Rhode Island Community Food Bank, with the rest relying on donations.
Jessica reflected on the struggles parents face when they need assistance: “I think of my kids. I can’t imagine how hard that would be.”
Aria is determined to continue her food drives. She hopes to one day fill trucks with donations. “Don’t give up, and keep trying; any little bit will help,” she advises.
The pantry serves areas including Cumberland, Providence, Woonsocket, and part of North Attleboro, Massachusetts. They host two distributions each month and are always looking for volunteers.
Aria’s story is a reminder that even small actions can create significant change.
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