Washington Trust marks 25 years of holiday giving with $25,000 in grants
November 21, 2025
Washington Trust has reaffirmed its commitment to fighting food insecurity this holiday season by donating $25,000 to community organizations throughout Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. The Bank provided grants ranging from $500 to $1,000 to 26 local food pantries and social service agencies that play a critical role in supporting families during the holidays. The 2025 holiday season marks the 25th consecutive year the Bank has provided funding to hunger relief agencies to support their holiday giving efforts.
In addition to these monetary awards, Washington Trust is hosting holiday food and gift drives at several of its branches in Rhode Island and Connecticut. Customers and community members are encouraged to drop off requested items during the participating branches’ business hours. The donations are being collected on behalf of seven local organizations: Operation Stand Down in Johnston, RI; Groton Food Locker in Connecticut; Jonnycake Center of Peace Dale; North Kingstown Food Pantry; Saint Vincent De Paul in Greenville, RI; Warwick Public Schools and the Rhode Island Center for Those in Need (RICAN) in Richmond, RI. Collection dates vary through early December.
Washington Trust’s 2025 holiday giving efforts will result in 29 hunger relief agencies in Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Connecticut receiving either a financial award from the bank, a delivery of community-donated food or gifts, or both. Supporting local hunger relief organizations during the holidays is a longstanding tradition that reflects Washington Trust’s commitment to strengthening communities and ensuring that neighbors in need are able to experience the holidays free from the stress of food insecurity.
“Washington Trust has long upheld a tradition of giving back and fighting hunger during the holidays,” said Washington Trust Chairman and CEO Edward O. “Ned” Handy III. “Washington Trust is proud to support these hunger relief and social service organizations to help more families enjoy the holidays without the stress of worrying about basic needs.”
Washington Trust’s Collection Drives: Drop Off Locations, Dates, Requested Donations, and Beneficiaries
| Beneficiary | Items Requested | Bank Branch Drop-off Site | Collection Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| RICAN | non-perishable food | Charlestown, RI | Until mid Dec |
| Operation Stand Down (Johnston) | food & hygiene products | Johnston, RI | Through 11/28 |
| Groton Food Locker | non-perishable food | Mystic, CT | Through 11/30 |
| Jonnycake Center of Peace Dale | non-perishable food | Narragansett, RI (Pt. Judith Rd.) | Through 11/30 |
| North Kingstown Food Pantry | non-perishable food | North Kingstown, RI | Through 12/5 |
| St. Vincent De Paul | non-perishable food, gift cards | Smithfield, RI | Through 11/24 |
| Warwick Public Schools | healthy snacks & drinks, cereal | Warwick, RI (Centreville Rd, War Av.) | Until mid Dec |
List of Community Organizations Receiving $500 to $1,000 Holiday Awards from Washington Trust:
| Beneficiary | Headquarters |
|---|---|
| TAP-IN, Inc. | Barrington, RI |
| Helping Hands of Block Island, Inc. | Block Island, RI |
| Family Aid | Boston, MA |
| People Helping People Inc. | Burlington, MA |
| Coventry Community Food Bank | Coventry, RI |
| Comprehensive Community Action | Cranston, RI |
| Northern Rhode Island Food Pantry | Cumberland, RI |
| East Greenwich Interfaith Food Cupboard | East Greenwich, RI |
| Good Neighbors, Inc. | East Providence, RI |
| Glastonbury Food and Fuel Bank | Glastonbury, CT |
| Saint Vincent De Paul Food Pantry | Greenville, RI |
| Tri-County Community Action | Johnston, RI |
| Pentecostal Church Fountain of Life | Johnston, RI |
| Christian Community Action, Inc. | New Haven, CT |
| North Kingstown Food Pantry | North Kingstown, RI |
| Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center | Pawcatuck, CT |
| Blackstone Valley Emergency Food Center | Pawtucket, RI |
| Holy Family Parish Soup Kitchen | Pawtucket, RI |
| Your Neighborhood Food Pantry | Providence, RI |
| Better Lives Rhode Island | Providence, RI |
| RI Center Assisting Those in Need (RICAN) | Richmond, RI |
| Jonnycake Center of Peace Dale | South Kingstown, RI |
| HESSCO Elder Services | Walpole, MA |
| City of Warwick - Neighbors Helping Neighbors | Warwick, RI |
| W.A.R.M. Center | Westerly, RI |
| Jonnycake Center of Westerly | Westerly, RI |
For more information about Washington Trust’s community involvement and giving programs, visit: https://www.washtrust.com/about/community-support.
ABOUT WASHINGTON TRUST®
Founded in 1800, Washington Trust is recognized as the oldest community bank in the nation, the largest state-chartered bank headquartered in Rhode Island and one of the Northeast's premier financial services companies. In 2025, Washington Trust reached a milestone of 225 years in operation, marking its commitment to helping the people, businesses, and organizations of New England improve their financial lives. The Bank offers a wide range of commercial banking, mortgage banking, personal banking and wealth management services through its offices in Rhode Island, Connecticut and Massachusetts and a full suite of convenient digital tools. Washington Trust is a member of the FDIC and an equal housing lender. Washington Trust is a subsidiary of Washington Trust Bancorp, Inc., a publicly-owned holding company which trades on NASDAQ: WASH. For more information, visit the Bank's website at www.washtrust.com or the Corporation's website at ir.washtrust.com.