RI Foundation to match all donations made to Trinity Rep during run of ‘A Christmas Carol’

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — The Rhode Island Foundation is getting creative this year to make sure no family goes hungry this holiday season, and their mission starts at Trinity Repertory Company in downtown Providence.

The foundation is matching every donation made to the theater during this year’s run of “A Christmas Carol” with an equal grant to the Rhode Island Community Food Bank up to $60,000.

“It is a really lovely partnership — that uses the inspirational value of live theater and the message of ‘A Christmas Carol’ to raise funds for both Trinity and the food bank,” said Lisa Roth Blackman, chief philanthropy officer at the Rhode Island Community Food Bank.

“We originally came up with the idea because it is in the story, ‘A Christmas Carol’ that Scrooge realizes giving and taking care of others is an important part of his life,” said Curt Columbus, the artistic director at Trinity Rep.

“It’s been so wonderful to see how our friends and neighbors have responded to the call, particularly at Christmas time,” he added.

The partnership comes in response to growing food insecurity in Rhode Island.

“I have been shocked to see how high the numbers are of people seeking food assistance at our member agencies around the state. Since March, when the last of the COVID era SNAP benefits ended, we saw the need shoot up about 25%,” Blackman said.

“We are serving around 80,000 people each month, that is huge. We have never seen numbers like this, even during the height of the pandemic,” she said.

Donations can be made to the theater online or by texting SCROOGE to 44-321.

Performances of “A Christmas Carol” began Thursday and will continue through New Year’s.