Reed Joins Amo & Smiley to Help DaVinci Center Expand Community Services & Food Pantry

PROVIDENCE, RI – Today, U.S. Senator Jack Reed, Congressman Gabe Amo, and Providence Mayor Brett P. Smiley gathered with community members at the DaVinci Center to prepare lunch and celebrate a new federal investment to help the DaVinci Center expand its community services and food pantry offerings. For over fifty-four years, the DaVinci Center for Community Progress -- a neighborhood, multi-purpose social service agency -- has served up food, health care, job-skills, connection, and more to Rhode Islanders of all ages in the North End. In an effort to bolster the DaVinci Center’s services and programming, Senator Reed teamed up with Congressman Gabe Amo and Mayor Brett Smiley to deliver a $440,000 federal earmark that will strengthen assistance for residents in need. Reed, Amo, and Smiley say this funding is essential after President Donald Trump slashed federal health care and food assistance in order to give lavish tax cuts to the wealthy, as part of the so-called ‘One Big Beautiful Bill Act’ (P.L. 119-21). Trump’s law is having an ugly impact on local neighborhoods – slashing Medicaid by $1 trillion, gutting food assistance aid like SNAP benefits, and making it harder for residents to afford necessities. On top of this, President Trump’s tariff taxes and economic chaos are causing higher prices, elevated levels of economic uncertainty, and financial stress for millions of Americans. As a result, non-profits like the DaVinci Center are also being financially squeezed due to rising costs and a growing demand for their services. “President Trump’s drastic aid cuts and price-raising policies are hitting families and communities and straining their budgets. Groceries, gas, health care and household essentials are all more expensive because of Trump’s policies. While the Trump Administration is raising prices and shrinking federal aid, it is increasing demand for help from places like the DaVinci Center and local food pantries nationwide. This infusion of $440,00 provides some much needed reinforcement for the DaVinci Center to continue their outstanding work. But we’ve got to keep pressing to reverse President Trump’s harmful economic policies and get our country headed in a better direction,” said Senator Reed , a member of the Appropriations Committee who led the successful effort to deliver this $440,000 federal earmark for the DaVinci Center’s modernization and expansion efforts. “I am proud to work with Congressman Amo and Mayor Smiley in bolstering the DaVinci Center’s critical work. We are focused on affordability and bringing down the cost of living and will continue working together to support places like the DaVinci Center and the people and communities they serve.” “From GED classes to food assistance, the DaVinci Center has been helping North End families thrive for more than 50 years,” said Congressman Gabe Amo . “I’m proud to work alongside Senator Jack Reed and Mayor Brett Smiley to deliver the resources this community needs. I’m grateful for these partners who can deliver for Providence because they will ensure these investments will help the DaVinci Center expand opportunity and serve even more Rhode Islanders.” “For more than 50 years, the DaVinci Center has been a trusted neighbor for Providence families,” said Mayor Brett P. Smiley . “This investment will help expand access to the critical resources, food, health and community support our residents rely on. I’m grateful to Senator Jack Reed and Congressman Amo for their continued dedication and advocacy on behalf of our neighborhoods.” “We are deeply grateful to Senator Jack Reed for his continued commitment to the DaVinci Center and the community we serve. This investment will strengthen our ability to provide essential services, expand opportunities, and continue serving our community with dignity and respect,” said Norma I. Gonzalez, Executive Director of the DaVinci Center for Community Progress . The DaVinci Center will use this federal funding to boost community services, expand food pantry offerings, address housing instability, increase health care access, add bilingual services, and fill in workforce development gaps. In addition to the federal earmark, $60,000 in federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding is directed to the DaVinci Center by the City of Providence.