A town nonprofit and a resident were among the recipients of the inaugural Rhode Island Hope Awards presented by the United Way of Rhode Island.

The Hope & Main food pantry, represented by Lisa Raiola, and along with the husband-wife duo of Elwood Donnelly and Aubrey Atwater, for their volunteerism, were given the accolades during a ceremony at the state house in Providence on Thursday, Nov. 13.

The first of what are expected to be annual awards are presented by United Way of Rhode Island through an initiative it started earlier this calendar year, Alliance for Nonprofit Impact and in conjunction with November being Nonprofit Appreciation Month. 

Members of the Rhode Island General Assembly were asked to put forth names of deserving individuals and community-based organizations for recognition as a 2025 Rhode Island Hope awardee.

Hope & Main as well as Donnelly and Atwater were nominated by Rep. June Speakman (D-Dist. 68, Warren, Bristol). United States Congressmen Gabe Amo and Seth Magaziner also participated in the event.

Speakman submitted Hope & Main to be honored for "feeding people and promoting small businesses." Atwater and Donnelly, who are known to many by their Folk music group of the same name, were recognized for their work in the Warren community.
Donnelly was highlighted, in part, for his efforts in helping guide the annual Warren Holiday Festival while Atwater was noted for her charitable endeavors through song.

"I nominated Hope and Main because of their long-standing commitment of 'nourishing our neighbors' and to incubating small businesses in the food industry," Speakman continued about the revered local food purveyor.

She continued about Atwater and Donnelly, "I nominated Atwater/Donnelly because of the role that Elwood plays in organizing the holiday festival and other town-wide events, and the many pro bono performances that Elwood and Aubrey offer throughout the year. In these times, art and music bring much-needed joy to the community."

Other local entities to be honored included Tap-In, Barrington nominated by Rep. Jason Knight; Bristol Rotary Club, nominated by Rep. Susan Donovan; Benjamin Church Senior Center, Bristol, nominated by Sen. Linda Ujifusa; East Providence Historical Society nominated by Sen. Robert Britto; East Providence in Community nominated by Rep. Jennifer Boylan; and Aquidnick Food Pantry, Portsmouth, nominated by Rep. Michelle McGraw.