Kingston, RI – July 31st, 2015 – Tiffany Wierzbicki, a native of Pawtucket, was awarded the Dorothy Shackleton Anti-Hunger Leadership Award on May 15, 2015 for her 3 years of outstanding work at the URI Feinstein Center for a Hunger Free America.

The Anti-Hunger Leadership Award started with a donation from Dorothy Shackleton, a former employee in the Department of Human Services. It is awarded to students who demonstrate knowledge of hunger and poverty issues, and who are active participants in educating and reaching out to the community. As an outreach worker for the SNAP Outreach Project, Tiffany exemplified these qualities. During her time at the Hunger Center, Tiffany helped over 400 Rhode Island residents apply for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits (SNAP, formerly known as Food Stamps) and helped an additional 150 SNAP participants with issues on their cases. Tiffany conducted outreach at food pantries, meal sites, health centers, health fairs, and many other community locations throughout Rhode Island.

“During her time at the Hunger Center Tiffany displayed tremendous growth and was an important asset to the Outreach Team”, said Katherine West, the Outreach Supervisor. “Tiffany showed strength and empathy working with people with significant challenges including people recovering from substance dependency and experiencing terminal illness. During her last year with the SNAP Outreach Project Tiffany also contributed to investigating ways to outreach to child care providers and families with young children accessing child care services.”