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Melissa Cherney
Chief Executive Officer, Rhode Island Community Food Bank · Providence, RI
Food Bank leader Melissa Cherney has been selected as Chief Executive Officer of Rhode Island Community Food Bank, which serves as the central hub for food distribution across the state, ensuring that nutritious food reaches those who need it most. Cherney brings more than 17 years of experience in the field of hunger-relief.
She comes to Rhode Island Community Food Bank from Great Plains Food Bank, North Dakota’s largest hunger relief organization and its only food bank. Cherney began her work with the Great Plains Food Bank in 2007, working as Director of Agency & Client Services, overseeing agency relations and launching the organization’s first direct service programs, including the Mobile Food Pantry and the BackPack Program, among others. She then served as Director of the Ending Hunger 2.0 initiative, which focuses on long-term solutions and prevention to food insecurity. She served as President for a year before being named CEO in July 2021.
Prior to that, Cherney was elected to and served on the Fargo City Commission for four years. She served as the Development Director for the Plains Art Museum, worked in a rural think tank and served on the Board of Directors for Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity, Red River Zoo, ND League of Cities and many other nonprofit boards.
Cherney serves on Feeding America’s Food Sourcing Advisory Council and as vice-chair of the Policy Engagement and Advocacy Committee (PEAC). She is the only person ever to serve on PEAC as both a staff person and CEO and was the first to be invited to rejoin after her initial 6-year term ended. She will take over as chair of PEAC on January 1, 2026, and will serve in that role for two years.