NEEDS - News 12-9-13

NorthEast Emergency Distribution Services (NEEDS)

NEWS: 12-9-13

Sycamore Old Navy Collects For NEEDS

This winter the employees of the Sycamore Plaza Old Navy store #6436 are celebrating the blessings of the season with a canned good drive for the North East Emergency Distribution Services (NEEDS) food pantry. As Patrick Barnette, Operations Manager explains, “each year we’ve chosen one charity. Our Store Manager, Trista Myers, noticed that the Blue Ash YMCA was collecting for NEEDS, she asked me to check-it out. We’ve learned that NEEDS is an awesome organization; we’re thrilled to collect canned goods.” Throughout December employees and customers will be filling a shopping cart with canned goods and hoping to add some Old Navy hats, gloves and socks as a service project to support the Sycamore community. Patrick added, “we feel so fortunate to be employed with Old Navy, we wanted to share with our neighbors."

It is the mission of Northeast Emergency Distribution Service (NEEDS) to provide emergency assistance to the neediest families in the Northeast Cincinnati community. Though feeding families is the primary goal of NEEDS, during the winter months it also takes up the “call” to provide disadvantaged children with hats, gloves and socks. The distribution of clothing items is done through school nurses at both the public and private area schools.

NEEDS is a community of 25 churches and civic organizations whose mission is to do God’s work through caring for their neighbors by providing basic emergency assistance. NEEDS is an all-volunteer cooperative located in the Kenwood Baptist Church and NEEDS does not receive government support. The NEEDS board oversees an active foodbank, as well as provides neighbors-in-need with housing and utility payment assistance. During the year NEEDS supports local schools through school supply and clothing item drives. NEEDS serves more than 2,500 people in northeastern Hamilton County.

Just like the Sycamore Plaza Old Navy and the Blue Ash YMCA, any community group, business or neighborhood can collect canned goods, non-perishable food items such as school supplies and/or raise monetary funds for NEEDS. Items that are most urgent include: canned fruits and vegetables, beans (with meat as it provides protein), prepared foods (spaghetti, raviolis, beef stews), tuna, peanut butter, jelly, cereal and spaghetti sauce.

The NEEDS food pantry is located at the Kenwood Baptist Church, 8341 Kenwood Road, 45236 and is open Tuesday and Thursdays from 9 am – 1 pm. Donations of canned goods and other items are always accepted at the NEEDS food pantry. Monetary gifts can be mailed to: NEEDS, 8341 Kenwood Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45236. For pick-up of donated items or to ask questions please call (513) 891-0850 (NEEDS) or checkout NEEDS website: http://www.cincyneeds.org/

Top: Old Navy Sellebrity Aodhan Hogan, Old Navy Operations Manager Patrick
Barnette. Bottom: Customer Abbie Fields – 2 years old, Ashlyn Fields – 4 years old
from Wilmington, Ohio.

Permission to use photograph given by the parents of Abbie and Ashlyn Fields of Wilmington, Ohio. Permission from given from Old Navy and employees Aodhan Hogan and Patrick Barnette.

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