Our pantry coordinators shared this note to the families and faculty of Indian Hill High School:
“Thank you so much for collecting food for the NEEDS pantry. You did a great job of donating the items we needed the most – especially all the paper goods! We’d like to thank Michelle Shafer for coordinating the effort.
As grocery prices remain high, families are struggling. This year the NEEDS pantry will serve 2000 families, which is double the number we served two years ago! We are being challenged to keep up with the demand. We rely on donations from schools, churches and businesses to meet the need. Please know that the food you collected will benefit our less fortunate neighbors in the community where you live.
The NEEDS volunteers and the families we serve thank you! We look forward to continuing our partnership next year.”
Even with a Thanksgiving closure, NEEDS served nearly as many families in November as in the previous month. More than 20 of these families were seeking assistance from NEEDS for the first time.
Here are the latest numbers:
During the month of November, the NEEDS pantry provided food to 203 families – for a total of 692 people!
NEEDS also provided emergency financial assistance to 16 families, distributing $5181.00 to cover rent and utilities.
Pantry coordinators Maureen and Janie shared this story of holiday generosity from a local middle school:
“The NEEDS pantry volunteers were in the midst of their pre-Thanksgiving rush — filling orders and quickly depleting shelves — in an effort to help our less fortunate neighbors have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday. Quite out of the blue, one of the teachers at Linden Grove Middle School pulled through our drive-through in a vehicle filled with all the holiday trimmings.
How did that happen? In tried and true teacher fashion, faculty at the school made their drive for NEEDS a competition among students.
Students and their families responded by giving the pantry the perfect holiday items for the families we serve. Thank you so much, Linden Grove Middle School!”
Many families who come to NEEDS for assistance live in the Silverton area. Our pantry coordinators were thrilled to receive a surprise donation from Silverton Cafe, a local business eager to help their neighbors in need! Maureen and Janie shared this letter to Silverton Cafe’s Nick Heidelberg:
“On behalf of everyone here at North East Distribution Services (NEEDS), we’d like to thank you for your surprise — and very generous — donation to our food pantry. The many items you donated will be a big help in meeting the food emergency needs of our less fortunate neighbors this holiday season.
It was interesting to learn that you are a friend of St. Vincent Ferrer School’s principal. As you probably know, both the school and the parish have been big supporters of NEEDS. And you’re even an alum yourself! Growing up in this area, and now running a business here as well, we’re sure that you are aware of the rising numbers of those facing food insecurity here. The 45236 zip code is by far the busiest of our service areas.
Again, our thanks for your generosity and all our best to you for a blessed and happy holiday season!”
