Month: February 2024

Thank You, Thrivent!


NEEDS recently received a generous gift from a new donor: Thrivent, a financial services organization with ties to the Lutheran Church. Thrivent’s Tipp City agency donated $250 to help purchase some of the pantry’s most-needed items, including expensive feminine hygiene products. We are so grateful!

You can help too! Learn more about how you can support NEEDS here: https://cincyneeds.org/donate-volunteer/

Good Shepherd Lutheran’s Souper Bowl of Caring


The Super Bowl may be over, but NEEDS continues to benefit from football-themed giving events! Pantry coordinator Maureen shared:

“Each year, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church marks Super Bowl weekend with what they’ve dubbed the Souper Bowl of Caring — a drive to support the NEEDS food pantry. The recent results were every bit as exciting as the big game itself, with over $1,800 donated in addition to a full carload of nonperishable food and personal/household supplies.

The church’s Tween Group provided the energy behind the drive. They collected, sorted, dated, and packed all of the items for delivery to the NEEDS pantry.

To spice things up a bit, the drive included a competition between three ‘soup pots’: Chiefs, 49ers and Taylor Swift. The winners were Taylor Swift and, of course, the NEEDS pantry. The funds and items collected will boost our ability to meet the emergency food needs of our less fortunate neighbors.”

Thank you, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church!

Want to support NEEDS or hold a fundraiser? Learn more here: https://cincyneeds.org/donate-volunteer/

Fill the Truck MORE Than Fills the Pantry!


Frame USA’s annual Fill the Truck campaign was another huge success this year! Pantry coordinator Maureen shared details:

“NEEDS was fortunate AGAIN to be one of the seven charities supported by this year’s Fill the Truck campaign — a charitable initiative of Frame USA. Fill the Truck has been the largest annual contributor to NEEDS for multiple years in a row.

This year, the campaign provided more than 30 very large boxes of nonperishable food and household supplies. But that — already a large donation — paled in comparison to the campaign’s check for $4,237.86. Both the actual items donated and the funding to purchase just what the pantry needs most will go far in our effort to meet the emergency needs of our less fortunate neighbors.

Thank you, Frame USA!”

Find out how you can join us in serving our neighbors: https://cincyneeds.org/donate-volunteer/

Madeira High’s Key Club Strikes Again!


Pantry coordinator Maureen shared this story of ongoing generosity from a local student group:

“The Madeira High School Key Club was formed to give students opportunities to provide service within their community. To the great good fortune of NEEDS, our pantry has become the beneficiary of their efforts. Not only did they hold a drive for NEEDS in early February, it was one of many they have done to stock our pantry. The club’s advisor, teacher Julie Leugers, has even encouraged members to sort and date the items collected — making it far easier for our volunteers to shelve them within the pantry.

Beyond the items the club has collected over the years, our volunteers are most impressed that high school students can be so dedicated to helping the less fortunate members of their community.”

Thank you, Madeira High School Key Club!

Learn more about how you can help NEEDS serve our community: https://cincyneeds.org/donate-volunteer/

Twin Lakes Holds Super Bowl Drive for NEEDS


While many of us were getting ready for the big game on Sunday, Twin Lakes Senior Living Community had a different goal in mind: helping our neighbors in need!

Pantry coordinators Maureen and Janie shared:

“It was another touchdown event for NEEDS — a Super Bowl-themed drive to benefit our pantry held at the Twin Lakes Senior Living Community. The drive has almost become an annual event at this point.

In the week leading up to the Super Bowl, event coordinator Ashley Lamboy and her events partner coordinated a food and household drive. Collection tables in the community’s main building were festively decorated and residents were encouraged to drop off donations on their way to the dining room.

Residents were very generous, and their donations entirely filled an SUV. Their work done, the countdown began in earnest for the big game event.”

Thank you, Twin Lakes!

Learn more about how you can support NEEDS here: https://cincyneeds.org/donate-volunteer/

Current Pantry Needs


The NEEDS pantry provides food to hundreds of people each month. You can help by donating some of our most-needed items!

Our current top needs are boxed cereal, laundry detergent, and feminine hygiene products.

Other much-needed items are listed below.

Canned Food:
Collard greens
Sweet potatoes / yams
Bean with bacon soup
Mixed vegetables
Pasta sauce

Other Nonperishable Food:
Hamburger and Tuna Helper (or generic versions)
Packaged pasta side dishes
Packaged rice mixes

Home and Personal Care Items:
Paper towels
Toilet paper
Baby wipes
Women’s Depends (or generic), size S/M

January Impact


NEEDS served a record number of families in 2023 – and with the first month of 2024 behind us, it looks like our community’s need will be just as great in the coming year.

Here are the latest numbers:

During the month of January, the NEEDS pantry provided food to 196 families – for a total of 686 people!

NEEDS also provided emergency financial assistance to 10 families, distributing $3444.00 to cover housing and utilities.

To learn more about how you can help our neighbors in need, visit https://cincyneeds.org/donate-volunteer/ .