Here’s a fun way to support NEEDS: Join a Duck Derby!
On October 11, 2020, thousands of plastic ducks, of all different types, ready to race down the Little Miami River, to help charities, and hopefully win you prizes!! The more ducks you purchase, the greater your odds are of winning and the more money that is raised for NEEDS!
So how does this work?
On October 11, at 9am, the ducks will be released into the Little Miami River to begin the event. They will race approximately ½ mile down the river.
During the race, the ducks will go through 1 check point and a finish line. At the check point and finish line the “owner” of the duck will receive an automatic text message of their current time and their place so they follow live.
The race can be seen on Facebook Live at the check point and finish so that participants can cheer on their duck.
3. Use your bank’s online payment service or Zelle. This costs you and NEEDS nothing, unlike Paypal which charges a fee (2.2% of each donation). Use this email: CincyNeedsTreasurer@gmail.com as the Recipient.
NEEDS recently joined the Freestore Foodbank ‘s The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) program.
This program allows NEEDS to purchase more food at no cost or very low cost including dairy, meat, and fresh fruits and vegetables.
This also means that NEEDS will be serving clients every 30 days (instead of every 60 days) during the COVID-19 crisis, and possibly beyond.
We are thrilled to offer our neighbors in North East Cincinnati food and personal care items on a more frequent basis during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Since opening drive-through pantry service three weeks ago, NEEDS has served 50 families – over 200 people!
NEEDS still appreciates financial donations of any amount. We hope to resume emergency financial assistance in the near future as Stay-at-Home restrictions in Ohio are released.
The NEEDS Pantry will be reopening on Tuesday, March 24, 2020 to provide emergency food assistance during this difficult time. We will not be providing financial assistance.
As before, we will be open 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, serving each family every 60 days. UPDATE April 15, 2020: NEEDS is now serving clients every 30 days during the COVID-19 crisis, and possibly beyond (to be determined as the situation develops).
We serve residents in the following zip codes: 45236, 45241, 45242, 45243 and 45249.
When you arrive at NEEDS (8341 Kenwood Rd, Cincinnati at Kenwood Baptist Church), please remain in your car and follow posted signage.
You will be asked to call our desk at 891-0850 and provide:
your name
whether you have been here before
your family size
car license plate number.
We will serve clients in order of their arrival, providing pre-packed bags with dry goods, meat and limited perishables.
As of today, Friday March 13, 2020, the NEEDS food pantry and emergency financial assistance program are closed.
Our church host, Kenwood Baptist Church, is following the State of Ohio’s direction and it is shut down. Church services and other programs are cancelled and closed until further notice due to the heath concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic.
NEEDS and Kenwood Baptist Church deeply regret that we can not assist our neighbors in northeast Cincinnati at this time when we are most needed.
Please check back on the website or Facebook page to see when NEEDS will be partially or fully operational.
NEEDS appreciates all donations to our mission to assist families in northeast Cincinnati with emergency financial needs.
We receive a large part of our funding in the last two months of the year. If you’d like to make an end-of-year financial donation your can do it either:
1. Donate food and supplies to our pantry.
We are always in need of nonperishable food, as well as personal care
items like shampoo, deodorant, and feminine care products. You can drop
off your donation on Giving Tuesday from 9:00-4:00. (Can’t make it that
day? No problem – donations can be dropped off at Kenwood Baptist Church
any Monday-Thursday.)
2. Share your time.
NEEDS is open to serve our community every Tuesday and Thursday from
9:00-1:00. We need volunteers to staff our pantry and desk each week,
greeting our clients and fulfilling requests.
3. Make a financial donation. Your contribution on Giving Tuesday will help us to support our community throughout the year.
There are so many ways we can combat poverty and hunger in Cincinnati. Donations of food and finances are wonderful. Time volunteering is another great help.
NEEDS is in need of a volunteer to compose blog posts for our website and Facebook pages. You will provide a very valuable service helping us communicate our services to families in north east Cincinnati.
This position can be done from home and might take 1-2 hours a week. Attending monthly board meetings (fourth Monday of the month in the evening in Kenwood, Ohio) is highly encouraged as well so you are aware of the events and news to share on our website and social media.
Some knowledge of WordPress, our website platform, and Facebook would be helpful, but we can train you.
If you are interested or know someone who might be, please contact NEEDS current website editor Carol Topp at CincyNEEDSTreasurer@gmail.com.