“The planned cuts to SNAP and USDA food assistance programs are expected to increase the number of people experiencing food insecurity and place even greater pressure on food banks, food pantries, and community-based food programs,” according to Food Rescue US, an organization that works to reduce food waste by redirecting excess to those in need.
In 2023, Food Rescue US notes, “nearly 47.4 million Americans experienced food insecurity, including 13.8 million children.” Federal budget cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) signed into law last month will reduce the assistance available to struggling families. In 2024, NEEDS provided food and emergency financial aid to more than 2,200 families; as cuts take effect, the need in our community is expected to become even greater.
NEEDS has provided food and emergency financial assistance to more than 1000 families this year, including over 200 just last month! We are grateful to the donors and volunteers who help us to meet needs in our community.
It’s not unusual for the NEEDS pantry to serve 30 families in a day. And since children who receive subsidized breakfasts and lunches at school are home for the summer, many parents have more mouths to feed. You can help by donating some of our most-needed items from the list below!
Non-Perishable Food: Boxed cereal Chicken and beef soups Canned pineapple
Home and Personal Care: Toothpaste Deodorant (women’s) Laundry detergent
Donations can be dropped off at Kenwood Baptist Church, either at the drive-through during our open hours (Tuesday and Thursday 9:00-1:00), or in the marked boxes at each entrance. You can also donate via our Amazon Wish List, and your donation will be shipped directly to the pantry!
Summer can be a difficult time at the NEEDS pantry. Children who receive subsidized breakfasts and lunches at school are now home for those meals. And many who usually donate through schools, churches, and area companies are vacationing with families and friends. So two recent donations from St. Paul Community United Methodist Church and St. Barnabas Episcopal Church came at the perfect time!
At St. Paul, families who participated in Vacation Bible School held a food drive to benefit NEEDS. Our pantry coordinators were impressed: “WOW! The bags of items kept coming in, filling an entire large cart…Helping children understand the needs of those less fortunate is so important. Thank you for incorporating that into your programming.” Meanwhile, the congregation of St. Barnabas were equally generous in donating a variety of foods to stock the pantry shelves.
NEEDS is so grateful for ongoing support from these churches!
Click HERE to find out how you can help meet needs in our community!
NEEDS is holding our annual Student Assistance Drive!
In just a few weeks, students in the Deer Park, Sycamore, Princeton, and Silverton districts will return to school – but many families in these districts cannot afford school supplies or other essentials. NEEDS is seeking gift cards and monetary donations to help these families. Gift cards and funds give school administrators flexibility to assist students with a variety of needs throughout the year, from school supplies and transportation to food and warm clothing. You can help!
What to donate: – Gift cards from stores such as Walmart, Target, and Kroger – Visa and Mastercard gift cards – Shell gas cards (many families live in areas where busing is not available) – Check (marked for Student Assistance Drive)
Please drop off your donation during our open hours (Tuesday and Thursday 9:00-1:00), or mail your gift card or check to: NEEDS c/o Kenwood Baptist Church 8341 Kenwood Rd Cincinnati OH 45236
NEEDS has provided food and emergency financial assistance to more than 1000 families this year — including nearly 200 just last month! We are grateful to be able to help our neighbors in need.
Summer — the most challenging season for donations to the NEEDS pantry — has begun. And already we are in need of feminine hygiene products (sanitary pads and tampons) as well as toothpaste. Can you help?
You can drop off donations in the bins at both main entrances to Kenwood Baptist Church, OR deliver them to our new entrance on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00-1:00. Just come in the southernmost driveway to the church, drive around the church, and look for our signs at our new entrance. If you are still struggling to find us, call (513) 891-0850.
The Madeira High School Key Club is a regular supporter of NEEDS. Our pantry coordinators shared this message to the students and staff who participated in a recent food drive:
“Thank you so much for coordinating another food drive for the NEEDS pantry. Your donation was power-packed with all the items we told you we needed. That’s awesome! We’d like to extend a special thanks to Amanda and Michelle for their leadership in making this happen at such a busy time of the year.
We continue to be impressed with the students who are involved in Key Club. It’s so nice to see them getting involved in community service while in high school. We hope this encourages a lifetime of helping others.
The NEEDS volunteers and the families we serve thank you! We look forward to continuing our partnership in the years ahead.”
Click HERE to find out how you can help meet needs in our community!
The NEEDS pantry coordinators shared this note of thanks to the National Honor Society at Indian Hill High School:
“Thank you so much for your generous donation to the NEEDS food pantry. It was a creative idea as a ‘Mini Project’ for NHS to have each of the students bring two items to the May meeting. That simple idea filled the back of our car and will help so many less fortunate families in our community. A special thanks goes to Liz Imrie for coordinating this program.
As grocery prices remain high, families are struggling. The number of families that NEEDS serves each year continues to increase. We rely on donations from schools, churches, and businesses to meet the need. We are so thankful that you are getting involved in community service while in high school. Hopefully it will lead to a lifetime of service to others.
The NEEDS volunteers and the families we serve thank you! We look forward to continuing our partnership next year.”
You can get involved, too! Click HERE to learn more.
