Recently, the NEEDS pantry has been seeing a large number of new families each month. Over 20 families (new and returning) were served on each open day in September.
Here are the latest numbers:
During the month of September, the NEEDS pantry provided food to 181 families – for a total of 617 people!
NEEDS also provided emergency financial assistance to 17 families, distributing $6310.00 to cover rent and utilities.
NEEDS pantry coordinators Maureen and Janie recently shared this wonderful story about a faithful NEEDS partner:
“Several years ago, we noticed that every time we served one particular man he asked for more tuna. We joked with him about his love of tuna, and it was then that he told us he fed what we gave him to his cats. It was one of those “lightbulb” moments for our pantry’s staff. Of course, if our neighbors needed emergency food support it was only logical that their pets would as well.
We contacted local pet stores to see if they would donate cat and dog food. Many could not. But Pet Supplies Plus in Blue Ash agreed, as did their store in Harper’s Point.
But it was meeting Laura Patt, manager of the chain’s store in Independence, Kentucky, that truly gave our efforts momentum. Laura happened to be on loan to the Blue Ash store one evening when we stopped for donations. On hearing the story of NEEDS and its mission, she said we should pick up at her store — a much larger one than our local stores — as she had a lot to give us. Since then, she has asked to display our brochure as well as a sign we’ve made to solicit pet food donations.
This photo is from a recent pickup at Laura’s store in Independence, and features one of her employees. In the last week of September alone, she has generated an additional three SUVs — totally full of donations — to NEEDS and the people we serve. Those, again, came from the Blue Ash store where we first met her.
Thank you, Laura, from the bottom of our hearts!”
Summer is always a busy time for the NEEDS pantry. Families in need do not have access to free school breakfasts and lunches for their children, so they turn to the pantry for help. By September, our shelves are looking emptier than usual!
You can help by donating some of our most-needed items! Please check out our top needs below, but know that anything you choose to donate will be put to good use.
Donations can be dropped off at Kenwood Baptist Church during our open hours (Tuesday and Thursday 9:00-1:00). If you would like to arrange a drop-off on another day, please call (513) 378-8767. Thank you!
Canned Food:
Beef soups / beef stew
Bean with bacon soup
Chicken and beef broth
Clam chowder
Chili
Salmon
Sweet potatoes / yams
Collard greens
Pineapple
Tomato sauce
Other Nonperishable Food:
Instant oatmeal packets
Packaged cereal
Packaged rice and pasta side dishes
Home and Personal Care Items:
Laundry detergent
Sanitary pads and tampons
Toothpaste
Pump hand soap
Deodorant
July was a short month with a holiday closure – but in August, the pantry was open for the maximum number of Tuesdays and Thursdays. This gave NEEDS the opportunity to serve 100 more people than in the previous month!
Here are the latest numbers:
During the month of August, the NEEDS pantry provided food to 197 families – for a total of 698 people!
NEEDS also provided emergency financial assistance to 16 families, distributing $6095.00 to cover rent and utilities.
Do you shop for groceries at Kroger? If so, there’s an easy way to support NEEDS with each purchase! With the Kroger Community Rewards program, you can link your Kroger shopper’s card to NEEDS. Kroger makes annual donations to participating organizations – and the more you spend, the more NEEDS will benefit!
To participate, simply visit https://www.kroger.com/i/community/community-rewards to create a digital account and select NEEDS as your Community Rewards organization.
Search for “North East Emergency Distribution Services” in the list of participating organizations:
Once you click the “enroll” button, you will see a confirmation screen. That’s it!
In July, NEEDS kicked off our annual Student Assistance Drive. Meanwhile, volunteers stayed busy responding to requests for food and emergency financial assistance.
Here are the past month’s totals:
During the month of July, the NEEDS pantry provided food to 168 families – for a total of 587 people!
NEEDS also provided emergency financial assistance to 18 families, distributing $7455.00 to cover rent and utilities.
NEEDS is holding our annual Student Assistance Drive!
In just a few weeks, students in the Deer Park, Sycamore, and Princeton districts will return to school – but many families in these districts cannot afford school supplies, or even necessities like food and clothing. NEEDS is seeking donations of gift cards and money to help purchase supplies for the beginning of the school year, and to provide students with warm winter clothing in December. You can help!
What to donate:
– Gift cards from stores such as Walmart, Target, and Kroger
– Visa and Mastercard gift cards
– Gas cards (many families live in areas where busing is not available)
– Check (marked for Student Assistance Drive)
Please mail your gift card or check to:
NEEDS
c/o Kenwood Baptist Church
8341 Kenwood Rd
Cincinnati OH 45236
You can also donate through PayPal on our website: https://cincyneeds.org/donate-volunteer/
Please donate by August 31. Thank you!
Support NEEDS by enjoying an evening at MPH Brewing!
MPH will donate 10% of all in-house and carry-out proceeds to NEEDS.
The NEEDS pantry is having an exceptionally busy summer, serving hundreds of people each month. Requests for emergency financial assistance increased in June.
Here are the latest totals:
During the month of June, the NEEDS pantry provided food to 171 families – for a total of 565 people!
NEEDS also provided emergency financial assistance to 15 families, distributing $6099.00 to cover rent and utilities.