Each month, members of Montgomery Community Church participate in “Second Saturday Serve” — a food and product drive to benefit local organizations. In December, the church collected a generous donation for the NEEDS pantry! We are so grateful for MCC’s ongoing support.
Our pantry coordinators shared, “The family that brought the donation was upbeat and generous with their time. It was a joy to have them ask to tour the pantry. We look forward to continuing to partner with MCC in the New Year!”
Want to help stock the pantry? Click HERE to learn more!
The NEEDS pantry provided food to more than 7000 people in 2025. You can help stock the shelves for 2026 by donating some of our most-needed items from the list below!
Home and Personal Care: Women’s Depends (or generic; sizes L, XL) Toilet paper Paper towels
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. Prefer to order online? Click HERE for more options. Thank you!
Church of the Saviour is one of NEEDS’ member organizations. During the Christmas season, the church’s Wednesday Bible study group joined forces to make a generous cash donation to NEEDS, trusting volunteers to use the money where it is most needed.
As our pantry coordinators note, “The last months of 2025 have been hard ones for the less fortunate members of our community. The cutoff of SNAP benefits drove even more families to seek emergency food support from our pantry. In fact, the numbers of those seen rose by 50%. SNAP benefits have just recently been reinstated, and our families are also facing an imminent increase in health insurance costs.” We are so grateful for each donation that helps us to serve our neighbors!
NEEDS relies on donations from many local organizations, including churches, businesses, and schools. Pantry coordinator Maureen shared this note of gratitude to Cincinnati’s International Facility Management Association chapter, whose members gave generously during the holiday season:
“On behalf of all of us at NEEDS, I’d like to thank you — and all the contributing members of the International Facility Management Association — for the generous donation of non-perishable food and personal/household care items that you delivered.
The last months of 2025 have been hard ones for the less fortunate members of our community. The cutoff of SNAP benefits drove even more families to seek emergency food support from our pantry. In fact, the numbers of those seen rose by 50%. SNAP benefits have just recently been reinstated, and our families are also facing an imminent increase in health insurance costs. All of that testifies to how important your support is to NEEDS. We honor and bless your commitment!”
Students at St. Vincent Ferrer School collect food for NEEDS annually — and this year’s drive was a remarkable success! Pantry coordinators Janie and Maureen shared, “Wow! You all outdid yourselves this year! You collected 362 boxes of cereal which is almost double last year. That’s amazing! Your collection will keep us in stock for months on an item that is costly for us to replenish.
We understand that you made it a fun event for the students by creating a cereal box domino display. That’s a creative way to encourage participation while helping the less fortunate in our community. Many thanks to Michele Frost for leading this effort each year. We’d also like to thank the students who helped carry the boxes to our cars and used their creativity to fit it all in. Great job!
“NEEDS is a 100% volunteer and donation-run organization. We rely on contributions from schools, churches, and businesses to operate. The NEEDS volunteers and the families we serve thank you! We look forward to continuing our partnership in the years ahead.”
The SPCA Cincinnati’s Chow Now Pantry program provides much of the pet food NEEDS is able to offer to families seeking our help. Organizers note, “Our goal is to keep people and pets together! Pets give hope and comfort that everyone deserves, especially through challenging times.”
You can help by joining the Stuff the Sleigh project! Now through December 28, donate in person or online to help the Chow Now Pantry and its partners — including NEEDS — care for animals and the people who love them.
The NEEDS pantry coordinators note, “The last months of 2025 have been hard ones for the less fortunate members of our community. The cutoff of SNAP benefits drove even more families to seek emergency food support from our pantry. In fact, the numbers of those seen rose by 50%. SNAP benefits have yet to be fully reinstated, and our families are also facing an imminent increase in health insurance costs.”
You can help by donating some of our most-needed items from the list below!
Home and Personal Care: Toilet paper Paper towels Baby wipes Laundry detergent Deodorant Disposable razors Shaving cream
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. Prefer to order online? Click HERE for more options. Thank you!
NEEDS received an amazing donation from local company LSI Industries, whose employees saw a need and chose to step up. Pantry coordinators Janie and Maureen shared this letter of thanks:
“We were pleasantly surprised (or shall we say… shocked) when you stopped by to drop off 800 lbs of food and personal care items at our pantry last week. Wow!! As you told us, you had been listening to news of the government shutdown that impacted SNAP benefits and you decided to help. And that you did! Your food drive was more than successful and we are thankful that you chose NEEDS to be the recipient. Since you dropped off on a day we were serving, you could see the long line of cars that were waiting to be served. You can be assured that your donation will be helping the less fortunate in the community where LSI operates.
NEEDS has been serving our community for 40+ years and we pride ourselves on being a 100% volunteer and donation-run organization. We receive no government funding and rely on contributions from schools, churches, and businesses to operate. We appreciate your efforts to help the less fortunate in our area.
The NEEDS volunteers and the families we serve thank you!”
Blue Ash company Everything But The House (EBTH) is a regular donor to NEEDS. This year, two employees visited the pantry just before Thanksgiving with a sizable donation of food — as well as a stack of Kroger gift cards!
Pantry coordinators Maureen and Janie shared, “Your donation came at any especially needy time for our food pantry. After the cutoff of SNAP benefits and their slow reinstatement, the number of families seeking food assistance from us has risen by 50%. In addition, the expected increase in health insurance costs will strain families even further. Your support will help us meet their needs.
They say ‘it takes a village.’ Thank you for being a part of ours!”
