February may be a short month, but there was no shortage of opportunities for NEEDS to help our clients!
During the month of February, the NEEDS pantry provided food to 67 families – for a total of 247 people!
NEEDS also provided emergency financial assistance to 6 families, distributing a total of $2200.00 to cover rent and utilities.
We can all agree that 2020 was an incredibly challenging year – and that was especially true for NEEDs clients, many of whom suffered job loss and other hardships due to the COVID-19 pandemic. NEEDS volunteers have had an unprecedented opportunity to serve a community in crisis. Here are a few highlights from our annual report.
Pandemic Response:
– In order to keep clients and volunteers safe, NEEDS began operating a drive-through pantry service in the spring. This has been a great success!
– To meet the increasing need of our community, NEEDS also implemented a new policy allowing clients to visit the pantry approximately once per month.
Record Numbers:
– During 2020, the NEEDS pantry provided food to 950 families – for a total of 3,660 individuals. This is our highest number ever!
– NEEDS also provided substantial emergency aid during 2020. A total of over $30,000 was distributed to 82 families to cover housing and utilities during financial emergencies.
NEEDS is so grateful to the donors and volunteers who supported our mission in 2020. Thank you!
January was an active month for NEEDS! In addition to distributing the proceeds of our annual winter clothing drive, NEEDS kept busy with pantry services and emergency assistance. Here are our totals for the month:
During January, the NEEDS pantry provided food to 91 families – for a total of 356 people!
NEEDS also provided emergency financial assistance to 16 families, distributing a total of $5803.60 to cover rent and utilities.
The results of this year’s HUGSS drive are in!
Throughout December and January, NEEDS collected donations to provide warm winter clothing (Hats, Undies, Gloves, Socks, and Sweats) to local schools. Many students who lack winter essentials not only have to face harsh weather, but also suffer bullying due to their inadequate clothes. Fortunately, NEEDS donors really stepped up to help. Financial gifts for the HUGSS drive totaled $1720 – and with donation matching from NEEDS, the final total was $3420!
Last week, NEEDS volunteers distributed gift cards and clothing items to 12 schools in the Princeton, Deer Park, and Sycamore districts. School officials were excited to use the gift cards to purchase their students’ most-needed items. Thank you to everyone who helped to make the HUGSS drive a success!
Happy New Year! NEEDS closed out 2020 with another busy month, providing food and emergency assistance to 100 families. Here are our totals for the month:
During December, the NEEDS pantry provided food to 93 families – for a total of 339 people!
NEEDS also provided emergency financial assistance to 7 families, distributing a total of $2550.00 to cover rent, utilities, and medical expenses.
In January, NEEDS will wrap up the annual HUGSS warm winter clothing drive. It’s not too late to contribute – check out this post for details.
https://cincyneeds.org/2020/12/08/this-month-hugss-winter-clothing-drive/
As usual, NEEDS stayed busy in November, providing both food and emergency assistance to numerous families. Here are our totals for the month:
During November, the NEEDS pantry provided food to 92 families – for a total of 347 people!
NEEDS also provided emergency financial assistance to 6 families, distributing a total of $2050.00 to cover rent and utilities.
Now that the Christmas season is underway, NEEDS volunteers are preparing for our annual winter clothing drive. Check back for details soon!
Happy fall! Here are NEEDS’ service totals for the past month:
During October, the NEEDS pantry provided food to 103 families – for a total of 379 people!
NEEDS also provided emergency financial assistance to 17 families, distributing a total of $5,600.00 to cover rent and utilities.
Believe it or not, Thanksgiving is right around the corner. Be on the lookout for upcoming holiday events and opportunities at NEEDS!
In September, NEEDS wrapped up the annual school supply drive and responded to numerous requests for food and financial assistance. Here are our totals for the month:
The NEEDS pantry served 98 families – for a total of 372 people!
NEEDS also provided emergency assistance to 12 families – twice the number served in the previous month. A total of $3626 was distributed to cover rent and utilities for these families.
Moving into October, there will be many opportunities for NEEDS volunteers and donors to serve our community. We look forward to another impactful month!
Here at NEEDS, we’re always looking for ways to better serve our clients – from offering wider choice in the pantry to upgrading to a more efficient records system. We’re especially excited about our most recent improvement: evening hours!
For the past several years, the NEEDS pantry has been open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00-1:00. While this schedule works well for many clients, it’s not ideal for potential clients who work during the day. All too often, individuals and families in our community work hard yet struggle to make ends meet. In order to support more of these families, the NEEDS pantry is now offering appointments on the second and fourth Thursday of each month, from 5:30-7:30 in the evening. Clients who are unable to visit the pantry during the day can simply call the main desk (513-891-0850) to schedule an evening appointment.
Expanding the pantry hours is just one way that NEEDS is pursuing our mission of sharing resources with our community. Thank you to the volunteers who make evening operations possible!
During the last month, NEEDS’ largest impact has been through a very successful school supply drive. Of course, our volunteers are still busy serving clients who visit the food pantry, as well as providing emergency financial assistance.
In August, the NEEDS pantry served 75 families – for a total of almost 300 people!
NEEDS also distributed $1720 between six families in need of emergency assistance. These funds were used to cover rent, energy and water bills, and medical expenses.
As we move into September, NEEDS volunteers will continue working hard to support our clients. Stay tuned for an update on our new evening hours!