Over the past several weeks, NEEDS volunteers have been getting ready to restock the pantry to meet the increased need that our clients experience during the colder months. To our excitement, several individuals and groups have recently stepped up to help by hosting food drives.
First up: Maggie Albers, who began volunteering with NEEDS this summer as part of her high school capstone project. Maggie’s “Do What You CAN” drive brought in two full carloads of food and personal care items for the pantry!
But Maggie wasn’t the only student eager to help. Inspired by WLWT’s Day of Giving, the Madeira High School Key Club hosted a food drive to benefit NEEDS – and when two more vehicles loaded with donations arrived at the pantry, it was clear that the drive had been a success!
Among NEEDS’ most faithful supporters are our member churches, including Church of the Saviour United Methodist. Recently, Church of the Saviour held a hugely successful food drive that benefited not only NEEDS but five other organizations. Thanks to this drive, NEEDS volunteers were able to fill several gaps on the pantry shelves with much-needed nonperishables.
Finally, NEEDS held a two-day food drive that attracted donors from 10 different churches and civic organizations. A big thank you to the volunteers who staffed this event, including Moeller High School senior Kyler Graves!
Recently, pantry volunteers received a handwritten card from one of our regular clients. “We very much thank you for your free food pantry donation to our family today,” she wrote. The client enclosed a single dollar bill and signed the card with the names of everyone in the family.
It turns out that whenever this client visits the pantry, she hands our volunteers a few dollar bills – the most she can offer. She had no money during her last visit, but still wanted to offer something for what she had received. The NEEDS pantry volunteers are always so touched by this client’s attitude – she may not have much, but she always does her best to give back!
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!
Due to the financial impact of COVID-19, the past several months have been especially busy at the NEEDs food pantry. Would you like to help us restock for the fall and winter? Now is the perfect time, because NEEDS is holding a food drive!
When: Friday, October 16 and Saturday, October 17 from 10:00 am – 1:00 pm Where: The NEEDS food pantry at Kenwood Baptist Church, 8341 Kenwood Rd How: The food drive will be a safe and convenient drive-through operation. Simply drop off your donation at the collection point! What: Below is a list of most-needed items. – Canned goods, including vegetables (except green beans), fruit, soup, fish, and meat – Peanut butter and jelly – Pasta and pasta sauce – Packaged side dishes (rice, pasta, and potato mixes) – Macaroni and cheese – Boxed cereal – Dish and laundry soap, hand soap – Shaving cream and disposable razors
If you have any questions about the food drive, feel free to call NEEDS at (513) 891-0850. Thank you!
As the weather gets colder, the NEEDS pantry becomes busier. If you would like to help restock the pantry, please check out this list of most-needed items.
Canned meals, especially: – Beef ravioli (this is our most needed item of all!)
Canned meats, including: – Chicken – Salmon
All canned beans, including: – Black – Pinto – Red (kidney) – White (Great Northern, navy, cannellini) – Refried – Baked
Canned soup, including: – Broths – Chicken and cream of chicken – Beef
Packaged side dishes and snacks, including: – Stuffing – Potatoes (mashed, au gratin) – Rice mixes – Fruit/granola bars – Chips
Personal care items, including: – Tampons – Toothpaste – Body wash – Shaving cream – Hand soap
Household supplies, including: – Dish and laundry soap – Paper products (paper towels, toilet paper, tissues) – Diapers (especially sizes 4-5) and diaper wipes
Donations can be dropped off at Kenwood Baptist Church Monday through Thursday from 9:00 am – 4:00 pm. NEEDS volunteers are at the church on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00 am – 1:00 pm. Thank you!
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!
NEEDS relies on the support of numerous churches and civic groups to provide food and emergency assistance to our clients. One of our member organizations, All Saints Church, has found a wonderful way to honor a beloved church associate: each year, All Saints hosts a food drive in Bob Meyer’s name! Check out the flyer below, which includes details about the drive, as well as an uplifting story about a NEEDS client who is taking care of his granddaughters with help from the pantry.
NEEDS is excited to introduce Maggie Albers! A senior at Mt. Notre Dame Academy, Maggie began working on a capstone project to benefit NEEDS this summer. Her first task: helping to restock the pantry after its recent renovation. After working behind the scenes, Maggie began serving clients directly by volunteering in the pantry drive-through, screening clients, and taking food orders. Now she has a new goal: to support NEEDS by hosting a food drive. Maggie’s “Do What You CAN” drive will be held at Hospice of Cincinnati this Saturday. Check out the flyer below for more details!
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.
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!
