NEEDS - News 3-18-2013

NorthEast Emergency Distribution Services (NEEDS)

NEWS: 9-26-13

NEEDS Busy Serving

It is the mission of North East Emergency Distribution Service (NEEDS) to provide emergency assistance to the neediest families in the Northeast Cincinnati community. This summer was particularly stressful for the NEEDS food pantry as its pantry shelves faced major shortages. To counter the higher demand NEEDS amplified efforts to secure food, personal supplies and financial contributions by reaching out more fervently than ever before.

Though feeding families is the primary goal of NEEDS, annually it also takes up the “call” to provide disadvantaged children with school supplies. Beginning in June NEEDS notifies local churches and civic organizations of its annual August school supply drive. At the same time local schools, public and private schools, provide NEEDS with a suggested list of school supplies and an age specific count of disadvantaged children in their schools. In one day NEEDS volunteers gather at the Kenwood Baptist Church to coordinate the donated supplies, organizing, packing and then delivering the supplies to area schools. This August seventeen schools received school supply aid from NEEDS. Despite the higher demand, NEEDS has made it a priority to serve as much and whenever there is a need.

NEEDS is a community of 25 churches and civic organizations whose mission is to do God’s work through caring for their neighbors by providing basic emergency assistance. NEEDS is an all-volunteer cooperative located in the Kenwood Baptist Church and NEEDS does not receive government support. The NEEDS board oversees an active foodbank, as well as provides neighbors-in-need with housing and utility payment assistance. During the year NEEDS sponsors a school supply drive, a holiday season “Adopt-A-Family” and in January the board collects socks, mittens and scarves for school-age children. NEEDS serves more than 2,000 people in northeastern Hamilton County.

Any community group can collect canned goods, other non-perishable food items including school supplies and/or raise monetary funds for NEEDS. Items that are most urgent include: canned fruits and vegetables, beans (pork and beans are most helpful as they provide protein), prepared foods (spaghetti, raviolis, beef stews), tuna, peanut butter, jelly, cereal and spaghetti sauce.

The NEEDS food pantry is located at the Kenwood Baptist Church, 8341 Kenwood Road, 45236 and is open Tuesday and Thursdays from 9 am – 1 pm. Donations of canned goods and other items are always accepted at the NEEDS food pantry. Monetary gifts can be mailed to: NEEDS, 8341 Kenwood Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45236. For pick-up of donated items or to ask questions please call (513) 891-0850 (NEEDS).

NEEDS School Supply Distribution

First Row: Barb Boggano, Visitor from the Czech Republic, Mary Kerr, Cindy Cordell (President)

Second Row: Judy Stagney, Nathalie Gerberick, Carolyn Belletti, Nancy Jones, Dee Cohen (Co-Mgr Pantry Operations), Linda Koehler, Carol Temple (Co-Mgr Pantry Operations)

Third Row: Ron Keller, Mary Lou Davis, Ken Gast (VP), Sally McConaughy, Unidentified, Clay Gerberick, Connie Johnson (Treasurer), Barb Davis, Joyce Dunham, Don Dunham

Missing: Jackie Cutshall

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