Food Pantries in Columbus, Ohio
Where to Find Emergency Food and How to Help in Columbus
There are two quick resources available to Columbus residents in need of emergency food. By dialing 2-1-1 from a land line or a cell phone you can be connected to HandsOn Central Ohio's (formerly FIRSTLink) Foodline and be directed to the nearest food pantry or soup kitchen. ColumbusBenefitsInfo provides a quick list of food pantry locations and contact information.
Most of the food pantries in Columbus are kept stocked with donations from individuals and the Mid-Ohio Food Bank. The Mid-Ohio Food Bank serves a 20-county area with more than 500 agencies providing over 47,000 meals every day. With corporate food donations, MOFB is able to turn every dollar that is donated into $8 dollars worth of food.
Every food pantry organization in Columbus has its own rules and practices. Some income requirements follow the federal poverty guidelines. Many pantries will provide enough food for every member of the household for three days and you can only receive assistance once every 30 days.
The Salvation Army in Greater Columbus operates four Choice Pantry model food pantries in Central Ohio. The Choice Pantry program allows the recipients to actually "shop" for their food following nutrition guidelines. The Salvation Army limits participation to once every 30 days.
Lutheran Social Services of Central Ohio has two locations in Columbus and also operates a mobile food pantry. This mobile unit travels monthly to Southeast Ohio every week to assist some of this state's most economically distressed counties.
For those who aren't in need of assistance from food pantries but would like to help it is very easy - volunteers are always needed. The Mid-Ohio Food Bank has volunteer shifts to sort and re-pack food available Monday through Thursday and on Saturday. Lutheran Social Services makes use of volunteers to staff the food pantries, stock the shelves, accept donations and help the clients. The Salvation Army asks for volunteers to staff the food pantries in two-hour shifts.
Any of the food pantries in Columbus will gladly accept donations of money, food products and personal products. The most-needed food items on Lutheran Social Services list are canned pastas, fruits and vegetables; coffee, tea and presweetened drink mixes; and boxed side dishes. LSS also accept donations of diapers and personal care products.
Sources: HandsOn Central Ohio ; Columbus Benefits Info ; Mid-Ohio Food Bank ; Salvation Army
Lutheran Social Services
Published by Debbie Henthorn - Featured Contributor in Business & Finance and Lifestyle
Debbie has been blessed with an incurable wanderlust. Former jobs included extensive travel throughout the United States, making it possible for this self-proclaimed "food/beer/wine geek" to taste the countr... View profile
Should I Donate Food to a Food Pantry or Food Bank?Are you wanting to donate food to help people in need? This article might help you.- How to Prepare for a Visit to Your Local Food Bank Need emergency groceries and want to learn more about food banks? This information will help you locate emergency food services in your town, and provide you with a checklist of information you will need.
- Christmas Gift & Toy Drives in Chicago: Where to Donate10 options to donate gifts or toys for Christmas in Chicago.
- Finding Emergency Resources in the City of Las Vegas, NevadaEmergencies happen when we least expect it. If you are a Las Vegas resident in need of temporary help, you need to know where to look. Call the services I have listed to find out what's available to bring you a littl...
- Privatizing Texas Social ServicesWith Texas already struggling to avoid budget deficits, many legislators and voters are questioning whether certain government services can be better handled in the private sector. Social services such as foster care...
- What is the Difference Between a Food Pantry and a Food Bank?
- Holiday Model Trains in Ohio: Excursion Trains Celebrate Romance of Rail Travel
- Donating to Your Local Food Pantry
- Stocking Your Emergency Food Pantry
- YourTexasBenefits.Com, Emergency Food Stamps and Updated Hurricane Ike Information
- How to Find Help with Food and Utilities in Ada County, Idaho
- Guidelines for Starting a Food Pantry
5 Comments
Post a Commentgreat local info for those in need of a leg up
Wonderful article for such a worthy cause! Thanks!
Oh - I have more to come! My home county and couple of other surrounding counties that I know have no AC contributors. Well, at least not that I've figured out!
What a wonderful guide - So many people are going to be needing this information over the coming months and year. Wish we could get this information for ALL cities/communities around the country. Thank you, Debbie, for putting together this research.
Good job on providing this information, Debbie. I've spent time searching for my area and the information is not readily available. I ended up going out to the food pantry yesterday and getting the information myself so I could write about it, and just published my own article. Between you, I and Rose, we'll get the word out to Ohio residents!