Food bank volunteer opportunities near Cincinnati

Last year, 1 out of every 6 people in the United States looked to food banks and food pantries for support, according to a 2023 report from Feeding America. The end of COVID-era government assistance programs and the rising cost of groceries due to inflation have many Americans facing food insecurity.

According to a 2023 Department of Agriculture report, 12.8% of households around the country—about 17 million—were food insecure in 2022. That's up from the 10.2% of households who had difficulty providing food for everyone in their home in 2021, and also up from the 10.5% who said the same in 2020. It's the highest share of food-insecure households in the U.S. since 2014.

The rise of food insecurity and the economic situation in the U.S. means that food banks are struggling to keep up with the demand. "Local food banks, pantries, and community meal programs have become an essential component of many households' food budgets, especially as we continue to face increased food prices and the end of pandemic-era benefits," Claire Babineaux-Fontenot, CEO of Feeding America, said in a statement accompanying the nonprofit's aforementioned report. In an earlier 2023 survey from Feeding America, 65% of responding food banks reported an increase in the number of people they served.

It can be difficult to know where to go if you want to help, as many do during the holiday season in particular. To help guide you, Stacker compiled a list of food bank volunteer opportunities near Cincinnati using data from VolunteerMatch. Read on to see what you can do for those grappling with food insecurity in your community, from distributing lunches to seniors to serving meals at soup kitchens.

Snacks for Seniors!
- Organization: Meals on Wheels of Southwest OH & Northern KY
- Read more on website

Street Outreach Collection
- Organization: Lighthouse Youth & Family Services
- Read more on website

Volunteering at Jewish Family Service
- Organization: Jewish Family Service of the Cincinnati Area
- Read more on website

Freestore Foodbank Distribution Pantry Volunteer
- Organization: VANTAGE Aging Retired and Senior Volunteer Program
- Read more on website

Camp Community Cafe lunch assistant
- Organization: Washington United Church of Christ
- Read more on website

Volunteer Drivers for Wellness Day
- Organization: Mercy Neighborhood Ministries
- Read more on website

Family Meal Program
- Organization: Isaiah 55 Inc.
- Read more on website

Making 100+ Sandwiches for Soup Kitchen
- Organization: Our Daily Bread - Soup Kitchen and Social Center
- Read more on website

La Soupe Volunteer: Food Runner, Kitchen Help, Culinary Education
- Organization: Food Rescue US
- Read more on website

Make a Meal
- Organization: Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Cincinnati, Inc.
- Read more on website

IVC seeks Active Seniors in the Cincinnati Area
- Organization: Ignatian Volunteer Corps
- Read more on website

Feed a Neighbor in need in the Cincinnati, OH area
- Organization: Lasagna Love
- Read more on website

Join Sanctuary at Homestead Charity Nonprofit
- Organization: SANCTUARY AT HOMESTEAD
- Read more on website

Community Garden Improvement Project
- Organization: Cincinnati Recreation Commission
- Read more on website

Bea Taylor Market Assistants - Multiple 2.5 Hours Shifts Available
- Organization: Freestore Foodbank
- Read more on website

Choice Food Pantry Volunteers
- Organization: SERVE CITY
- Read more on website

This story features data reporting by Karim Noorani, writing by Jaimie Etkin, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 101 metros.