My Nonprofit Reviews

CAIN food pantry has been "practicing" service to people in need in Northside for over 25 years. Though the needs of residents have remained similar over that time, the range of goods and services that CAIN provides has expanded enormously to include free tax preparation, free haircuts, demos and tasting of recipes made from available produce, enormous choices among healthy foods and hygiene products, links and access to assistance with rent, utilities, medicaid, EBT cards, job training within greater Cincinnati, and a Christmas gift selection opportunity for about 400 families. CAIN also provides a "voice" in community decisions, for those experiencing poverty, through its participation in the Farmer Market, Apple Street Market, Community Council, Business Association and the monthly articles in Northsider newspaper. CAIN has earned enormous support from residents contributing monthly and annually, financially and in volunteer hours. CAIN is a food pantry and a crisis ministry center, welcoming guests with respect and ever-expanding, forward thinking services.
CAIN's support by United Way is an acknowledgement of the numerous ways CAIN supports guests through and out of poverty.
Sometimes I consider volunteering somewhere else, but when I count all the ways CAIN is a gift of love and empowerment to hundreds of children and adults, no other opportunity to serve compares.

For over 15 years I have volunteered at CAIN and have been a Board member for 4 years. Of NorthChurch mission partners, CAIN is the largest recipient of our funding. CAIN serves an absolutely crucial role in our community, providing a measure of food security, and also as a place of trust for guests to unburden themselves through prayer and compassionate listening. A spirit of creativity and hope flows from our Executive Director and staff through to volunteers and cycles back to us from the appreciation and acknowledgement of the guests. Love is alive at CAIN!

Hospitality toward each guest, volunteer and visitor guides most every aspect of the pantry and ministry of CAIN. Guests wait in a pleasant, temperature-controlled room, with a separate room for their children to play in, supervised by an adult. Often a snack is served, sometimes highlighting a new product offered in the pantry, or demonstrating how a produce item can be prepared. In an individual "intake" meeting, guests privately discuss their situation, special family needs and can be connected to other service agencies in the city and county for which they are eligible. With the assistance of a trained volunteer, each guest shops through the pantry, choosing items that appeal to them or meet special dietary restrictions (like sugar-free). Volunteers procure and distribute over 700 pounds of fresh, healthy produce weekly...a rarity among food pantries.
CAIN has earned unanimous respect within our neighborhood. This spring, I went door to door, fundraising for CAIN through the Hunger Walk. Almost every person I spoke with contributed. The few who did not, acknowledged the importance of CAIN in our diverse neighborhood, and encouraged me to ask them again in the future. What had seemed a daunting task became instead a powerful affirmation of the staff, volunteers and member churches. This was the first year we had set a goal for fundraising from within Northside. The response was so positive, we raised 900 % more than any previous year. It is an honor to be associated with such a tremendous community asset!

I have been a volunteer with CAIN over 15 years, contributing to the Christmas Secret Angels, or working in the food pantry, and recently serving on the Board of Directors. As a community "member-at-large" I have requested donations at Community Council meetings and consistently received with very generous donations and people volunteering. CAIN is immensely respected in our neighborhood, as an organization that contributes to the well-being of the entire neighborhood, not only the guests who utilize the pantry. CAIN is known as the organization in our diverse community where neighbors can directly assist and impact the wellfare of people living right here. The accomplishment this year, of CAIN organizing the use of EBT cards at the Northside Farmer's Market, supports the market overall and the farmers who bring produce to sell locally. These same vendors generously donate produce at the end of the market time, to CAIN, for the following morning at the pantry. Annually CAIN organizes a very popular neighborhood-wide garage sale, providing a map guiding shoppers to all homes/locations participating. CAIN's active presence in Northside directly connects neighbors with neighbors who might otherwise remain strangers , due to cultural or socioeconomic differences. CAIN builds community!

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