Churches Active in Northside

CAIN has done a great job to effectively serve the community even during the changing times of the pandemic. They are a vital part of the city.

I have been serving with CAIN for two years, first as a volunteer and now as a board member. I am always impressed by the dedication of staff and volunteers to provide the best possible services and meet community needs while building relationships with their neighbors. It has been amazing to see how CAIN has done everything in their power to meet the challenges of COVID 19 and the new expanded needs of guests.

I am a volunteer with CAIN, serving in both the pantry and on the Board. I believe CAIN offers a very needed service, providing food, personal care products, community meals and rent/utility and shelter assistance to those in need. The staff of CAIN are both compassionate and skilled in serving our guests. Our Board is tremendously committed to the mission and vision of CAIN of “connecting our community to challenge poverty by feeding bodies and souls.”

As a volunteer in the CAIN food pantry I have listened to the stories of our neighbors in need of food and personal care items. They are so appreciative of the items they receive during their visit. CAIN has consistently provided these much needed items even when the number of guests seeking food doubled during the pandemic. Staff have worked extra long hours to adapt the pantry to ensure guests are able to shop in a safe manner. CAIN demonstrates a respectful and caring attitude of its guests, volunteers, staff and donors. I highly recommend this non-profit.

CAIN is a place the provides respect and dignity to numerous members of the Cincinnati community. CAIN allows people to make conscious choices about the food they consume in their home. They provide food education and other professional services such as tax preparation and haircuts. . It's an honor to help CAIN make an impact on those most in need.

Outstanding organization in the heart of Northside. Provides material and spiritual support to people in need. Serving more people than ever during the pandemic, thanks to ingenuity and work ethic of staff and volunteers.

CAIN does a great job assisting Northside residents with food through pantry choices. The organization is efficiently run and also offers additional services such as tax preparation and haircuts (when not restricted by Covid 19) . Bob Meyer

Churches Active in Northside (CAIN) cares about every aspect of the lives of their neighbors. Food pantry, Grace Place, resources and information to improve your life is just the beginning of all CAIN does for the community. Please continue to support this exceptional organization.
I am honored to be associated with CAIN. Valerie Walker

I am a volunteer intake person at CAIN, and have had the pleasure of checking in an immigrant lady from Central America almost every month for the past year. It has been very gratifying to see her progress from an cautious, unsure, person with language difficulties to an always smiling, confident, much improved English-speaking, happy person over the past year. I'm thankful for organizations like CAIN who are there to give people a hand up and make a difference. Bob M.

This past tax season I volunteered at CAIN to help individuals file their taxes. The work this organization does is absolutely amazing! The residents of Northside (which is considered a food desert) are able to come here to get nutritious food, learn about services available to them, as well as get their taxes filed for free. CAIN is such a great part of the Northside community.

I started volunteering at CAIN after graduating from university - and 7 years later, with the past 3 of those serving on CAIN's board, I count myself lucky to have come across this organization and to be able to contribute to their wonderful mission in my own small way.

CAIN is a grassroots, nutrition-based, choice food pantry that treats its guests as equals - each week, CAIN provides a free weekly community meal for anyone and everyone - thousands are served each year, and come together over a fresh nutritious meal. CAIN also operates its pantry three times a week, with an emphasis on healthy fresh produce - and there are always samples of fresh fruits and vegetables for guests to try!

But aside from the programs that have such a positive impact on our community, CAIN is rare in that it also CREATES community - treating everyone with the dignity and respect they deserve, and forging bonds between neighbors. CAIN is a very special place, and I feel so fortunate to be a part of it.

CAIN is one of the most loving and effective nonprofits I’ve witnessed in over 25 years as a grant writer and/or foundation officer in Southern Ohio. CAIN welcomes neighbors as family and has always found new ways to help them build stability and health.

Best neighborhood food pantry I’ve EVER known! I was the Service Coordinator at McAuley High School, and for 20 years, CAIN was one of our girls’ favorite places to volunteer! They do such a great job of engaging all ages of the community! Any project or collection of food and items that our students did for CAIN was above-and-beyond appreciated by CAIN, and that goes a long way with young people getting involved and trying to do good in their communities. Now at Mercy McAuley High School, I continue to keep my students aware of his great treasure in our area. Personally, I have found CAIN so accommodating when I have kitchen items or other donations to donate. I can always trust that what I donate will be put straight to good use. And Mimi, Cathy, Cheryl, or any other volunteer there will be so cheerful and encouraging as I show up. They even helped when my own family was looking to be matched with a family in need for Christmas to help out with presents and much needed items. CAIN really knows how to use their resources well and engage the community in which they live and work. They never turn away a helping hand or a hand in need. I LOVE CAIN!! Gina Keith

CAIN is all about putting the needs of the community first and making sure people feel welcome! As a volunteer and intern, I grew a ton while serving at CAIN!

I've been a volunteer at CAIN for many many years. I am so proud to be part of their mission. They treat their guests with so much respect, concern and love. They are also fabulous stewards of the donations they receive (both in-kind and monetary).

I had the pleasure of working with the wonderful people at CAIN for two years and I loved every second of being a part of this team! This organization is a beacon of hope to the entire community and has blessed the lives of so many!

I have been a volunteer at CAIN for four years. The staff and other volunteers are pleasant and always ready to assist the guests. CAIN Choice Pantry fills a great need in Northside. I am proud to be associated with an organization with such a sincere mission and wonderful people to carry it out.

I'm always amazed by the commitment & devotion of the staff while serving the public during the food pantry hours each week. As a volunteer to pick up donations each week, I truly enjoy doing my part.

I feel very fortunate to have found the CAIN pantry as a place to volunteer. It is a very welcoming place that is dedicated to helping people in need and treating them with respect and dignity. And I've been very blessed to be able to get to know and work with all the people here, both our guests and my fellow volunteers.

I've been coming to CAIN for 5 yrs. The program supplements putting food on my family's table! Without my coming to CAIN, it would really be hard to feed my family.

I've been coming to CAIN for over 10 yrs and in coming here, I've been helped tremendously with services, i.e., medical, food assistance and rental assistance. Another good thing about CAIN is that they help feed & clothe people in need and also offer church services. People are friendly, nice & professional.

I know CAIN has been a blessing to me and my 5 children as a single parent. They even gave us 2 months' rent on 2 occasions. They help us with food and supplies & needed household items.

My experience at CAIN has been amazing as a volunteer! I felt immediately welcomed by all staff and saw how the "attitude" of giving and support was threaded throughout the organization. I truly enjoy being a shopper and helping customers through the experience. I also enjoy the flexible volunteer hours which allow me to volunteer outside of work. I'm thankful for CAIN and I want to see it continue to thrive. It is truly making an impact in the community!!

I've been a client of CAIN for over 15 yrs. CAIN has helped my entire immensely with food, food that we normally would not be able to buy, like fresh produce, and we totally enjoy it now. Plus quality meat! They even help with medications. And they helped me get back into college with book expenses. My granddaughter looks forward to my coming to CAIN for the neat little treats! They rarely say No to any request. One thing I enjoy it their allowing me to volunteer myself and thus, lets me Give Back to their Mission. I believe all clients should volunteer!

I retired after 42 yrs of teaching and still volunteer teach and also enjoy volunteering here at CAIN to Make a Difference. I attend the North Presbyterian Church who introduced me to CAIN and enjoy the experience of intake. They get to know us and we, them. It's been enlightening and fun to meet other people. We are part of a team to make a difference.

I've been coming for 11 yrs. I adopted a baby and my children were grown & out. CAIN helped get a baby bed and clothing from the Love Share program nearby. My baby has grown up with CAIN.

I've been coming since 2008 to CAIN and it's been a great experience! When I get my SSI disability, this is good place to come and get supplies.

I like CAIN because they are very nice and help anyone who needs help. I've been coming here about 4 yrs.

I've been coming to CAIN for 4 yrs. I am a grandmother with custody of 3 grandkids and it has provided food & other supplies to help. The people here are very caring & so nice.

I am a volunteer for CAIN and have been active in CAIN for almost two years. CAIN has enriched my life in so many ways. I have found that I get as much from our guests as I give to them. Being involved in the CAIN CAFE, I get to help them find nutritious options in their daily eating.

CAIN goes beyond giving food because of how we treat guests. We work to treat all guests with dignity. It's not just food. It is emotional, spiritual, financial support. I had a guest tell me that she woke up depressed, but she came to CAIN because it made her feel better. We pay attention. We are a community.

I have been coming here for years. I see people from the neighborhood -great people! They have really helped a lot. I am thankful for the help.

Today is my first day. It has been good so far. I am here to use the food pantry. It is a great place with nice people.

love it! on time for business. respecful. fast and never run out of items i needed

this is a good place for people that are struggling with things in life this place gives the community opportunity with not just food support in every day life

it was great experience. People were very nice - genuinely! The food was great and had plenty. The environment was friendly. That makes a huge difference. I loved it!

I"ve been to Cain many times and always found the people very kind and receptive. The products were well needed and I am thankful that they are here to help.

As a volunteer at CAIN I have seen the positive impact the Rainbow Choice Food Pantry has on the community of Northside. The Angel Shop at Christmas provided toys and household cleaning items for many families and individuals. The guests could choose the items their children most desired in an organized, well supplied shop. The guests were greeted by pleasant , friendly volunteers. It was a blessed event for all.

A great place to volunteer! Guests appreciate you're being there and employees welcome your help. Love being here every week.

I highly recommend CAIN to all the Northside residents for the compassion and the experience each individual receives each time they come to receive either food to take home or the sit down dinner.

CAIN does a wonderful job caring for its neighbors in need. An ecumenical effort to serve the community for many years.

I have seen first hand how effectively CAIN extends Grace in remarkable, tangible ways to everyone who walks thru the door. Guest needs and experience alway drive services that are creatively delivered to make sure this consistently happens. Volunteers and guests find common ground in the midst of difficult circumstance to celebrate each other in the Northside community. Not an easy thing to do...in our increasingly complex many times inequitable world.

I have been involved with CAIN as a volunteer for over a year thanks to a "call for help" at my church. From the beginning I was impressed with the dedication to its mission of providing food and assistance to people in need and with the structure and organization the pantry program. Guests are treated like guests and given the opportunity to make their own food choices. There is also a great program to offer meal suggestions and provide samples using ingredients available in the pantry or at a local farmers market. I have also been impressed with how CAIN's awesome staff works to connect guests with other resources; a holistic approach that leverages the work of multiple organizations and benefit programs. A great organization that is "walking the walk".

I'm the Community-Owner board representative for a cooperatively owned neighborhood grocery store getting ready to open in the neighborhood. We are working VERY closely with CAIN to ensure that the benefits of cooperative ownership of the grocery store reach the disadvantaged populations that CAIN serves. And now, before we open, we are working with CAIN and the Northside Farmer's Market to help get fresh and healthy food to the transportation challenged individuals in the neighborhood.

CAIN does amazing work in MANY areas and we are lucky to partner with them in the areas we can help.

CAIN plays an important role serving the community, especially those in need. I see them every week t the farmers market, collecting produce donations and providing fresh food to clients at the pantry. Thanks for all you do.

CAIN helps people through their services. They smile, talk to people, and give good advice. CAIN helped me with food, my energy bill, furniture, and with my needs.

Being around good people in a good environment has a positive effect in my life.

CAIN helps out. The people here are good, friendly people. When I came here, CAIN gave me food, and gave me a microwave at Christmas-time.

If you need help and you live in Northside, you should come to CAIN because they will help you in any way they can.

CAIN has helped us so much. I have six kids and I'm a single mom. My kids' dad died last year, so it's just me and the kids. CAIN has helped by giving us plenty of food. It's way different than other pantries.

CAIN cares. It's not just a service; they care. They are friends of whoever they help. They learn about you, ask questions, and talk to you.

When I come to CAIN, I feel like I'm going to my mom's house to shop in her fridge. CAIN made a huge difference in my life. Even though I come here once a month, it lasts. I don't have to worry about feeding my kids.

Come to CAIN!

CAIN is a great place. I would refer a friend or family member. It's a great environment for kids and family. They go the extreme to meet all your family's needs.

CAIN helped me with food when I didn't have it. They also help me with furniture vouchers, clothing, and gas and electric bills.

At CAIN, I feel at home. I feel welcomed with open arms.

CAIN is a good resource for help and food. CAIN helped feed me and my son. People at CAIN are really kind and helpful.

The staff and people here are very nice. Everyone is warm and wonderful. The cook -- kiss her and bless her hands! I learned how to cook zucchini and squash at CAIN. I never thought that I would like it, but when I tasted the ingredients at CAIN, I had to go home and make it. Now I know how to cook it. So CAIN taught me a healthy, quick dish!

If this place wasn't here, it would be horrible. Since we don't have a grocery store, CAIN provides the services that the community needs. And it's free, so it really helps out a lot. The products are always fresh. CAIN meets our needs from hygiene to food -- everything. And we leave here with a warm stomach, so if someone comes here hungry, they won't leave hungry.

CAIN always keeps their guests as the main focus and volunteers and staff treat guests with compassion, respect and affection.

CAIN is a wonderful service for people that live in Northside in Cincinnati, which is a food desert. As manager of the Northside Farmers Market, we partner with CAIN on many of our efforts to increase food access in our area. They have been instrumental in making sure our vendors do not have waste food or their efforts by allowing them to donate unsold food for distribution at the food pantry the next morning. CAIN continues to support the farmers market with special projects, such as cooking on a budget. We have collaboratively developed a recipe brochure with five recipes that feeds a family of 4 for $50, all with items found at the market. Additionally, we offer cooking classes to learn how to make the recipes. CAIN is truly a wonderful organization that helps a lot of people.

They are helping in the neighborhood in a large variety of ways and have continued to change their role at the needs change.

As a board member of Northside Farmers Market and a resident of Northside, I've seen the great work CAIN has done in the realm of food access. I am thankful to be a member of a community that serves it's citizens as diligently as the folks at CAIN.

I'm on the board of the Northside Farmers' Market. We have a longstanding relationship with CAIN that has helped us implement a program of accepting SNAP benefits and offering Produce Perks to our lower income customers. Our neighborhood is currently a food desert, and our partnership with CAIN has helped us offer good quality food, creative recipes, and cooking training to people of ALL income levels.

I have lived from one end of the country to the other and volunteered in many places. CAIN is, by far, my favorite. From its humble beginnings, it is absolutely amazing how it has grown under the quiet guidance of Mimi Chamberlain. I am honored to have been a part of this organization for a period of my life.

A year ago I started volunteering at CAIN's food pantry. Every Tuesday I look forward to being with the other volunteers who are becoming my friends and assisting shoppers with their grocery needs. Everyone is treated with grace and smiles. The volunteers are happy to help and the guests are grateful for the opportunity to fill their pantry and feed their families. CAIN is a great place with great plans for the future!

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.

I am a volunteer on Monday Nights at the food pantry. I really like how friendly the staff and other volunteers are, not only with the other volunteers but the clients as well. CAIN does an amazing job with pushing nutrition into the food pantry experience as well, which is rare for food pantries.

I'am so grateful for Cain worker's they are awesome people . I'am always greeted with a smile , they make me feel welcome and are very helpful in my pantry choices. They care about you and never look down on you for coming there when you need help.

CAIN is an extraordinary place. Community members that come to get food at the pantry are treated individually, like guests, with dignity and respect. Time is taken to understand each guest's situation and see what other services and/or referrals can be offered. Everyone at CAIN cares!

Working at CAIN for the last year has been a blessing to me because I'm able to reach out with the love of Christ within a well-run structure that is ever evolving and improving. The pantry provides healthy food, and goes out of its way to provide lots of fresh produce. The volunteers and staff go the second mile to listen and to learn from our guests. Some of our guests have told me that they came for the joyful interaction they experience as well as for the food. And I believe the volunteers feel the same way about our guests. CAIN is really a community in Christ.

Always loved volunteering here. Getting the one-on-one interaction with each guest that came through, learning about their lives and stories, and being a part of their lives and helping them out has really broadened perspectives for me. My time at CAIN always brought me life and joy in being able to help feed families in the Cincinnati area.

I've been a volunteer and donor to CAIN for eight years. I can't think of a more important mission than making sure people get food, and healthy food, at that, when they need it. The volunteers work hard to provide healthy food. I am always amazed at the kindness and compassion shown to our guests when they visit CAIN. The atmosphere is so warm and welcoming for those who are going through difficult times. The staff at CAIN is cautious about making sure all the donations are used to fulfill the mission in a no-frills manner.

CAIN is dedicated to improving the lives of people in my community and they do an amazing job of carrying out their mission. CAIN is action oriented and maintains an impressive pace in their actions. People are being served daily and it's being done in a professional yet personal way that inspires those around them.

CAIN serves the Northside community with compassion and holistic care through relationships, and practical service which meets people's immediate needs. Volunteers and staff honor all people's dignity in the way they have designed and implemented their pantry, tax filing, community meals and garden, and shelter programs. Those involved with CAIN are an inspired community with generous hearts; creative, progressive, and open-minded toward CAIN's expanding vision and mission to serve Northside and beyond. I am proud and thankful to know and participate with CAIN!

From my experience the mission of CAIN is vitally important for the people of the community. And the mission is being accomplished. More to be done of course. The director, board & staff are top quality in my view. Hope is continually raised in the community through the work of CAIN

CAIN ought to be in the dictionary under care! Each and everyday the house is full of volunteers and staff who's purpose is to treat the persons in need with respect and tenderness while trying to fill their needs. Smiles abound and I know some troubled thoughts are vanquished.
Anyone who is thinking about finding a place, either for your time or some of your hard earned dollars--this would be the place.
Most Sincerely,
Rian Keller

In our neighborhood- Northside- CAIN is everywhere the community gathers. They are an immersive presence with their programs, services and accessibility. We love and honor CAIN.

If I could rate this organization with more than 5 starts I certainly would. Having worked in the nonprofit world and been a board member of several organizations I can unambiguously celebrate the mission driven, client focused work that CAIN does in the community. Top to bottom they are true servants to their clients and welcome those they serve with respect and compassion while remaining centered around assisting with basic needs. As a volunteer I look forward to making my small contribution every week.

This is a wonderful and collaborative ministry that serves its community with passion, compassion and generosity. Every dollar given to this ministry is used wisely, not only to assist with needs, but to help those in need address the root causes of that need.

When I walk down the street in Northside with my CAIN T-shirt on, I get so many people coming up to me to praise CAIN and to tell me what good work CAIN does. When I mention CAIN to anyone even outside of Northside, I am told that CAIN is a fantastic organization. Its reputation for serving guests without judgment or prejudice is a blessing in a world where people often go to social service agencies and are faced with a long line and strict regulations, and an "us vs. them" perception between those serving and those being served. I'm so proud to be associated with CAIN!

I support CAIN because they provide dignity to guests they serve. They are thoughtful about what guests need and also consider carefully the best way to deliver goods and services with compassion. I appreciate the education they offer to donors and volunteers. In addition, they are leaders in the local community, by anchoring innovative partnerships, such as with the local farmer's market. They have excellent partnerships with local businesses, who in turn support their efforts to serve those in need. I feel my dollars are very well spent when I give to CAIN!

I have been involved with CAIN for about 10 years. I started giving at Christmas to the Secret Angel Program and then began volunteering weekly. CAIN helps so many individuals not just with food, but also with just a kind word, or a listening ear.
After many years of being involved, I am now a Board member. It is so fulfilling to see what CAIN does to help individuals in need.

I've been volunteering since 2010 and there is no better place to experience the love of God. The staff and volunteers exudes God's love as they minister to the needs of the community. It is wonderful seeing the smiles on the face of those that walk through our doors as they leave and hear their grateful feedback. In addition to taking care of the needs of those who come to CAIN, they also minister to those who are shut-in with no decrease in service. I love it here!!!!!!

Why is CAIN wonderful??? Because they treat their guests with respect, compassion and love. And they are careful and prudent stewards of any donations they receive, whether monetary or in kind. It is a place of warmth, safety, dignity and hope

Cain is the best. I love Cain. Cain is rhe best place to Volunteer and i love helping the people that works there and the people that goes to shop. Cain has helped me a lot. I've been blessed by Cain.

After interning at CAIN for the summer, I have a great respect for everyone who volunteers and works here. I learned much about CAIN’s central role in the community and all of their programs. They’re helping to promote proper nutrition and food access in a community in which many people lack easy access to conventional grocery stores. Every person in the organization is truly compassionate towards everyone who walks through the door. I have seen many instances of the staff helping people outside of operating hours. They desire to selfishly serve others, even if it comes at an inconvenience. The people here are as a whole respectful, compassionate, and have a deep love for the community and anyone who walks in and I have been blessed with the experience of working with them.

CAIN is a warm and wonderful place to get assistance and a smile from volunteers who love what they do. I have had the pleasure of being involved with this agency for more than 25 years. I have seen the needs of the guests grow from serving about 50 households monthly to over 350. They do what they can and give a hand up to those in need. I am blessed more by giving my time to this agency than I could ever have wished!!

I've had trouble making ends meet for all of my adult life, and for eight of the nine years that I've lived in Northside, I've visited CAIN's food pantry almost every month. They've helped me stretch my grocery budget when I've had some money and helped me to stave off starvation when I haven't. I'm looking forward to visiting tomorrow morning as I write this, and that anticipated opportunity to receive free food has figured into how I planned meals this month.

The volunteers and staff are friendly and helpful and have made me feel welcome even when I've felt guilty for being a regular relying on charity. In the past few years, since the food pantry switched to a Choice Pantry and began working with the FreeStore FoodBank and Northside Farmer's Market to provide more fresh produce, I've noticed a pronounced improvement over the nutritive value of the meals I can make from the ingredients I've obtained there.

There was one instance in which CAIN enlisted me as a helper when they paid to have some renovation done and I've volunteered at times when I've been able to. I'm afraid I've allowed myself to become something of a hermit in recent years, but CAIN has kept the plight of the unemployed and poorly-paid visible by being located on Northside's main drag, Hamilton Avenue, next to the big old Presbyterian Church where community events are often held and across from the Public Library. While I remain hopeful that I'll be able to work my way back to self-sufficiency and I intend to, if I manage to achieve this accomplishment, I will owe CAIN the wherewithal to survive when I was unable to provide food for myself and an example of people who persevere in service to others with patience and kindness year after year.

They are great people at cain and very nice and helpful when i need help wit food i love going there always make you comfortable loving people

This past July I has the privilege of welcoming my one year anniversary of my time at CAIN as a student worker through the University of Cincinnati. The staff and volunteers of CAIN has made my time there wonderful and encouraging. Every single member of the CAIN team welcomes the guest and volunteers with respect, humility, understanding, patience and kindness. Their willingness to serve and inspire hope to the community, has certainly made an everlasting impact on the neighborhood of Northside. Being at CAIN, in the presence of the pure love and generosity of its people, I am massively inspired to be just as giving and loving. CAIN is not only a blessing to the people of Northside, but also to every organization, school, university, or program it partners with to introduce their philosophy of what it truly means to transform lives and inspire hope.

I continually hear from CAIN's guests that it is just the nicest place with folks who take their time to listen and empathize with them. CAIN attends to their food needs, their spiritual needs and their need to be treated like valuable human beings. CAIN volunteers are always on the lookout for others services or agencies that can fill the gaps in their lives.
CAIN volunteers also remind the guests of CAIN's weekly hot meal service and the guest can apply for SNAP or get their federal and/or state taxes done there at no cost. This has also saved many guests hundreds of dollars each.

I love being part of the community at CAIN! Yes, it is volunteer service but, most important to me, I am part of a community of people who truly enjoy spending time together. More than a year after I first met them, the staff and other volunteers greet me as if I, too, am a beloved guest in their world. I may not come to the door in need of food but, most certainly, I come in need of the hospitality - the welcome, the kindness, the generosity - offered to every person who comes through CAIN's doors. Their response to each person both humbles and strengthens me: each of us, no matter who we are or why we are at the door, matters. We are, each of us, loved at CAIN.

I have been a volunteer with C.A.I.N. since 1992, when it was still called the "Northside Food Pantry". A LOT has changed over the years, but it has all been GOOD! The community of Northside is fortunate to have a place where they can get so much help in one place! It's not just about the food - it's about caring....& personal hygiene products... It's about compassion....& knowing someone is praying for you... It's about patience.....& someone helping to fill out the tax forms you could not do for yourself.... It's about warmth....& being able to get clothes for your family..... It's about kindness....& help with a resume' so you can get back to work & on your feet.... It's about love....something every client who visits C.A.I.N. experiences from the time the enter the door until they leave.....

CAIN always treats clients with dignity and respect. Volunteers are given training to see that everything runs smoothly at CAIN.

I was a volunteer to help people sing up for the affordable care Act and CAIN was Helpful in supplying space for me to talk to people.

CAIN doesn't just serve as an emergency mission, it's a part of the community, providing neighborhood dinners, having a presence at the farmer's market, and engaging all members of the community from volunteer appreciation parties to offering maps during the neighborhood garage sale. They go above and beyond in all aspects of their outreach and are a testament to how a neighborhood nonprofit should operate.

I volunteered at CAIN with my youngest daughter when she was in high school and needed service hours. After she graduated, other things got in the way and I stopped volunteering there. About 2 years ago I started going again, and am so glad I did! It is an extremely well run organization, with very dedicated staff and volunteers. It is clean and the process by which the "clients" use the pantry is very efficient. Each time I'm there, I see and hear the appreciation from the people served by CAIN. And to be perfectly honest, I feel good when I leave, knowing that I've helped just a little.

I have donated and helped with CAIN Christmas. Everyone is so helpful and treats everyone else with such respect and kindness.

CAIN is a wonderful, important organization in the Northside community. Everyone at CAIN goes out of their way to make sure they can help the guests as much as they can. Not only are the guests treated well, but it is a great place to volunteer. I had an incredible experience volunteering there this summer and am looking forward to continuing my volunteer work.

I have only been around CAIN for 1.5 months and I'm impressed! They just welcome whoever walks through the door! Even if there are tons of people and things seem crazy...they're always smiling and serving. The guests come first each day at CAIN! There are times where we may not be able to directly help a guest, but we have other resources that can! CAIN is truly a neighborhood ministry desiring to help each guest to reach their potential in life! It's a blessing to be apart of!

CAIN is a true neighborhood ministry. It is a place where neighbors take care of neighbors with respect and dignity. It is a place that is supported by the neighborhood of Northside. It is a place where people feel welcome right away.

CAIN has become a second home to me! I love the relationships that are able to develop between the volunteers and the guests. It's very authentic, and welcoming! As a student I enjoyed working here because it gave me something to look forward to everyday I came to work. This place is amazing!!

No one compares to CAIN when it comes to true love and ministry. They treat their guests and their volunteers as family, and call us to work together in love and respect. No one is unimportant or a "little person" at CAIN. You can always get a big hug from Priscilla, a joke from Darrell, or a smile from Lynne. CAIN ROCKS!

I volunteer at CAIN because whatever your job you take time to talk to the people coming for help and make them feel welcome and respected.

As a former volunteer at CAIN, I can attest to the critically important work they do. Not only do they provide food to those in need, but also assistance in how to get utility bills paid, or where to find housing, and maybe just as importantly, a sympathetic ear to listen. These people are vital to this community, and Cincinnati in general.

CAIN is an amazing nonprofit that treats guests and volunteers extremely well!

After interning here all summer, I've really learned a lot about the inner workings of a nonprofit. The way volunteers and guests are treated is unmatched in my experience with food pantries. The respect given to guests who might be bearing shame or guilt by using this resource is refreshing and inspiring. As a whole, the leadership at CAIN is full of respect, compassion and a deep love for the Northside community.

CAIN makes an amazing difference in the lives of many people, not just guests who come there for services, but volunteers from churches, school groups, and the neighborhood. CAIN is an outstanding example and advocate for the Beloved Community.

I learned about CAIN when I attended a church in Northside. I have been a volunteer and a donor there. I admire their contribution to the community by helping those in need. I support their mission and feel that CAIN is a vital outreach. As quoted in scripture, "Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms', CAIN's mercy and love towards the people that they service exemplifies God's beauty by touching one hand and one life at a time. Praises to the leadership, the staff and the volunteers that continue to make it happen at CAIN.

I have been a volunteer and a donor, and always my experience at CAIN has been wonderful! Volunteering opportunities are well organized and everyone has fun. As a donor, I get frequent, but informative and creative, email updates. I always know what's going on at CAIN, and feel like they are making a real difference to many, many people.

Thant's my review! Go CAIN!

CAIN has been an important part of my life since 2005. The staff are incredibly understanding, supportive and dedicated, but equally important are the hardworking volunteers. CAIN is an organization that welcomes anyone who needs a little extra help with open arms. One of the biggest testaments to how wonderful CAIN is the amount of volunteers who benefited from the support of CAIN.

We have volunteered in the past. Now we are only able to help with donations. All of the staff at Cain are top notch. They are always friendly and so grateful for any donations. But most importantly, they care deeply about their clients. Cain runs very smoothly with dedicated employees and volunteers. Cindy and Denny Bosse

CAIN is a wonderful place. The volunteers and staff are great. clients are called and are greeted as guests. Hospitality is very important at CAIN. I love volunteering there.

Apartment Association Outreach, Inc. is a partner with CAIN (Churches Active in Northside) financials donations to provide rent assistance to those who need a bridge over a tough patch as a one time payment directly to the landlord. Housing stability increases the stability for families and individuals. AAO also provides food donations to the pantry. We appreciate this partnership so much we showcase CAIN in a video about the work of the Outreach on our website www.gcnkoutreach.org, select the About Us tab and click the arrow to view.

As a former volunteer at CAIN and being involved with a local church through St. Vincent de Paul, I know that without CAIN many people in the neighborhood would go hungry. Their Choice Pantry provides many neighbors with needed food, personal items, soap, and even school supplies. All the staff here are friendly and helpful, many go out of their way to find "special" items for some clients.

I am both a donor and a volunteer. This is a great organization! There are so many organizations clammoring for donations and you wonder where your money is going and who is being helped?! You don't have to wonder at CAIN. The emails they send out keep me connected to what's going on even when I can't get in to volunteer. I love their "Can You Help?" program where they email specific needs out to their email list and then you can "Help" if you are able. I often include my children in these "Help" shopping trips - one time we bought shoes for a whole family of kids, clothing for a working adult, shoes, etc. It helps my kids understand that there are people who struggle to provide things for their families. We also love the Angel Workshop at Christmas where clients can come in to "shop" for Christmas presents for their families. This is another opportunity to get my kids involved and we always support a number of children and adults during the holiday season as well as coming into CAIN to organize gifts and help the shoppers. I look forward to helping more with my time when I retire and my kids are on their own life adventures! Keep up the awesome work, CAIN!!

Working with the local Freestore Foodbank in Cincinnati, our choice pantry provides over 500 lb of fresh produce PER WEEK to our clients. I know this because I am one of 3 volunteers who go each Monday
to load our cars with the produce. Since Northside is a so-called "food desert" (no grocery in the neighborhood), this effort is especially important. But the real joy is in helping our clients in selecting produce, comparing recipes, and talking with one another.

As a recent summer intern, CAIN provided me with a more rewarding experience than I could have imagined. CAIN not only helps the Northside community by providing groceries and hygiene supplies to those in need, but also establishes a welcoming atmosphere that becomes a sanctuary for volunteers and guests alike. I, like many others, found a home within the CAIN community that allowed me to broaden my perspectives, meet new people of all backgrounds, and contribute to the betterment of the surrounding community. CAIN is such a vital nonprofit organization because it provides the necessities that struggling families need, yet goes above and beyond through developing an entire support system in which volunteers and staff members truly listen to the families and do their best to provide all the help they can.

One word that describes CAIN is "Hope", because that is what the organization tries to provide to people in the Northside community in Cincinnati, OH. CAIN puts forth their best effort to create a loving atmosphere where people feel at home. It is a not only a second home to guests but to volunteers. CAIN doesn't stop at providing free groceries and hygiene items to families, but they strive to educate on healthy eating habits which is beneficial in the long-run. Thank You CAIN!

I have been associated with CAIN for several years as a board member. CAIN is an amazing organization that does many great things for the Northside community. The staff and volunteers do an extraordinary job making every guest feel both welcome and appreciated. It is truly an honor to be able to serve with such a great group of people.

I often take items to CAIN for donation. Not only are they helpful and friendly to me but it is clear how all of the customers feel as well. It seems to be a place to get help along with love and respect.

I live in the neighborhood that CAIN serves and support CAIN's work with gifts as I am able. I am consistently impressed with the creativity and integrity with which CAIN serves my neighbors who are struggling to meet basic needs. I notice that the people being served by CAIN are treated with respect and dignity and that CAIN events like the Friday night summer cookouts often provide an important meeting place for neighbors who come from very different class backgrounds and might not otherwise have a chance to get to know each other. I have no doubt that CAIN makes my Northside neighborhood a better place for everyone who lives here!

CAIN is a vital asset to the Northside community. They feed and clothe the working poor and provide other provisions for those in need. We support CAIN because we believe in their mission. We are a church in Northside and CAIN is helping us fulfill our own mission by extending our hands and our hearts to those less fortunate than ourselves.
New Spirit Metropolitan Community Church

I and my 13-year-old son Joe have been volunteering at the CAIN Food Pantry for the past two years. For both of us, it has been an amazing experience. While the pantry is only about 2 miles from our comfortable home, Joe has discovered first-hand that many people in his world--even people who live close to us--are not living comfortable lives; they are hurting and struggling to survive. The unique and beautiful gift that CAIN brings is creating an environment in which the dignity and value of each person who walks through the door is cherished and celebrated. Guests are treated with warmth and genuine love, and are offered a kind listening ear---nourishment that is just as important (or more so) than the food we share.

Helping prepare and serve one of the Friday meals each month is such an immediate and gratifying way to reach out to people in need right in our community.

Cain helps Northside residents lead better lives. Volunteers are trained and treat each client with love and respect. Monies are used in a very efficient and thrifty manner.Every time3 I am volunteering at CAIN I am impressed by the organization.

CAIN is a place that embodies love - there is an atmosphere of love and respect with guests, volunteers, staff. People go the extra mile for each other and inspire others to do the same. Folks get help in a tough time, hope for tomorrow and are helped to get into better situations for the long term. One person's family was helped in a time of need years ago. This family comes back and serves. I first volunteered as a personal shopper during the "Angel Shop" held open over the holidays. It was very humbling to be thanked over and over and feel the gratitude a parent felt at being able to do for their family - to leave with food for balanced meals and gifts for children and more. Everyone who has volunteered with me comes back. This is a very special place and run with many best practices.

You come here to work, and you just love everyone. There's nobody here that you don't like. They put me in on the Enquirer Wish List last year, and I got a new tub! You can tell that everyone loves it here. I never had so many friends until I got here. I've been with CAIN since it started, and I'll be here until the end-- or my end. Being here gets you closer to God. I know I am. I've learned a lot being here; I learn something every time I'm here. I worked over at the Senior Center before I came here, and many of them came here, too. When you go to the store and you see people who come to CAIN, they always say hello. They give me a lot of credit, but MiMi is really a driving force behind CAIN. Everyone else is, too. They put all of their hearts into CAIN, and it shows. People ask, "How is it up there?" And I say that you go through it just like a grocery store, and they like that. If I ever won the money or the lottery (if I played the lottery), I'd give it all to CAIN. People ask why, and I say because God is the one who gave it to me! I love this place. It's just like home.

It has been my joy and blessing to be a part of the CAIN corp of Volunteers for the last twelve years. I have done a variety of things, including chairing the board for eight years, pantry volunteer, shopper, errand person, general support for staff and other volunteers, chaplain and many, many more. I have always been impressed by their dedication to helping all members of the community who are in need and work very hard to keep all decisions based on guest (we don't call them clients) needs. I am also impressed with the very impressive ratio of staff to volunteers. There are only three, part-time professionals, and yet they recruit, coordinate, schedule and supervise an incredible group of volunteers that often minister to over 400 families in a month.

My name is Darla and I have been volunteering at CAIN for the last 4 years. It is a warm and welcoming environment where people are treated with respect and love. They leave with dignity and hope and feeling loved. I love volunteering there, I bring my children with me. I feel like CAIN is changing the world if not for only one person at a time. The experience at CAIN for me has been lifechanging. The staff are some of the most wonderful and caring people I have ever met. I appreciate the opportunity to serve along side each and everyone of them.......especially the one we call Amazing Grace!

CAIN does many things well but their Angel Shop during the Holidays is truly special. They provide their guests with the opportunity to do a little giving of their own. Families can sign up through this program and go through the pantry picking out gifts they think their children and family members would enjoy. There is no better experience than giving a loved one a gift. I had a guest express to me that we keep the Christmas Spirit alive in their household. Everything CAIN does is such a huge help to the Northside Community!

CAIN doesn’t just speak of love of God, they show it - and we all see it and feel it.
I am proud that my personal growth was inspired by CAIN, so I welcome this opportunity to share my story to hopefully motivate you to donate to CAIN – since their services are so very important to all of the community.
It is absolutely necessary that we all know as human beings that someone cares. I and many others feel that concern and compassion at CAIN. We know how these good acts are passed on. It just makes good sense to help CAIN help others. It makes for a better, safer, and friendlier community for everyone.

I am a student from Miami University, and I have been a volunteer at CAIN for quite awhile. Every person that works at CAIN is so joyful, friendly, kind, loving, enthusiastic, and personable. You can absolutely see that they are doing God's work. They had tasks for us that we were able to accomplish well, and really allowed us to feel like we were making a positive impact. I love volunteering at CAIN! Thank you CAIN for being so wonderful! You are really making a big difference.

I enjoy seeing that we are able to help people out with finances, food, and bills. I love seeing smiles on their faces, and I love to be a blessing to the people, showing them that we love and support them. I love ministering to people about God. We have a prayer box set up so that if they have a request, they can submit it there. Hilda prays over them, and we can put them on a prayer list. I thank God that I am able to continue doing His work at CAIN and continue being a blessing to the people that come in. I love working with all of the volunteer workers. I think they're very supporting; they show their love and kindness to us workers and the people that come into CAIN. --Ron

I started volunteering at CAIN for a service learning project for school two years ago, and I loved the organization so much that I kept coming back after my project was over! The staff and other volunteers at CAIN are so warm and welcoming that everyone who comes into the pantry receives a great experience. Many people with whom I have "shopped" rave about the items offered and the treatment that they receive. They love having warm soup or other snacks to eat while they wait to go through the pantry, and once they go through the pantry, being able to choose what items they take home is very important because they take home food that they will actually use. For the last two years, I have been back to help with the Secret Angel Christmas Shop during the first couple weeks of December, and it is quickly becoming my favorite Christmas tradition. Families or individuals sign up to go through the pantry, which is converted to contain Christmas gifts. They go through and pick out household items like blankets and pots and pans, toys, and cleaning supplies. Many have told me that these are the only Christmas gifts that they will receive, and it helps me to get in the Christmas spirit knowing that I am helping these people so much through CAIN. CAIN is by far my favorite place that I have done service at, and I will continue to come back and help out as long as they will have me!

I went with a college group called the TOMS club to drop off shoes that we had collected to donate them to families in need. In addition to sorting through the shoes, we made up emergency food bags for families that would not be able to get food during the holidays and sort through donated items that would be available to the families that CAIN serves for the holiday season. I was busy the entire time I was there and felt like I was actually making a difference. Everyone there was so nice and so appreciative of my work. I would love to go back and help again.

All of the staff is wonderful and so friendly!! They provide an excellent service to the community and are great with assisting all their volunteers. They gave us plenty to do, kept us on task, and were extremely helpful! I really felt like I was able to help out!

Great organization serving local needs through community involvement. Always collecting food, clothing, and seasonal items to help local families. Active and vibrant non-profit.

I have seen CAIN help people for many years. They do much good work in the Northside community. I like how people get to come and shop for the food their family will eat. Years ago the food pantry was different and the people had no choice in what they took home.

CAIN is an integral part of the Northside and surrounding community. Families in need not only count on the groceries, rent and utility assistance but on the genuine concern and support from the staff and volunteers at CAIN. I believe that CAIN's success is due to the excellent staff and the consistent way CAIN communicates the specific needs of the neighborhood to the donors and voluteers. CAIN is a smaill but mightly organization. They help hundreds of fmaiies throughout the year. At this time of the year I think of the many families who will have Christmas because of CAIN's Secret Angel program. It always amazes me how this small agency can help so many. God Bless.

I am only able to help during the summer because I go to college but ever since i can remember i have been helping my mom volunteer there when i have a chance. I may not work on the inside but i knnow full well how much of an aid it is to the community how they help with everyday needs and have a project for christmas where they let clients go through like any other time and choose from items to give their families as gifts.

I volunteered here with my school and it was one of the best charitable organizations I have been too. The people were really nice, and I liked the grocery-style food pantry. I think it made the people who came in very happy, and I loved to see how much of an impact the organization made on the community. It was a great experience.

It's nice to see people come in and to help them. The volunteers here are very polite and helpful to people. I have seen many people come in who are truly needy and may be out of jobs, and they are very appreciative.

We come from St. Xavier church, we started here about 15 years ago. We send volunteers down every week, including me and my wife. Working here gives us a sense of fulfillment, and we enjoy working with the other volunteers, we have all become very close. I feel we do a really good job here. Overall, I think this is one of the best outreach programs in Cincinnati.

I started working at CAIN as a student filling my hours for a practicum. I performed a myriad of tasks for CAIN and quickly became their "handyman" around the pantry doing the jobs that most others didn't want to do. Working at CAIN and interacting with the guests has really given me the opportunity to love people that I otherwise would never have met. One thing that struck me about the organization was how well it made use of its resources. The staff at CAIN is always thinking up new ways to increase efficiency, how they can better serve their guests and also how they can love the people that they serve all the more. It has been an emmense blessing for me to serve CAIN both for my practicum hours at school, but also for my soul.

I got started very early with Jewel, now we are helping over 400 families a month! Most people are appreciative of our work and it makes it easy to help out! I always get more out of it than I give. This work is very rewarding. I hope I can continue to do this for a long time, since I have been doing this for a long time! I have been here for about 20 years, since the very beginning.

For the last few years I have donated to CAIN by purchasing gifts for the holiday season store. CAIN allows their clients to go through with a volunteer and choose what items would work best for their families. I am so moved by the thoughtfulness behind this idea. CAIN allows families in need to be active by selecting the gifts. I believe the process also allows the individual to have the dignity and respect we all want, by selecting what they take. I love giving to this organization

Churches Active in Northside (CAIN) provides emergency assistance to Northside neighbors in need and also provides much- needed programming for children and youth. I choose to live in Northside because it is economically diverse, and I see how some members of our community struggle financially. The people at CAIN are very good at connecting people in need with available resources, and I feel tremendous confidence when I recommend their services to neighbors. And-- just as important--CAIN promotes a sense of community and unity for all Northside residents, bringing us together for fund-raising events like the annual neighborhood-wide yard sale and soliciting our involvement as volunteers and donors. In these ways, CAIN unites us as a neighborhood.

i attended the "training" session for this year's Angel Shop. I've always wanted to volunteer in our Northside community (we just moved here), and thought CAIN would be a great place to start since it's right across the street. I was surprised by the turnout. They have so many supporters...it was inspiring! Everyone I met was so friendly and approachable and they seemed to be very organized. I look forward to my volunteer time with them in December!

What makes Churches Active in Northside (CAIN) truly stand out as a great organization is that, in addition to providing basic necessities such as food and clothing to those in need, CAIN makes the Cincinnati-area neighborhood of Northside a stronger, more vital community. Through the various events CAIN holds throughout the year, such as a pancake breakfast on the 4th of July, or a neighborhood-wide yard sale, neighbors in the community come together in fellowship and in support of those who need it most.

Great organization that has partnered extremely well with the community. CAIN has taught the community the valuable lesson of learning that the poor are you and me, my uncle, my neighbor, the stranger, the child - the least of these.

I worked with the children and the christmas program this is a program that knows what they are doing it is so organized and kind. There is no paternalism it is all about sharing Gods bounty for others. They are so creative getting so many other programs to gether to witness and support the nieghbor hood I still send all my clients from the neighborhood there and they always feel loved and appreciated and in turn love Cain back

CAIN is a great asset to Northside. They genuinely care about every person who comes through their doors. It blew me away how much the staff, volunteers and even the clients gave so much of themselves and would do anything they could to help. (I personally witnessed a client give her last 2 dollars so another client could buy a fan.) This atmosphere is contagious and all involved are very special. They are truly a blessing to Northside.

Everyone in the Northside area knows about CAIN by the way CAIN helps everyone the best they can. I served as a Teen Volunteer for about 6 year since 9th grade and im a second year in college. While at CAIN i meet alot of people who are so very helpful CAIN has impacted their lives.

It just blows we away of all the good CAIN has done for Northside. We at North Side Bank love working with CAIN and help in all the drives and whatnots. I really think CAIN is one of the best organizations out there!

CAIN works very hard at helping the community in every aspect; they show the true meaning of working together to help those in need. I support this group in very way I can because I know that people who are helped by CAIN, when possible, always give back to them which helps the next person...AND THAT IS WHAT IT IS ALL ABOUT...helping each other

I spoke with a woman who visited CAIN for the Christmas Angel program who said: "If it wasn't for CAIN, I think I'd be on the street." She said she gets food, bus tokens, advice on how to get help, encouragement, a shoulder and an ear. I choose to help at CAIN because these folks are true Christians. I've seen them be gentle, loving and giving even in very difficult situations. CAIN is active in Northside; I live in Northside. I give now to help; who knows - I may be the one who needs help next year. CAIN is very important to us.

I have served on CAINs Board and Fundraising Committee for two years as a Community Member. We have served so many "guests" that the impact is immeasurable. Especially this year, with the current economy, it is so essential to be able to provide nutrition, household essentials and especially an ear to listen and shoulder to lean on. There have been numerous examples of our "guests" getting back on their feet and returning to volunteer for CAIN to provide the same service and outreach that was provided to them. CAIN is truly a blessin to many.

This is a fabulous organization that helps so many people in the community. And it is a very selfless organization that honestly just wants to help. I have worked with many of the people in the organization and they are always very plesant to work with, and I know that they help so so many people.

I have taken my daughter's scout troop to work at CAIN the past three years. Our girls have learned, through CAIN, that everyone counts, any one can go through rough times and also to treat each other with respect. They work hard to meet the needs of our communit!

I have volunteered at CAIN and see how amazing the organization is. Each staff treats the individuals who walk in the door with respect and love. CAIN is the BEST!

I have seen CAIN provide great services to the community. It really has helped a lot of people who just need a little help.

They are very visible and involved in the community all year round — through their services and outreach, they help many, many people. CAIN makes good use of their donations, with 95% going towards client services. I feel good knowing that such a high percentage of my donations goes towards helping those who are in need.

When I volunteer at CAIN, I feel like I am changing the world. There is a clear difference in my life this year and I owe alot of it to CAIN. The staff is truly dedicated and I find compassion in each of them. I have taken my children with me and they are learning what it means to have a heart open to love and giving. CAIN is 5 stars in my book.

Cain is an exceptional orgazination. The ratio of money given to money spent is very high., meaning 95% or better is actually given away to the needy. Not overberaing for requests and definately very friendly.

I first became aware of CAIN through the Secret Angel program which provides Christmas presents and household gifts to families in need. I was so impressed with the work they do that I began making regular donations to their other programs, which help with needs like rent and utilities, fans in the summer, and school supplies. I cannot say enough positive things about this organization. They treat every person with kindness and respect and are run with the utmost efficiency and good sense.

CAIN does an incredible job for families in this community and beyond, with an incredibly small committed staff. Mimi Chamberlain and Cathy Graham have led this agency to be quite a force in the neighborhood. They are innovative with fundraising and very perceptive of the real needs of the poor and working poor in this area.

I was home last fall from San Diego, CA and visited the wonderful folks at C.A.I.N. that I had worked with before moving west. I volunteered to collect contributions of money and food to feed the volunteers of the Secret Angel Christmas Program. I am always met with such enthusiasm from the neighborhood retail shops and inundated with contributions. It is a fulfilling experience and pleasure to be associated with the C.A.I.N. program. They are such a dedicated group of folks.

I have been volunteering at Cain for a couple of months now. I am so impressed with the staff and the volunteers. They all make such an effort to be welcoming and kind to the guests. It is wonderful to be around such good people.

I have volunteered for several years at this organization, primarily during the Christmas season. They do a tremendous job of keeping down costs, and using all dollars to help the people they serve. The most unique aspect of this non-profit is how they respect the individual they serve and empower them to make choices, rather than just receive handouts. For example, instead of handing a client a box of food, they let the client shop for himself, in the "store" they have created with food donations. Likewise, at Christmas they set up a "store" so that clients can select clothes and toys that are appropriate for their family. They make every effort to recognize the dignity of the people they serve.

CAIN is a competent and compassionate professional organization! Our neighborhood is lucky to have them! Their services are needed for our low-income neighbors.

I have been a volunteer at Cain. I have found the job they do there amazing. Every person is treated with dignity and compassion. Every conceivable effort is done to make sure that whatever is needed is addressed. They are the most caring group of people and they make the most of every donation.

As a High School Service Coordinator who has worked with CAIN for about 10 years, I couldn't be happier to send high school volunteers there. I always tell people they are the most organized Food Pantry I have ever experienced!

When it comes to compassion for the community, CAIN has a bottomless cup. From providing food and other necessities to our neighbors, to providing teens with training so they can have a more properous future...there are no words to describe how much difference CAIN has made in our community.

I found CAIN through a Service Learning program at my school and I volunteered weekly for about two and a half months. In my time there, I saw just how much CAIN helps so many people by providing food, hygiene items, and spiritual nourishment. There are dedicated people that bring bread, desserts, and fresh produce every Monday. Another brings a delicious hot dish to share with everyone. People who come to CAIN for help are treated with respect and compassion. It is an amazing place and I am going to continue volunteering after my Service Learning is completed! :)

I find the many stories of the clients so touching and each in need at many levels. CAIN tries to address the needs of the families by connecting them to community resources, providing services and goods and listening to each story with hope, love and charity. The staff is always so positive and respectful of all. I enjoy finding bargains all year round to donate to the pantry, fullfill special needs and the Secret Santa Event.

I like how CAIN sends out one-time requests. For example, there was a woman in need of an undergarment, I happened to have some Kohl's Coupons/cash and was able to make the purchase. Sometimes it's the small steps that make giant leaps.

I have been a donor with CAIN for years. It is awesome to come and delivery the gifts and see the celebration happening there. My staff at work all get together and buy for several families during the holidays. This is a big event for us and we look forward each year to have the opportunity to participate with CAIN.

What I like especially about CAIN is the way that anyone coming in its doors is welcomed as a guest and treated with respect. In return, the guests come to think of the volunteers and staff as friends, and the room where they wait their turn to go through the pantry choosing the groceries they need becomes a warm, cheerful place. On Monday nights Ron is usually there at the door to sign people in and offer a dish of lasagna or a cup of soup or whatever Karl cooked up and brought in. A bite to eat makes the waiting easier. People slow down and smile and treat one another with courtesy. More than once you'll hear someone say, "No, I still have some of that left from last month--save it for someone who needs it." I've seen Linda spending an extra fifteen minutes to listen to a father whose teenage son is giving him grief, and I've seen Debbie set aside a decorated cake for a woman who wanted to give her daughter "anything" to mark her birthday. CAIN volunteers provide the little extras that show caring and understanding. CAIN is a place where people come to feel valued,and for many that's almost as important as being helped.