New Albany Food Pantry Food for Thought 🍓

Pantry Family Giving Back

The Cabello family has been living in the United States for almost two years and learned about the pantry from a friend who knew they could use some extra help. They have participated in our culinary classes, learned about healthy eating and new cuisine (despite a language barrier), and then practiced what they learned at home. After experiencing what the pantry has to offer, the Cabellos have expressed gratitude for the pantry and all who are part of it. They share:

“We are deeply grateful for the help received, which has gone beyond food. No matter what doubt or question you have, you will always receive a respectful and reliable answer.”

The family wanted to find a way to give back to the pantry, and the opportunity to volunteer was discovered as their daughter explored volunteering and senior seminar projects. In addition to various family members volunteering, we are excited to have their daughter do her senior seminar project with us this summer. She will focus on publicizing the available pantry benefits and programs, connecting families to nutritious cooking, and strengthening the Cabello family’s ties with the New Albany community!

April Numbers Remain High

We continue to see increasing demand for our services. In April of 2023, we had nearly 180 families visit the Pantry and provided almost 16,000 meals. That is a 27% increase in the number of households served and a 30% increase in meals provided over April 2022.

Why is this happening now? Demand for food assistance has reached record levels nationally and in Ohio due to recent cutbacks in government-supported programs such as SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) to 2019 levels, the end of the enhanced childcare tax credit, and inflation. It has become more difficult for households to make ends meet. As our families navigate reduced SNAP benefits and unrelenting inflation, we expect to continue to serve an increasing number of neighbors.

Summer Meals 2023

During the last month of school most children are daydreaming about the lazy days of summer – sleeping in, playing with friends and family vacations. However, for the children who rely on free or reduced-price school breakfasts and lunches, summer break presents the very real dilemma of not knowing if there will be enough food for them to eat at home. For those families, not having the availability of school meals places a burden on already strained budgets.

1 in 5 kids in Ohio don’t know where their next meal will be. Your donations help feed hungry kids right here in New Albany and allow the New Albany Food Pantry to provide healthy meals to children who need them this summer. Thank you for making a difference in the lives of our children!

Donate to Summer Meals

May Pantry Needs

Community members just like you provide a lot of the food in our pantry. This month we need:

Oatmeal (canister or instant)
Potatoes (canned or instant)
Pasta (not spaghetti)
Tomato products (paste, sauce, stewed)
Canned pineapple

Donations can be dropped off at:

Philip Heit Center

150 W. Main St, New Albany, OH

(in the Food Pantry bins under the front stairway)

Jennifer Wilcoxon

Pantry Director

Healthy New Albany

150 West Main Street ~ Suite B

New Albany, Ohio 43054

jennifer.wilcoxon@healthynewalbany.org

healthynewalbany.org

Healthy New Albany is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to creating and promoting a culture of health for all members of our community. Our vision is to enrich the well-being of our community through health promotion, education, engagement and partnership.

Our community programs and services are funded by our races and generous donors. Giving creates the opportunity to make a positive difference. Your tax-deductible donation will go a long way in supporting our work. If you would like to donate to a specific HNA service line, please make that selection in the dropdown menu.

Donate to Healthy New Albany