Food pantries in Greater Columbus face shortages amid growing need. How you can help

Eric Lagatta, The Columbus Dispatch
·3 min read
Volunteer Laurie Chapman loads potatoes for Johnathon Gillespie and Neleah McDowell May 3 at the Lutheran Social Services food pantry.
Volunteer Laurie Chapman loads potatoes for Johnathon Gillespie and Neleah McDowell May 3 at the Lutheran Social Services food pantry.

Food pantries in Greater Columbus and beyond have been struggling to keep their shelves full at a time when an increasing number of hungry people are turning to them to keep food on their tables.

Rising inflationary pressure due to demand and supply chain disruptions have led to dramatically rising food costs across the country, including in Greater Columbus. Donations to food banks from retail partners are down and budgets are stretched thin to purchase food that is hard to come by, many experts and advocates say.

At the same time, the skyrocketing food costs, coupled with the expiration of several pandemic-era programs to help those on a fixed income, have only led to more people needing to services that food assistance programs offer to make ends meet.

For subscribers: Food pantries in Ohio, Greater Columbus struggle to feed hungry amid surging inflation

The Dispatch asked four food assistance programs in Greater Columbus and beyond about how people can help them with donations of money or food. Here's how:

1. Lutheran Social Services Food Pantries

Who they serve: Provides emergency food distribution in 12 Ohio counties, including Franklin County, with its largest pantry located at 1460 S. Champion Ave. on Columbus' Southeast Side.

How to donate:

  • Monetary donations can be made at its website, lssnetworkofhope.org.

  • In-kind donations can be made at 1460 South Champion Ave.

Drop-off times: 9 a.m. to noon on Tuesday-Thursday

  • To schedule an alternate drop-off time, call 614-300-3263.

What is most needed: Canned fruit, canned chicken and tuna, vegetable oil, individually wrapped paper towel rolls

2. The Mid-Ohio Food Collective

Who they serve: Runs its own food pantry at 3960 Brookham Drive in Grove City and services 680 partner agencies — pantries, soup kitchens and after-school programs — in 20 counties, including Franklin County.

How to donate:

What they need:

  • Monetary donations are most valuable because it helps them acquire $5.22 in groceries for every dollar donated, said MOFC spokesman Malik Perkins.

  • Those hosting food drives can focus on collecting chili with beans, tuna, canned vegetables, canned meat, soup with vegetables, peanut butter and canned fruit, as well as personal care items such as shampoo and body wash.

Drop-off information:

  • Location: 3960 Brookham Drive, Grove City

  • Hours: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday

Contact information: 614-277-3663, info@midohiofoodbank.org

3. The Southeast Ohio Foodbank

Who they serve: Supports a network of more than 65 food pantries across 10 counties in the Southeast region of Ohio, including Athens and Hocking counties.

How to donate:

  • Online: visit hapcap.org/give

  • By mail: 3 Cardaras Drive, P.O. Box 220, Glouster, Ohio,45732

  • In-kind donations can be made between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday-Friday at regional food center, 1005 C I C Drive, Logan, Ohio, 43138.

What they need:

  • Monetary donations are most needed to allow for the purchase of food and the support of operations, said Rose Frech, director of the foodbank.

  • Unopened, nonperishable food that hasn't reached its sell-by date, and personal care/household items

Contact information: 740-767-4500, info@hapcap.org

4. The Salvation Army

Who they serve: Operates appointment-only food pantries in Franklin, Delaware and Union counties

How to donate:

What they need: 

  • Personal care items: Shampoo, soap, toothpaste, deodorant

  • Baby items: Formula, larger-sized diapers

  • Non-perishable goods: Fruits, vegetables, pasta sauce, chicken noodle soup, vegetable, and tomato soups, cereal

Drop-off information: Donations can be brought to any of five locations between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday-Friday

  • 966 E. Main St.

  • 2300 W. Mound St.

  • 3662 Karl Road

  • 760 Worthington Woods Blvd.

  • 888 Parsons Ave.

Eric Lagatta is a reporter at the Columbus Dispatch covering social justice issues and non-profits. Reach him at elagatta@dispatch.com. Follow him on Twitter @EricLagatta.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Here's how you can help Columbus area food pantries