NEEDS (North East Emergency Distribution Services)

Our Vision

To be a vibrant, compassionate, faith-based coalition sharing resources with the local communities.

Mission Statement

North East Emergency Distribution Services (NEEDS) is a cooperative group of concerned community churches and civic organizations.  It is our mission to do God’s work of caring for our neighbors by providing basic emergency assistance.

History

NEEDS is a coalition of 19 area churches and civic organizations. The concept for what is now NEEDS began in the early 1980s as a clothes and toy swap in the garage of long-time Blue Ash Presbyterian Church member, Mary Sue Dickmann. As Director of First Step Nursery School, Mary Sue recognized that there were many children in our community whose basic needs could not be met by their families. Unwilling to look the other way, Mary Sue approached her pastor, Don Leckrone. Together, Don and Mary Sue worked with other pastors in the area to rally their churches. On September 30, 1982 NEEDS was formed as a nonprofit corporation in Ohio and received IRS 501(c)(3) tax exempt status in 1983. Since then, NEEDS has been through many changes in terms of how it operates, but the mission remains the same.

Statistics

During 2024, NEEDS served 2,284 families (7,725 individuals) with food,

212 families with emergency financial assistance (housing and utilities) totaling $79,678

Our 2025 giving numbers have increased greatly.

We are an all-volunteer organization, no paid staff.  We are housed rent free in Kenwood Baptist Church.

Over 97% of donations go directly to families we serve.

Programs

Food pantry open on Tuesdays and Thursdays 9:00 am-1:00 pm

Financial assistance for rent and utilities. 

Annual Student Assistance Drive providing gift cards and funds to 16 local schools