When you’re unexpectedly expecting, and you’re beginning to feel the weight of the responsibility of staying healthy not only for yourself but for the growing life within you, it can feel heavy. We understand the worries you have. You might be wondering:
How can I eat the best foods to nourish not only me but the baby too?
How am I going to provide food and clothing for my child once I’ve given birth?
All of our pregnancy centers have clothing and baby boutiques stocked with just what you need to clothe and care for your baby. And while we don’t have food, our community has no shortage of places you can go to get what you need to feed yourself and your baby or family.
Look for these food pantries located near each of the Hoperising centers.
Dayton/Kettering
1. The Hearth Community Place The Hearth Community Place (north Kettering and Dayton)
The Hearth Community Place is OPEN 2-7 PM Tuesdays except for the first Tuesday of each month. They are located at 3415 Linden Ave. in Dayton between S. Smithville Rd. and Woodman Dr.
They provide meat, dairy, bread, non-perishable items, and (in the summer months) fresh produce. They serve families eligible for the Federal Emergency Food Assistant Program. Their “client choice” model empowers food recipients to select items within each major food group that best fits their household’s unique needs.
2. First Dawn Food Pantry First Dawn – Restoration Church (south Kettering and Centerville)
First Dawn Food Pantry is a Choice Food Pantry that serves residents living in these zip-codes:45458 – 45459 – 45342 – 45440 – 45429 – 45420 – 45430 – 45432
45305 – 45449 – and 45439. They are open on Thursdays from 6 PM to 7:30 PM.
Residents of these zip codes can visit one time per month and must have an ID and proof of residency.
FDFP is located inside Restoration Church in Centerville, Ohio
63 E. Franklin St. (about 1 1/2 blocks east of City BBQ/Graeters)
3. The Dayton Foodbank The Dayton Foodbank
The Dayton Foodbank, part of Feeding America’s Network of 206 food banks across the U.S. and one of twelve in the Ohio Association of Foodbanks, has several locations throughout the city with a zip code search option to help you find the location nearest you. To find that search tool, scroll down to the bottom of their homepage. See income guidelines here: https://thefoodbankdayton.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/JFS-04224-ENG-Rev-070122.pdf
While their main location is at 56 Armor Place in Dayton, they also have several Kettering-based locations at Greenmont Church (1921 Woodman Dr.), at Belmont United Methodist at (2701 S. Smithville Rd.), At Central Christian Church (1200 Forrer Blvd.), and Emmanuel Lutheran Food Pantry (4865 Wilmington Pk.). Other locations can be found by visiting their website.
Every Wednesday morning between 9 and 11 AM, those in need can receive food in the weekly drive-thru at the Armor Place location off of Germantown Pike. It is recommended but not required to bring an ID and a piece of mail with your name and address.
The Foodbank also offers mobile pantries that travel to a variety of locations on specific dates. To access their upcoming schedule, click here: https://thefoodbankdayton.org/mobile-pantries/
4. Memorial United Methodist Food Pantry Food Pantry — Memorial Church
If you live in the West Carrollton school district, you can visit this choice food pantry, where you can come and pick out the food you prefer. For this pantry, you’ll need to call or email to set up an appointment. mumfoodpantry@gmail.com (937)-249-0941
5. Feeding Friends at Harmony Creek Feeding Friends at Harmony Creek | Kettering OH
The Feeding Friends Food Pantry, located at 5737 Bigger Rd is a drive-through pantry that is open on Thursdays from 5-6:30 PM.
North Dayton
1. With God’s Grace Free Store With God’s Grace
Located at 5505 North Dixie Northridge, Ohio, With God’s Grace Free Store is open to Montgomery, Preble, and Greene County residents. To access the food pantry, call 937-602-9981 for a required appointment. All adults need a photo ID as well as a piece of mail from the last 30 days that shows your current address, and minors need a birth certificate.
They also operate a mobile food pantry to provide food to those in need. To find out when they’ll be near you, consult the calendar on their site.
2. St. Vincent de Paul food pantries – St. Vincent de Paul Dayton
St. Vincent de Paul offers person-to-person assistance to those in need. Their website describes it this way: “The members of our Conferences (also known as Vincentians) provide friendship and spiritual support to those they assist, often in the form of a home visit—a trademark of the St. Vincent de Paul Society. Through the home visit, they are able to determine how best to help the individual or family in crisis. They may provide help with utility bills, rent, medicine, food, clothing, household items, and furniture. Over 600 Vincentians in 30 Conferences assist those living within the geographic area of the parish, no matter what their faith.” To find a conference near you and to obtain support, visit their website.
3. “Pantry on a Pole” blessing box at Bethesda Temple https://www.bethesdatempledayton.com/
Located at 3701 Salem Ave., Bethesda Temple has non-perishable food items and personal hygiene products available to anyone in their blessing box, which is located on the church property on Falmouth Street.
Huber Heights
1. The Hearth Community Place The Hearth Community Place (north Kettering and Dayton)
The Hearth Community Place is OPEN 2-7 pm Tuesdays except for the first Tuesday of each month. They are located at 3415 Linden Ave. in Dayton between S. Smithville Rd. and Woodman Dr.
2. With God’s Grace Free Store With God’s Grace
Located at 5505 North Dixie Northridge, Ohio 45414, With God’s Grace Free Store is open to Montgomery, Preble, and Greene County residents. To access the food pantry, call 937-602-9981 for a required appointment. All adults need a photo ID as well as a piece of mail from the last 30 days that shows your current address, and minors need a birth certificate.
They also operate a mobile food pantry to provide food to those in need. To find out when they’ll be near you, consult the calendar on their site.
3. Huber Heights FISH Food Pantry Huber Heights FISH Food Pantry
FISH is an acronym for ‘Friends In Service of Humanity.’ This food pantry is open from 2:30 to 4 PM on Wednesdays and Fridays and requires appointments to visit. They are located at the back of Studebaker School at 5954 Longford Road in Huber Heights at door 22. To make an appointment, call 937-233-FISH (3474) on Wednesdays and Fridays from 8 AM to 1 PM. They prefer appointments to be made on the day of the desired pick-up.
Xenia
1. Xenia FISH Food Pantry Greene County FISH Pantry
FISH is an acronym for ‘Friends In Service of Humanity.’ Open from 12 PM to 3 PM on Wednesdays and Thursdays, the Xenia FISH Food Pantry does not require appointments. As you enter, you take a number and wait in the guest waiting area until your number is called.
They are located at 774 Cincinnati Ave Xenia, Ohio 45385.
2. The Helping Hands Food Pantry at Liberty Life Church Helping Hands Food Pantry | Liberty Life Church The Helping Hands Food Pantry is open the first and third Thursdays of each month from 9 AM to noon. No appointment is necessary to visit. The church is located at 1180 Upper Bellbrook Rd. in Xenia.
Looking for more food pantry locations in Greene County? This pdf can help: http://greenedd.org/atrium/wp-content/uploads/Greene-County-Food-Pantry-Listing-.pdf
At Hope Rising, we want to do all we can to ensure that no woman, child, or family spends their days hungry or malnourished, or uncared for. No matter where you are or in what situation you find yourself, there is hope.
This is just a sampling of the many food pantries you can find in your neighborhood to help you not just survive but to thrive. Please contact your local Hope Rising if you need support of any kind. We are here for you.