Be Concerned

Who Can Visit?

Be Concerned serves people of Northern Kentucky who need help getting food. Anyone who needs emergency food can walk in without being registered — the pantry will provide help right away. For the regular monthly pantry, you will need to complete a simple registration process first.

How to Register?

To register for the monthly pantry, stop by during registration hours:

• Monday – Tuesday, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Bring proof of identification and proof of address (see the Items Needed section below). Once you are registered, you can come back every month. You can also call 859-291-6789 or email info@beconcerned.org if you have questions.

Items Needed for Registration

For the monthly pantry registration, bring:

• Proof of identification
• Proof of address

Emergency food assistance does not require any ID.

How Often You Can Visit?

Registered pantry members can visit once a month. Emergency food assistance is available Monday through Friday, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM, for anyone who needs immediate help, even without registration.

Good to Know

• Be Concerned is the largest choice pantry in Northern Kentucky — you shop for your own groceries rather than receiving a pre-packed bag.
• Each family receives about 60–70 pounds of food per visit, which is worth roughly $100–$200 in monthly food staples.
• The pantry is located at 1100 Pike Street in Covington, across the street from a local favorite, Herb & Thelma's.
• 100% of pantry customers who request food will receive assistance.
• The pantry is deeply committed to honoring the dignity and humanity of every person who walks through its doors — volunteers and staff are known for greeting shoppers with a smile and a kind word.

Food & Essentials

Each visit, you can choose from a selection that typically includes:

• Canned goods
• Pasta
• Bread
• Cereal
• Crackers
• Milk
• Eggs
• Frozen meat
• Fresh vegetables
• Seasonal items

How to Pick Up

Be Concerned uses a client-choice model — nothing is pre-packaged for you. You walk through the pantry and pick the items you want, just like shopping in a store.

Pantry hours by appointment:

• Tuesday: 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM
• Wednesday – Friday: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Additional Support

• Emergency food assistance — Anyone can receive the equivalent of a small cart of food in an emergency, even without registration. Available Monday – Friday, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM.
• Senior food delivery — Be Concerned partners with several senior living communities in Northern Kentucky to bring the monthly pantry program directly to seniors each month.
• Home delivery — For shoppers who are homebound, volunteers can deliver pantry items to your door on a monthly basis. Contact the pantry to arrange this service.
• College student food delivery — The pantry partners with Mount St. Joseph University to bring food to campus commuters facing food insecurity.
• Thrift store vouchers — In certain situations, Be Concerned can offer vouchers to Betty's Treasures Thrift Store, located in the same building. Other partner agencies can also provide vouchers.
• Homeless support — If you are experiencing homelessness, staff will connect you with the right agency and provide emergency food while you work through the process of securing housing.

Facilities

Betty's Treasures Thrift Store is located in the same building as the pantry. It sells clothes, household items, games, puzzles, books, jewelry, furniture, art, and more at very low prices. It is open to the public and accepts cash only.

• Thrift Store Shopping: Monday – Friday, 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM
• Thrift Store Donations: Monday – Friday, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Note: The thrift store cannot accept tube/console/large TVs, large metal or wooden desks, particle board furniture, books (COVID-19 restriction), dirty or stained clothing, or anything left outside after business hours.

Ways to Give

Be Concerned welcomes support in several ways:

• Money — Make a one-time or recurring donation at beconcerned.org/donate-money. You can also link your Kroger Rewards card to support Be Concerned.
• Pantry goods — Donate non-perishable food items for the pantry.
• Thrift store items — Drop off gently used clothing, household items, furniture, and more at the store during donation hours (Monday – Friday, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM).
• Christmas Store donations — Toys and gifts are accepted for the annual Christmas Store.

For questions about donating, call 859-291-6789 or email info@beconcerned.org.

How to Join the Team?

Be Concerned relies heavily on volunteers and welcomes people to help at both the pantry and thrift store. Volunteer tasks include stocking the pantry, pulling groceries for shoppers, and packing for senior delivery.

• Most opportunities are suited for adults, college students, and high school students.
• Volunteers under age 14 need a parent to sign the volunteer paperwork.
• Middle school students may help if supervised by an adult volunteer.
• Some lifting is required (canned goods, crates, heavy boxes).
• Wear closed-toe shoes.

To sign up, visit beconcerned.org/donate-time and choose the dates and times that work for you.

For large group volunteer projects, call 859-291-6789 or email info@beconcerned.org.