Who Can Visit?
The Market at CAIN is a choice food pantry open to anyone facing food insecurity. It welcomes people from all zip codes in the Greater Cincinnati area — no matter where you live.
How Often You Can Visit?
Residents may shop at the pantry twice per month.
Good to Know
- Check in is done by phone using a QR code on your first visit. On your next visit, you get a keychain tag to make check-in even easier.
- Spanish-speaking staff and volunteers are available to help guests.
- The pantry is a warm, welcoming place where people of all backgrounds are treated with kindness and respect.
Food & Essentials
The Market is a choice food pantry, which means you pick the items you want. You can find:
- Fresh fruit and vegetables
- Meat
- Canned vegetables, canned fruit, cereal, pasta or rice, canned chili or meat, peanut butter, and jelly
- Household and hygiene items
- Baby diapers and menstrual products
How to Pick Up
The Market is a client-choice food pantry — you shop the shelves and pick the items that work for your family, just like a grocery store. Guests are encouraged to bring their own bags. Bags are also provided as available, and rolling luggage is welcome for guests who are walking or taking the bus.
Additional Support
CAIN offers many services beyond food:
- Utility assistance — help with rent and utilities to reduce the risk of homelessness
- Transportation assistance — bus passes and help getting home with your groceries
- Tax preparation — free tax help available on site
- Computer lab — open Monday evenings during Market hours; volunteers help with things like creating an email or applying for benefits
- English Learning Program — free adult English classes every Wednesday night; contact l.gray@caincincy.org or call (513) 549-4262
- UC Student Clinic — thanks to students and doctors from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, CAIN offers free health services. You'll be cared for with kindness, and help is available in both English and Spanish. Check CAIN's website for the schedule and more details!
- Annette's Café Community Meal — every Monday at 3:30 pm, a free carry-out or sit-down meal is served; no paperwork, documents, or registration needed — just show up
- Peace Potluck — free community meal every Thursday from 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm at Annette's House (4234 Hamilton Ave)
- The Free Fridge — 24/7 access to free food on CAIN's property (southern side of Annette's House, 4234 Hamilton Ave), with a refrigerator/freezer, microwave, and hot and cold water tap
- Snack packs — available during pantry hours for anyone experiencing homelessness; single-serving, shelf-stable foods like chips, cookies, drinks, and more
- Emergency bags — shelf-stable food bags for families unable to shop the pantry on a given day; typically contains canned vegetables, canned fruit, cereal, pasta or rice, canned chili or meat, peanut butter, and jelly
- Senior Food Boxes — monthly food boxes for senior living centers in Northside and nearby neighborhoods
CAIN also partners with other agencies to bring additional social services directly to guests.
Ways to Give
Donate money:
- Give online at donatenow.networkforgood.org/CAIN
- Link your Kroger Plus Card to CAIN (search "CAIN" or enter NM091) — every swipe earns CAIN a percentage at no cost to you
- Shop CAIN's Amazon Wishlist for urgent items to ship directly to the pantry
- Mail a donation to CAIN at 4230 Hamilton Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45223
Donate food and items:
- CAIN accepts clean, unopened, in-date food held at safe temperatures
- Non-food items accepted: hygiene products, paper products, baby diapers, pads, tampons, and incontinence products
- No fabric items such as clothes
- Drop off items on weekdays 9:00 am – 12:00 pm, or Mondays 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm
- For large donations or other times, contact the Market Manager at a.lawson@caincincy.org
Current most-needed items:
- Bottled water, Gatorades, single-serve juices, and drink mix packets
- Snack-size chips or crackers
- Microwavable meals (Chef Boyardee, chili, Compleats, mac and cheese)
- Peanut butter, pouch tuna or chicken
- Masa flour, cooking oil
- Baby diapers (any size), adult incontinence products, baby wipes
- Personal care items or cleaning products
Donate grocery bags:
- Clean, gently used grocery bags (paper, plastic, or reusable) and rolling luggage are welcome
- Drop off at CAIN or at partner locations: Northside Library Branch, Mt Healthy Library Branch, Square Mile Coffee, Box Elder Community Room, First United Church of Christ, Clifton United Church of Christ, Caracole, or Cincy Climb (gym members only)
Call CAIN at (513) 591-2246 for more information.
How to Join the Team?
There are many ways to volunteer at CAIN. Fill out the volunteer application on the Give Time page.
Volunteer roles include:
- Assist Market guests — greet and help guests as they shop; Spanish-speaking volunteers especially welcome (Mondays 5–7 pm, Tuesdays and Thursdays 10 am – 1 pm)
- Set up and stock The Market — sort donations and stock shelves (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday mornings 9 am – 12 pm; early morning shifts Monday and Tuesday 7–9 am also available)
- Phil's Place Community Dinner — help sort, pack, and hand out meals every Monday at 3:30 pm
- Computer lab — help guests browse online and apply for benefits during Market hours
- Sponsor a food drive — coordinate with the Volunteer Coordinator at r.stone@caincincy.org
- Serve a meal during pantry — bring or prepare a meal for guests during Market hours
- Join a Board Committee — committees include Internal Affairs, External Affairs, Finance, and HR (email board@caincincy.org)
To get started, reach out to the Volunteer Coordinator at r.stone@caincincy.org or call (513) 591-2246.