La Soupe

Who Can Visit?

La Soupe is not a traditional walk-in food pantry. Instead, it works through a network of over 150 community partner organizations — such as local food pantries, senior centers, and other nonprofits — that distribute the meals La Soupe prepares. If you are facing food insecurity, reach out to a La Soupe community partner in your area to receive food. La Soupe also operates a storefront called La Soupe To Go at 915 E McMillan St in Cincinnati's Walnut Hills neighborhood, where anyone can purchase ready-to-eat meals, with proceeds supporting the mission.

Food & Essentials

La Soupe rescues fresh, surplus food every week — including produce from farms, items from grocery stores, and food from manufacturers — and transforms it into restaurant-quality, ready-to-eat meals. Soups and stews are a specialty: past offerings have included split pea and ham soup, classic chicken noodle, tarragon mushroom, creamy lobster bisque, rich beef bourguignon, and more. Meals are also available frozen. The menu changes weekly based on what ingredients are rescued, so there is always something new.

How to Pick Up

La Soupe distributes its ready-to-eat meals through a network of 150+ community partner organizations across the Cincinnati area — not through a direct walk-in pantry. Partners such as food pantries, senior centers, and other nonprofits receive meals and share them with their communities. If you received a meal through a partner organization, you can also purchase soups and meals directly at the La Soupe To Go storefront at 915 E McMillan St, open Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM – 4 PM. You can also order online.

Additional Support

La Soupe offers culinary education programs that teach individuals and families essential cooking skills — helping people prepare nutritious meals, reduce waste, and make the most of their ingredients. A registered dietitian develops nourishing, health-promoting meal options and Medically Tailored Meal (MTM) interventions that help prevent, manage, and treat chronic illnesses through the Food As Medicine program. La Soupe also runs the Rescue Kitchen Network, sharing their model with nonprofit organizations across the country.

Ways to Give

La Soupe welcomes several kinds of support:

• Financial donations can be made online at lasoupe.org/donate or mailed to: La Soupe, Inc, PO Box 6099, Cincinnati, OH 45206-6099 (Federal EIN #47-4452384). Check if your employer offers a donation match to double your impact.
• Stocks, Donor Advised Funds, and Qualified Charitable Distributions from your IRA are also accepted as tax-efficient giving options.
• In-kind donations (ingredients, supplies, or equipment) are always welcome and help keep the kitchen running.
• Food donations can be dropped off at 914 Curtis Street, Cincinnati, OH 45206, Monday through Friday, 8 AM – 3:30 PM. For donations over 50 lbs, contact La Soupe for collection support.
• You can also host or start a food drive through your school, company, or religious group. A virtual option is available through #GiveHealthy.

For donation questions, contact development@lasoupe.org or call (513) 271-0100.

How to Join the Team?

Volunteers are the heart of La Soupe — last year, 750 volunteers contributed over 16,000 hours. There are many ways to get involved:

• Food Runners — help pick up and deliver rescued food
• Kitchen Support — assist chefs with meal prep and packaging
• Culinary Education Teaching Assistant — help lead cooking classes
• Urban Gardening, Dock Assistant, and Group Opportunities — additional roles for individuals and teams
• Internships are also available

To get started, fill out an application, sign the waiver, and watch short training videos online. Once you complete onboarding, you can sign up for open shifts at times that work for you. Walk-in shifts are not available since La Soupe is a working kitchen.

Volunteers must be at least 16 years old (no one under 18 may be in the kitchen unsupervised). Wear comfortable, closed-toe shoes and have your hair restrained. La Soupe provides aprons, gloves, and hair/beard nets.

Volunteers enjoy great perks, including a complimentary chef-prepared meal each shift, discounts on La Soupe food and merchandise, and entertainment credits through the Concerted partnership. AmeriCorps RSVP members receive additional benefits like mileage reimbursement.

To learn more or get started, visit lasoupe.org/volunteer or contact La Soupe.