Area Chick-fil-A restaurants are collecting donated groceries through Friday, Oct. 16. The drive supports GO Pantry, which provides weekly food assistance to about 1,300 students.
The "Love Your Neighbor" food drive, reported by Local 12, runs Oct. 12–16. The campaign is a partnership among Chick-fil-A locations across Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky, the nonprofit A Child's Hope and Florence-based GO Pantry.
Organizers say nearly one in five local children face food insecurity. Many students who eat breakfast and lunch at school have no guaranteed meals on weekends.
GO Pantry Executive Director Beth McIntire said the nonprofit works with more than 100 schools across 11 districts in six counties, including Boone. Requests for help have jumped 30 percent, according to GO Pantry's website.
"Going without enough food on the weekends can affect a child's mental, physical, and emotional development," McIntire said.
How to donate
Residents can pick up a grocery bag and an approved shopping list at participating Chick-fil-A locations through Thursday, Oct. 15. The list includes protein or granola bars, macaroni and cheese cups, instant oatmeal, individually packaged Cheez-Its and beef sticks. Each bag should contain at least three items.
Filled bags go back to participating Chick-fil-A restaurants on Friday, Oct. 16, between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. or 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. Donors will receive a Chick-fil-A meal card while supplies last.
Residents who prefer to donate online can visit thechildrenarewaiting.org/what-we-do/hope-sacks. Online donors who give $50 or more will receive two Chick-fil-A meal cards by mail. According to A Child's Hope, $30 can provide weekend meals for one child for an entire month.
In Northern Kentucky, all collected donations support GO Pantry. In Cincinnati, they go to A Child's Hope, which provides weekend food security across Greater Cincinnati communities.
GO Pantry, headquartered at 7453 Empire Drive, Suite 300, in Florence, has partnered with area Chick-fil-A locations before, including a community walk at the Union Promenade in July.
Residents looking for other ways to help can find volunteer and donation opportunities at gopantry.org.
Coming up
- Friday, Oct. 16: Love Your Neighbor bag drop-off at participating Chick-fil-A locations, 11 a.m.–2 p.m. and 5–7 p.m.
