CINCINNATI, Ohio — Over the past couple of months, there’s been a growing need for more personal protective equipment (PPE) for Churches Active in Northside, also known as CAIN. This is especially the case as they manage to operate their food pantry on a weekly basis.

What You Need To Know


  • United Way of Greater Cincinnati is giving away free PPE to organizations and Cincinnati residents every Wednesday

  • The donation has helped dozens of organizations like Churches Active in Northside, known as CAIN

  • This initiative was made possible through a mask donation from Procter and Gamble

“Our food pantry typically serves between two and three hundred families a month, and we’ve seen a tremendous increase—about a 75 percent increase in pantry visits since the beginning of COVID here in Cincinnati,” said Melissa Meyer, CAIN executive director.

And although they are serving the food outside, Meyer said it’s still important that people have masks.

“We’ve become very worried recently about the increase in COVID cases in Hamilton County, so we’ve been providing masks to all of our pantry guests because they have close contact with staff,” she said.

United Way of Greater Cincinnati’s newest initiative is helping organizations like CAIN. Every Wednesday until August 5, they are handing out boxes full of masks, sanitizers and other PPE to community members and organizations that registered in advance. This was all made possible through a donation from Procter and Gamble.

“We’re trying to make sure we meet the needs of the community, particularly those who don’t have access to them so we can get them to them as soon as possible,” said Moira Weir, United Way of Greater Cincinnati president and CEO.

Meyer said this donation will truly help keep the community safe.

”We really want to be able to protect all of our neighbors and community- our staff and volunteers and help prevent the spread of COVID,” said Meyer.

And she’s very grateful for the support from United Way and hopes to help as many people as possible.

“To be able to get masks, to be able to protect everybody is just a tremendous relief for us,” she said. “It takes just one less pressure off a very challenging time.”