by Ben Dickison, Back Page Editor

DESPITE THE BACK PAGE USUALLY CONTAINING SATIRE ARTICLES, THIS ARTICLE IS NOT SATIRE AND IS MEANT TO BE INFORMATIONAL.

They say laughter is the best medicine. I think there is a lot of truth to this. To me, laughter is the sound of love and none of the problems we have are caused by love.

Sometimes, life gives us a reminder that we’re called to laugh even when things seem almost hopeless. There is always hope, though. We were not created to be immune to hardship, but we are created in a way that allows us to rely on each other to deal with things that just flat out suck.

Below, I have put together a list of resources for you and for you to share with the people we laugh with when they are having a hard time when it comes to material things. 

I have a challenge for myself along with you: next time you see a person on the side of the road asking for help, try to view them as a friend to share conversation and laughter with instead of “hungry,” “jobless,” “depressed” or  “homeless” first. A person can never just be defined by one trait. We all have souls, capable of loving and overflowing us with joy and laughter.

Hopefully these resources can help us both ourselves and help each other as life unfolds. Let’s be All For One this belated “All 4/1 Day.”

Food Access

Name	Address	Hours	Phone
Our Daily Bread Soup Kitchen	1730 Race StreetCincinnati, OH	Dining Room open 8:30-11:30 AM Monday-Friday Take Out 8:30-11:45 AMMonday-Friday	(513) 621-6364
Queen City Kitchen	2386 Kemper LaneCincinnati, OH 45206	Tue, Wed, Thurs Hot Meals12:30-2 PM SaturdayBrunch 12-1 PMDinner 4-5 PM Sunday Dinner2-3 PM Choice Food PantryTues/ThursNoon-1:30 PM	(513) 961-1983
Over the Rhine Soup Kitchen	1620 Vine StCincinnati, OH 45202	Saturday and SundayNoon-1 PM	(513) 241-5121
St. Vincent de Paul Choice Food Pantry	1146 Bank StreetCincinnati, OH 45214	Monday thru Friday8 AM-4 PM Saturday 8AM-Noon	(513) 421-0602
La Soupe	915 E McMillan Street45207	FridayNoon-3	(513) 271-0100
St. Francis Seraph Ministries	1615 Republic StreetCincinnati, OH 45202 (St. Anthony Center)	Monday-Friday 7:30 AM-5:30 PM	(513) 549-0502
Bridge the Gap Ministry	514 W 3rd StreetCincinnati, OH 45202	Monday AND Thursday 6 PM-7PM	N/A
St. Leo Food Pantry	1860 Carll StCincinnati, OH	Monday, Wednesday, Friday 1-3:30 PM	(513) 921-1044 HAS ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS,Check website saint-leo.org/foodpanrty
St. George Interfaith Food Pantry	2554 Dennis StCincinnati, OH45219	Every Monday AND Tuesday  6 PM-7:30PM Last Friday of the Month  Noon- 1:30 PM Last Saturday 10AM- 11:30 AM	(513) 751-8771
Rescue Temple Community Center	725 Whittier StCincinnati, OH 45229	Wednesday AND Friday 1:30-3:30 PM	(513) 221-6246
Sem Food Pantry	2020 Beechmont AveCincinnati, OH 45230	Monday-Friday 10AM- 2PM Tuesday evenings 5:30-7 PM Saturday Mornings  10 AM- 2 PM	(513) 231-1412
Union Baptist Church Food Pop-Up	405 W 7th Street Cincinnati, OH 45203	4th Thursday of the month Noon-1 PM	(513) 381-3858
Freestore Foodbank	Bea Taylor Market 3401 Rosenthal Way Cincinnati, OH 45204 Pop-ups Locally	Tuesday 11AM-7PM Wednesday 11 AM-7PM Thursday 11AM-7PM Friday 11 AM-5PM Saturday 10 AM-3PM	(513) 241-1064
Mercy Neighborhood Ministries	1602 Madison Rd Cincinnati, OH 45206	Mondays-Wednesdays 9-11:30 AM Senior Food Pantry Days Third Tuesdays of each month, pantry is open to 60+ year olds	(513) 487-6181 Transportation avaliable
St. Andrew’s Episcopal Food Pop-Up	1809 Rutland Ave Cincinnati, OH 45207	Mondays and Tuesdays  1PM-2PM	(513) 531-4337

Shelter

Name	Address	Hours	Phone
Shelterhouse Men’s Center	411 Gest StCincinnati, OH 45203	8 AM-5 PM	(513) 721-0643
Shelterhouse Women’s Center	2499 Reading RoadCincinnati, OH 45202	8 AM- 5 PM	(513) 562-1980
Bethany House Services	4769 Reading RoadCincinnati, OH 45237	9 AM- 5 PM	(513) 381-SAFE
Emergency Shelter of Northern Kentucky	436 W 13th StCovington, KY 41011	Open 24 hours	(859) 291-4555
Mary Magdalen House	1629 Republic StreetCincinnati, OH 45202	8:30 AM- Noon 1 PM- 4 PM	(513) 721-4811
City Gospel Mission	1805 Dalton AveCincinnati, OH 45214	8:30 AM-4:30 PM	(513) 241-5525
Joseph House	3304 Colerain AvenueCincinnati, OH 45225	6 AM- 10:30 PM	(513) 241-2965
Tender Mercies	27 W 12th StreetCincinnati,OH 45202	Open 24 hours	(513) 721-8666
REST Price Hill	4105 Glenway Ave Cincinnati, OH, United States	Open 24 hours	(513) 801-0573

Medicine at Free/Reduced Cost

Name	Location	Hours	Phone #
St. Vincent de Paul Charitable Pharmacy	Neyer Outreach Center 1146 Bank Street Cincinnati, OH 45214 Western Hills 3015 Glenhills Way Cincinnati, OH 45238 Milford 813 Main St, Ste A Milford, OH 45150	Neyer Outreach Center Monday, Tues, Thurs, Fri 9 AM-4PM Wednesday  10 AM- 4 PM Saturday 9 AM- Noon Western Hills Tues AND Fri 9 AM-4 PM Wednesday 10 AM- 4PM Saturday 1PM-4PM Milford Monday AND Thursday 9AM-4PM	Neyer Outreach Center (513) 421-0602 Western Hills (513) 347-0402 Milford (513) 248-2664
Good Samaritan Free Health Center	3727 Lawrence AveCincinnati, OH 45205	Monday-Friday 9 AM-4PM Saturday 9 AM – 11:30 AM	(513) 246-6888
Faith Community Pharmacy	601 Washington Ave, Suite 100 Newport, KY 41071	Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 9 AM-3:30 PM	(859) 426-7837
UC Student Run Free Clinic	1335 Century Way Springdale, OH 45246	Saturday 9 AM-11 AM	(513) 394-7479
Life Forward	1335 Century Way Springdale, OH 45246 2415 Auburn Ave  Cincinnati, OH 45219 11020 S Lebanon Road Loveland, OH 45140 2415 Auburn Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45219 2415 Auburn Ave, Cincinnati, OH 4521	Century WayWednesday-Thursday 9 AM- 4:30 PM Auburn Ave Monday-Thursday  9 AM-4:30 PM S Lebanon Road Monday-Tuesday 9 AM- 4:30 PM	(513) 961-7777

Suicide/Crisis Helpline: Call 988

ACLU Ohio’s Guide to Protecting Rights In Encounters With Immigration Enforcement: https://www.acluohio.org/en/campaigns/immigrants-rights

Intimate Partner Violence Support: Call 800-799-7233