As the National Eucharistic Revival concludes in June 2025, opportunities remain to not only celebrate the gift of the Eucharist but be transformed by it—moving beyond church walls to share Christ’s love and compassion with those most in need. The Eucharist is more than receiving Jesus’ Body and Blood, it is a call to action, inspiring us to be Christ’s hands and feet in the world. One local food program, Food for All, embodies this mission by bridging the Eucharist’s spiritual nourishment with physical nourishment for the hungry.

A program of Catholic Charities Southwestern Ohio (CCSWO), Food for All partners with social service agencies and churches to fight hunger in underserved communities. Staff and volunteers distribute nutritious, affordable food sourced from donations and partnerships, like the Freestore Foodbank, to families in need. In addition to rural outreach, Food for All runs a monthly food pantry at St. Joseph Church in Cincinnati’s West End and provides Power Packs with healthy weekend meals to students from low-income families.

“Catholic Charities targets its services to those places and people who aren’t already served well by the social safety net,” said Tony Stieritz, CEO of CCSWO. “This includes areas of Clermont, Brown, Adams, Clinton and Highland Counties; rural areas of our archdiocese where poverty rates are highest.

Our Food for All program is one of the Freestore Foodbank’s largest footprints for food distribution in this underserved area. We anticipate serving nearly 400,000 meals worth of food by the end of 2024 to over 7,000 individuals. In addition, we ask [for] …any special intentions they’d like us to pray for. The struggles these families face can be overwhelming, and so we are motivated to also serve our clients by praying in solidarity with them for hope and healing.”

Natalie Gonzalez, a volunteer with Food for All, said, “It is such a humbling feeling not just to know that you’re feeding families… but to watch the other folks there really work hard together to give to the community. The love and unity is palpable.”

Gonzalez said Food for All “runs like a well-oiled machine.” A volunteer team registers each car, assigning a number based on family size that determines food portions. Before cars reach the distribution line, volunteers have indicated the quantity for each vehicle. Another group packs perishables and produce into boxes before placing them on tables for easy access, and someone is assigned to restock items.

“This world is so very in need of charitable hearts and hands,” said Gonzalez. “It seems like such a small way to love your neighbor, but each and every time I am there, my heart is overflowing with joy.”

Food pantries and programs provide an essential space to live out the call to mercy and compassion. By responding to the needs of the hungry and vulnerable, volunteers embody Christ’s love, creating a ripple effect of hope in their communities.

“The Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy direct us towards a number of duties to put God’s love into action through charity and justice, including feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, and welcoming the stranger,” said Stieritz. “Food pantries [like CCSWO] and Catholic Social Services of the Miami Valley offer regular opportunities for us to practice a work of mercy.”

“When Jesus proclaims that the poor will always be with us (cf. Mt. 26:11), it is not a pessimistic statement of resignation about poverty,” continued Stieritz. “Rather, it’s a call to action. What does knowing this mean for those of us who have the capacity to respond? It’s a recognition that the Christian life always directs us to be present to the poor. They will always be with us, because accompanying others in times of vulnerability is where Christians want to be. Our pantries are one place where we can practice this.”

To learn more about volunteering with the Food for All program or Catholic Charities Southwestern Ohio, go to: www.ccswoh. org/get-involved/volunteer.