Many people live one paycheck away from financial disaster. An unexpected illness, injury, car repair, or life change can put a self-sufficient person at risk of hunger.

St. John’s Outreach Ministries, located at 415 Park Avenue, is working to address the need in Newport, Kentucky. The organization distributed more than 41,000 pounds of food in 2017 through its food pantry.

“The need in Newport is great,” said Wanda Quinn, Head Volunteer of St. John’s Outreach Ministries. “We support about 140 families a month. Our pantry is filling a great need in the community, supplying families with fresh fruits and vegetables, meat, cheese, staples, and hygiene products. The food from the pantry helps supplement this need.”

You can help support St. John’s Outreach Ministries through the Freestore Foodbank’s 15th Annual Hunger Walk & 5K Run. The event, taking place at 9:00 a.m. on Memorial Day, Monday, May 28 in downtown Cincinnati, helps support the Freestore Foodbank’s network of 611 community partner agencies located in 20 counties throughout Southwest Ohio, Southeast Indiana and Northern Kentucky. Partner agencies form teams and raise money through pledges of support from their community. Registration is $20 or $25 with a t-shirt.

“The money that we raise through Hunger Walk will allow us to distribute more food to the customers that we serve.”

St. John’s Outreach Ministries has a goal to raise $3,000 through Hunger Walk this year. To join the St. John’s Outreach Ministries Hunger Walk team or to donate to its Hunger Walk efforts, call (513) 482-FOOD (3663) or visit the Hunger Walk website. Online registration is open until 2:00 p.m. Friday, May 25.