Our Daily Bread Soup Kitchen & Social Center

Who Can Visit?

Everyone is welcome at Our Daily Bread — no ID, no proof of need, and no requirements of any kind. As they say on their volunteer page, "We serve anyone who wants a meal, with no requirements, ID, or proof of need." Guests can have as many helpings as they choose.

How Often You Can Visit?

You can come back as often as you like. The soup kitchen is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM–11:45 AM. The website notes that over 80% of guests come 2–5 days a week, and for many, Our Daily Bread is a main source of food.

Good to Know

• Guests can eat inside the dining room or pick up a carry-out meal — sandwiches and a drink — at the to-go window outside.
• The kitchen serves 500+ meals every weekday.
• Our Daily Bread is in a big mustard yellow building at 1730 Race Street in the Over the Rhine neighborhood of Cincinnati, across the street from Findlay Market.
• One reviewer shared: "Your bound to get stuffed here. They allow you to go up in line as many times as you want for a free meal."

Food & Essentials

Every bite of food served is rescued or donated — 100% of the food comes from food rescue and community donations. Each meal includes a hot dish, fruit (fresh fruit when available, otherwise fruit cups), home-baked treats or salty snacks such as muffins, cookies, brownies, pretzels, chips, peanut butter or cheese crackers, nuts, trail mix, and a drink. Guests who eat carry-out also receive sandwiches (meat or PB&J) to take with them for later in the day.

How to Pick Up

Guests can choose how they want to receive their meal:

• Dine in — Come inside and go through the serving line. Guests can choose their food and return to the line as many times as they want.
• To-go window — Pick up a carry-out meal, sandwiches, and a drink at the to-go window outside without coming inside.

Additional Support

Our Daily Bread is more than a soup kitchen — it is also a social center and community hub:

• Social Center (Mon–Thurs 8 AM–2 PM, Fri 8 AM–Noon): A safe, welcoming space to rest, play cards, make art, and do other social activities.
• Social Work Services (Tues–Thurs 8:30 AM–Noon): A social worker is on site to help guests connect to services. Community agencies visit on weekly schedules and provide mental and physical healthcare, employment assistance, and addiction services.
• One reviewer mentioned: "you can get all the help you need . plus a hot meal."

Ways to Give

Our Daily Bread runs on the generosity of the community and welcomes many kinds of support:

• Donate online: secure.everyaction.com/qfZVOUvTiEyEjIbOK86p-w2
• Donate by mail: Send a tax-deductible check to Our Daily Bread, 1730 Race St., Cincinnati, OH 45202.
• Donate by phone: Call Valerie Elfers at (513) 621-6364 ext. 10, or email valerie@ourdailybread.us (available Monday and Wednesday, 10 AM–4 PM).
• Donate food and goods: Drop off food donations Monday–Friday, 7:00 AM–Noon, at the donation door on W. Elder Street off Race Street. Call (513) 306-1938 from your car or ring the doorbell. Items most needed include sandwiches, fresh fruit (oranges/cuties, bananas), treats, plastic grocery bags, toilet paper, Ziploc bags, to-go coffee cups (10 oz or 12 oz with lids), plastic forks, and 55-gallon heavy-duty trash bags.
• Amazon Wishlist: Have items delivered directly to Our Daily Bread by shopping their Amazon wishlist.
• Planned giving and stock transfers are also accepted.
• Hold a canned food drive: Sign up at the donation page and contact Kathy Schickel at kathy@ourdailybread.us with questions.

How to Join the Team?

Our Daily Bread relies on weekday teams of 12–15 volunteers to run the soup kitchen. Volunteers choose a weekday that fits their schedule and make an ongoing weekly commitment to serve 8 AM–Noon on that day.

On-site volunteer tasks include:

• Serving hot meals in the dining room
• Packing and wrapping to-go meals
• Prepping food (washing produce, chopping vegetables)
• Bussing and wiping down tables
• Cleaning the kitchen and serving line after meal service
• Greeting and welcoming guests

Requirements: Volunteers must be at least 16 years old. Those under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Closed-toed shoes are required; aprons, gloves, and hair nets are provided.

First day: There is a half-hour orientation on your first day.

To sign up for on-site volunteering: Contact Kathy Schickel, Director of Operations, at kathy@ourdailybread.us, or fill out the inquiry form at ourdailybread.us/volunteer-3/.

Off-site opportunities (great for families, groups, and faith communities): assemble sandwiches, bake treats, cook food, or organize a canned food drive. Learn more and sign up at ourdailybread.us/donate-food/.

For group volunteering inquiries, contact Kathy Schickel at kathy@ourdailybread.us.