To serve that goal, we have partnered with the Toledo Northwest Ohio Food Bank to form the 419 Food Pantry. Toledo’s Old South End is one of the city’s poorer neighborhoods and has a large Hispanic population with many neighbors struggling to keep their pantries stocked, so our bilingual program (English/Spanish) helps uniquely fill a pressing need. While there are a small number of food pantries operating in the area, many of South Toledo’s Spanish-speaking residents remain underserved due to language and cultural barriers.

The 419 Food Pantry program’s primary mission is to provide food on the table for families in need, to increase food security, and to expand access and consumption of nutritious foods.

In the past 4 years, with the NWOFB we have distributed more than 68,000 pounds of food and groceries to families in need in Lucas County. The 419 Food Program helps the food bank expand its distribution to at-risk, underserved communities. 419-Food Pantry is open Thursday from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm. Nuestra Gente itself has distributed hundreds of food baskets, clothing, and toys around the holidays and held dozens of food drives at its Old South End community center. We work together to make a difference for our neighbors.

The program provides weekly food baskets to help families mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on the food security of low-income people in the Old South End, East Side, and surrounding communities. In this time of uncertainty, the most vulnerable people in our communities need us now more than ever.

We are located in the heart of the Old South End to serve families who are desperately in need in the 43609 and 43605 zip codes. While we love to be able to address the needs of the entire community, we are focused on doing the most we can with the resources at our disposal. We believe that community growth begins with the love and care of neighbors and that charity and goodwill can spread by addressing the most pressing, immediate needs.