The holidays often bring to mind family recipes, traditions and laughter around the table. However, for many across the country, and in Central Ohio, the holidays bring a different story - empty cabinets and a holiday you just can't afford.
The Need Is Real, and Close to Home
Right in our backyard, the Worthington Resource Pantry served over 38,539 families from July 2025 to June 2026 — and growth isn't slowing down. "We grew by 20%" from 2025 to 2026 explained Worthington Resource Pantry Executive Director Nick Linkenhoker. "It's a big jump... I don't think this is a blip. I think this is something that we're going to be dealing with for quite a while."
The reason isn't that anything dramatic changed in a family's life: "Nothing significantly has changed with their circumstances. It's just that their expenses, especially their food expenses, are outpacing their income's ability to keep up" explained Linkenhoker.
That's showing up in bank accounts everywhere and Worthington is no exception. "You might have been able to scrape and scrimp and save to be able to afford groceries on your own" Linkenhoker explained. "But as those prices have gone up, [that income] doesn't have the same purchasing power that it did a year ago." Families who never imagined needing a food pantry are now first-time visitors and oftentimes that can be overwhelming.
Linkenhoker recalled a story where a few years ago, a woman pulled into the Worthington Resource Pantry parking lot for the first time. She got out of her car — then got back in. It was her first time ever shopping at a food pantry, and she sat there crying, too overwhelmed to go inside.
It was just too much. "So [a] volunteer said, 'Well, I'll go and shop for you." He went inside, gathered what she needed, and brought it out to her car.
The woman came back a few weeks later — and this time walked straight in: "I have to tell you how impactful that volunteer was for me, because I might never have gone into the pantry. I might have driven away again, and I was out of food. I had no food left in my house. A volunteer made a huge, a huge impact on me, and kept me from starving" said Linkenhoker.
As inflation rises, and we're all feeling the pinch on our pocketbooks, it is important to remember that any way you can interact with the Worthington Resource Pantry is important - whether donating, volunteering, or shopping. Every community member makes a difference in their mission.
What to donate
While the holiday season highlights an even higher need, it also brings more opportunities to support the pantry in a variety of ways. The first and most common are food donations. The pantry accepts all food donations but highlights that there are some items that are needed more than others.
A few donated items that make an outsized difference:
1. Cereal — The more variety the better; it allows families choice in a way they wouldn't normally have and brings a little joy to the shopping experience. The pantry often buys in bulk meaning selection can be limited. "If you don't want corn flakes, we're going to get a pallet or two of corn flakes at a time. So, when we get food drives, we get a lot of variety [of cereal] explained Linkenhoker.
2. Personal care items— With rising prices, and an inability to use SNAP benefits on these products, it's a costly item that sometimes people cut to make ends meet.
3. Shelf-stable protein — While the pantry buys and provides protein, their selection varies due to a variety of factors. "Canned tuna or chicken, jars of peanut butter — those go really quickly. It's a great addition to the meat choices we already have available" said Linkenhoker.
4. Diapers — These fly off the shelves quickly - small and large sizes alike. "We're buying diapers regardless of the price. It's something that we value... our neighbors expect us to have those on the shelves at any given time" stated Linkenhoker.
However, as seasons and visitors change, so do needs. For a most updated list of high demand items visit the Pantry's website and social media.
More than just Food
As the holidays season gets busier, so does the pantry and it doesn't stop with just food.
Thanksgiving calls for annual distribution of — "a turkey and all of the fixings" described Linkenhoker which is helped made possible through a variety of community partners.
For Christmas the pantry serves as a sign-up site for Firefighters for Kids, (for families with children 12 and under), and for a teen gift program called Sharing Livy's Love - all of which provide support for families beyond the table.
Ways You Can Help This Holiday Season
1. Donate. Food and personal care drives directly restock the shelf items above — whether it is your school, organization, neighborhood, or just your family, all donations make a difference.
2. Volunteer. There are a variety of ways and times to help and roles range widely — shop assistants, registration help, resource-center support, truck pickups from grocery partners, and the weekly farmers market. Shifts are available most days and times of the week - including evenings and weekends.
3. Visit. Sign up for a session to learn more about the pantry during their community open houses or schedule a tour. "If there are folks who just want to learn more about us, come and take a tour. Reach out to us, and we'd be glad to show you around" stated Linkenhoker.
A Community That Shows Up
Asked what keeps the pantry running, Linkenhoker pointed to gratitude more than strain: "When there is a need, when we say, 'Hey, we need some help,' we only ever have to ask once" - showing the strength of the Worthington community and giving us all another reason to be thankful this holiday season.