Supporting No-Barrier Pantries & Mutual Aid Groups
- Eric Graf
- Oct 25
- 4 min read
As food prices climb and government programs face uncertainty, local communities are stepping up to care for one another. Across Scioto County, neighbors are filling crucial gaps through no-barrier pantries and mutual aid networks, ensuring everyone has access to food, dignity, and support.
Two groups that are a part of that safety net, even before the 2025 Government Shutdown, are Coles Blvd. Church, home to a no-barrier food pantry managed by Heather and Caleb Evans, and AppalAction Mutual Aid, a grassroots Facebook group founded by Abby Spears. Their ongoing work reminds us that community care doesn’t wait for perfect conditions, it honestly can’t afford to. It grows from compassion, persistence, and a mutual respect for your fellow human.
That’s why, at our next Social Hour on Thursday, November 6, from 5–7 p.m. at Oscar’s Restaurant & Lounge (Holiday Inn, Portsmouth), we’ll also be hosting a Food Drive for the Coles Blvd. Church no-barrier pantry. Bring non-perishable food and/or hygiene products to donate and stay for fellowship, conversation, and community.
What Makes a “No-Barrier” Pantry Different?
When I mention no-barrier pantries, I mean no documentation required… no ID cards… no Social Security numbers… no proof of income… no unnecessary barriers to a community member getting the help they need.
Many food pantries in our region, often through no fault of their own, must follow federal or grant-funding guidelines that require extensive paperwork. Those requirements can shut out the very people who need help the most… people who have lost their wallets, live unhoused, are waiting for replacement IDs, or simply can’t access the documents that bureaucracy demands.
At Coles Blvd. Church in Portsmouth, the pantry model is intentionally different. It’s built on trust and compassion. If someone needs food, they get food. No questions, no barriers. In my opinion, as someone raised Catholic and no longer identifies as such, they are embodying Christ’s values, specifically the teachings of the Corporal Works of Mercy described in Matthew 25.
This kind of direct access ensures that no one goes hungry just because they can’t prove they’re poor enough.
Is Mutual Aid Charity? No, It’s Community.
While Coles Blvd. Church operates a no-barrier pantry; other groups in our region practice what’s known as mutual aid: a community-based approach to sharing resources and care.
Mutual aid is not charity. It’s a grassroots form of cooperation where neighbors organize directly to meet one another’s needs… this ranges from food distribution, to rent, to help with a task, to ride shares and transportation… all without waiting for institutions or agencies. It’s based on solidarity, not hierarchy, and it recognizes that everyone has something to contribute and something they might need help with.
Mutual aid networks tend to grow in times of crisis such as government shutdowns, job losses, or disasters because people know the fastest, most reliable support often comes from one another.
In Southern Ohio, AppalAction Mutual Aid has been leading that charge, coordinating supply drives, direct aid, harm reduction, and community support across the Appalachian region. They’re a great example of how mutual aid builds power, trust, and resilience from the ground up. If you end up joining their group for aid or to aid, please take a few moments to look over their brief rules to make sure everyone gets the help they need.
Why Write About This Now? We’re Approaching the Longest U.S. Government Shutdown
The federal shutdown that began October 1, 2025, is already disrupting food-assistance programs across the country. Federal agencies have warned that SNAP (food stamps) and WIC (Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children) benefits may be delayed or cut off if the impasse continues. That means tens of millions of Americans could lose access to basic nutrition programs in the coming weeks. Take a look at a couple recent headlines:
When federal systems falter, local efforts such as no-barrier pantries and mutual aid networks become lifelines. The work already happening right here in Scioto County ensures that even when national programs fail, our community still has support. But even still, those helping provide support need your support.
So, Join Us on Thursday, November 6
Join us for our Social Hour with special guest: Allison Russo. One of our Democratic candidates for Ohio Secretary of State.
Allison previously served as Minority Leader of the Ohio House of Representatives and is a public health policy expert who has dedicated her career to expanding healthcare access, protecting reproductive rights, and ensuring fair, transparent elections.
BRING: Non-perishable food items and/or hygiene products
WHEN: 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
WHERE: Oscar’s Restaurant & Lounge (Holiday Inn, Portsmouth)
All donations will go directly to the Coles Blvd. Church no-barrier pantry, where they’ll reach local families quickly and without red tape.
For this drive, the pantry has asked for items especially helpful for kids during school and holiday breaks - foods that are easy to open, simple to prepare, and kid-friendly. Think muffins, toaster pastries, cereal, ramen noodles, boxed juices, and other grab-and-go snacks.
Of course, any non-perishable donation is welcome and deeply appreciated.
In the Coming Weeks… VOTE!
Early voting is now open. The general election is Tuesday, November 4, with polls open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Early Voting Hours:
Mon, Oct 27: 7:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Tue, Oct 28: 7:30 a.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Wed – Fri, Oct 29 – 31: 7:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Sat, Nov 1: 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Sun, Nov 2: 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
And Always Remember
Most of us are closer to needing help than we’d ever like to admit. A lost job, an illness, a missed paycheck, that’s often all it takes.
That’s why no-barrier pantries and mutual aid groups matter. They remind us that asking for help should never require proving that you deserve it.
Solidarity means we don’t look away from one another’s hardship, we share it, and we work through it together. That’s what community is for.
So when you bring a bag of food on November 6, or provide aid in a mutual aid group, you’re doing more than filling a shelf or filling up a tank of gas… You’re standing up for dignity, compassion, and the idea that we all do better when we all care for each other.