The Drop Inn Center

This is a really great place to volunteer and then go get a drink in OTR afterwards!
Placed right outside of washington park a lot of people choose to spend their time eating, drinking, walking their dogs, and living the high life. But there are a lot of less fortunate people in this world, and cincinnati. What a great way to drink in good spirit by making a difference first!
Check out the drop inn center!

I had the opportunity to visit the Drop Inn Center as part of a class and meet some of the amazing residents and staff members. Cincinnati is incredibly lucky to have an organization of this caliber providing services in our community.
Led by Executive Director Arlene Nolan, the Drop is focused on providing high quality services to its residents. They’ve made tremendous changes over the past few years, improving the quality of meals, offering alternative meals to accomodate dietary restrictions, and remodeling the living quarters to accommodate the feedback from residents.
You may have known the Drop was there, but did you know they are the only place in Cincinnati that doesn’t turn people away? Clients can enter intoxicated, suffering from mental illness, or just in need of a place to stay, and they’ll find shelter here. There is an entire bunk room dedicated to housing veterans and working individuals who need help getting back on their feet.
What you may not know is that the Drop provides intensive case management services for its residents. While individuals can just come to the Drop for shelter, all clients have the opportunity to participate in recovery, mental health, and other services to help find permanent housing.
If you’re not convinced, call the Drop Inn Center and ask to hear some of their data — it will below you away.
So how can you help?
1. Donate supplies. Check out their website to find out what they need most.
2. Donate money. Like everyone else, they’re trying to cut expenses without cutting services. The Drop serves a vulnerable population that’s already had services cut in so many other places. Help make sure it doesn’t happen here too.
3. Visit. There are residents here who are desperate for someone to talk to, to tell their story to, to interact with. You don’t have to do anything… just show up and listen.
If you want to learn more, call Arlene and she’ll make sure you know everything you ever needed to know. This is an incredible asset to our city providing ESSENTIAL services to thousands of individuals each year. We all need to do our part to make sure those services will always be available to people who need them.

This is not your typical Unilocal review. The Drop Inn Cntr is not a bar, club, restaurant, bridge or highway. It’s a place for homeless people, a place where they get a chance to break through the vicious circle of poverty. A place with a bed and food.
I’ve been to the Drop Inn Center twice now as a volunteer to serve dinner and lunch. Today I got a tour of the building and a bit more explanation about the program.
I was impressed by how much is done with not a lot of means and by how the staff is really doing everything to make sure homeless people end up not living on the street anymore and find their way back to a stable life. They try to guide everybody through 3 phases, every time with increasing responsibility and tasks. At the end of the 3^rd phase, a person is likely to be ready to move onto another home or to go and live independently. What a huge difference a place like this can make.
Everybody I have met during those 2 times has been extremely friendly and thankful for having some volunteers helping out. It’s been a great pleasure to go and help out and I’ll be happy to return anytime.
The reason why I haven’t put 5 stars is because it’s clear that the staff makes a lot happen without a lot of money so I just couldn’t say it’s perfect. The more support they get the better, and the less people will need to live on the street.