La Soupe expands role in SAFE Network to fight gun violence, food insecurity

La Soupe has expanded its support for the Cincinnati Children’s-led SAFE (Systems to Achieve Food Equity) Network to combat food insecurity and reduce gun violence in the city’s most affected neighborhoods. 

Backed by an Impact Award from the City of Cincinnati’s Human Services Fund, the two-year initiative will establish neighborhood-based food and resource hubs in communities experiencing high rates of hunger and violence. The project brings together 13 local organizations, including La Soupe, in a coordinated effort to address the root causes of community instability.

“This work is a bold, compassionate step toward healing neighborhoods by addressing the root causes of violence, starting with hunger,” said Emmy Schroder, executive director of La Soupe, wrote in a letter to supporters.

La Soupe has been part of the SAFE Network since 2020, when the collective formed in response to rising food insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, the network – led by Dr. Carley Riley of Cincinnati Children’s – has grown into a trusted alliance focused on long-term, community-driven solutions, Schroder said. Riley also recently joined La Soupe’s board of directors.

The project reflects La Soupe’s mission to rescue surplus food, transform it into nutritious meals and distribute it to individuals and families in need. The organization emphasizes that food can play a powerful role in stabilizing communities by reducing stress and building trust.

While the Impact Award will help launch the effort, Schroder said additional support will be needed to sustain and expand the work.

For more information or to support the project, visit lasoupe.org or learn more about the SAFE Network at cincinnatichildrens.org.

“When people are fed, they are more grounded, less likely to experience the desperation that can lead to anger, mistrust, and even violence,” Schroder said. “Nourishing food doesn’t just fill stomachs; it calms minds and helps create safer, more connected communities.”