Gold Star is helping children in need with a $40,000 donation to the Freestore Foodbank following its 2025 National Chili Month campaign. The contribution will provide about 120,000 meals for kids facing food insecurity across Greater Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky and Southeast Indiana.
The donation comes at a critical time, said Kurt Reiber, Freestore’s president and CEO, noting that concerns about food insecurity have grown more urgent nationwide.
An estimated 40 million Americans faced heightened risk due to SNAP challenges triggered by the recent U.S. government shutdown. Even with the shutdown over, access to nutritious food remains a nationwide problem: in 2023, about 13.5% of U.S. households were food insecure, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The American Public Health Association points to several factors driving the problem, including federal cuts to food programs, rising grocery prices, stagnant wages and job losses. Politico reported that millions of people could still lose SNAP benefits under new rules, adding to the strain on families already struggling to put meals on the table.
“As food insecurity has become even more top of mind in recent weeks, having the support of Gold Star and its guests has been even more critical,” Reiber said. “We thank all those who, in celebrating our region’s unique food dish, helped in supporting our mission to ensure no child goes hungry.”
Much more than a bowl of chili
To raise the funding, Gold Star donated a portion of sales from every chili item sold in October, leveraging its National Chili Month campaign to support the food bank’s Kids Cafe, School Pantry and Power Pack programs. Eight “Flavor Makers” and generous guests contributed to the total, which also funds the organization’s broader work feeding families through more than 600 community partners across 20 counties.
The effort has become an annual tradition for the Cincinnati-area restaurant. Since 2017, Gold Star has contributed nearly $290,000 to the Freestore Foodbank, helping ensure children have access to nutritious meals even in times of uncertainty.
“We constantly say everyone deserves a seat at the table; our National Chili Month campaign continues to show that our guests share that same belief,” said Gold Star President and CEO Roger David.
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