Grants to help La Soupe serve thousands of NKY residents

Thousands of Northern Kentuckians will have greater access to nutritious, chef-prepared meals thanks to new grant support for La Soupe.

The Cincinnati-based food rescue organization received $30,000 from the R.C. Durr Foundation and $10,000 from the Butler Foundation, both dedicated to improving quality of life in the region. The funding will support La Soupe’s programs in Covington, Highland Heights, Newport and Florence, providing 8,000 meals to local community partners.

La Soupe rescues surplus food and relies on trained cooks to transform it into ready-to-eat meals. These meals are delivered through partner organizations that serve families facing food insecurity, helping remove barriers such as cost, transportation and access to fresh ingredients.

“We are excited to build relationships with Northern Kentucky-based funders who invest in innovative, collaborative solutions that remove barriers to self-sufficiency,” said Emma Norbut, La Soupe’s grants and foundations officer.

Expanded capacity as demand rises

Food insecurity affects 1 in 6 Kentuckians and 1 in 5 children, according to Feeding America. It can worsen chronic health conditions, housing stability and educational outcomes, with low-income communities feeling the impact most acutely.

Since its founding in 2015, La Soupe has worked to increase its production capacity to meet growing need across Southwest Ohio and Northern Kentucky. Between fiscal years 2024 and 2027, the organization projects a 63% increase in meals distributed, aiming for two million servings annually.

In fiscal year 2024, La Soupe rescued 1.4 million pounds of surplus food and turned it into 1.8 million meals, including 81,000 tailored for people managing chronic illnesses. The nonprofit now partners with 165 organizations across 73 communities. 

Over the past decade it has diverted more than 8 million pounds of food from landfills and shared 6.8 million meals with families across the region.

Grant funding, which makes up roughly 40% of La Soupe’s annual revenue, supports staffing, operations, infrastructure and community collaborations. For example, a March grant from Northwestern Mutual expanded the organization’s partnership with the Joe Burrow Foundation, adding regular food deliveries to Adams County, Ohio – including prepared meals and roughly 200 pounds of dairy, vegetables and dry goods for distribution.

With this new support from the R.C. Durr Foundation and the Butler Foundation, La Soupe says it is well-positioned to sustain and grow its programs south of the Ohio River.

“These grants are a powerful testament to La Soupe’s impact in Northern Kentucky and reflect the breadth of our services,” Norbut said.