Reminder! Tomorrow ( Sat ) is our decorating party at ELF HQ. Bring you extra decorations, tinsel and wrapping paper to hang up!! 1 - 3 Also I will be there 12 -5 working on matches if you wish to come play ELF with me and send out the Santa matches. Grab your laptop!!
Also anyone wanting to bring by donations is very welcome! ELF HQ is between Urban Air and El Ranchero
Want to help be a Santa or help with food for those in need, but don't have time to shop? No Problem!! The Elves have you covered. We can do everything for you! Making monetary donations can go toward whatever you'd like them to. Right now it will go for food if nothing is listed, but putting Santa or Christmas help in the note, will have it out toward getting gifts for the children on the list. There is no such thing as a too small donation! Donations can be made:
on the website www.pantry279.org
Paypal pantry279@yahoo.com
VENMO @pantry279
Mailed to : Pantry 279 P.O. Box 312, Ellettsville, IN 47429
or just brought by ELF HQ or the Pantry itself.
If you would like to take it directly to the bank, we bank at Old National Bank, just tell them to put it into the Pantry 279 acct.
Thank you everyone for making all of this possible !!!
Small donations add up
Thank you so so so much to the 3 wonderful elves who came to help by typing and send out matches today. We got 3X the work done than I could have done on my own. Also thank you to the Santas who stopped by and chose their own child and those who brought toys and cash donations. I will be back tomorrow 12-6 to do it again! Grab your laptop and come see what its like to be an elf!!
When should be be expected to be matched by? I signed up to be a Santa and I just want to make sure I don’t miss an email. ☺️ Thanks for all the elves hard work!!
we can come pick our match if we chose to be a Santa ?
When I signed up my child I somehow put a really incorrect phone number in there. I don't know if that matters but I don't know how to fix it.
What days (& where) do you need typing help?
Would you happen to need a bunch of those Amazon gift wrap bags? I have a bunch I can donate.
Ever wanted to be an ELF? Now is your chance! Grab a your lap top with wifi, coffee, and head to ELF HQ from 12:30 - 5 today! Head ELF will be there working on matches. If you are a Santa that is wanting your match early and can't wait for the time it takes to do matches, stop by and you can pick your children! I will also be at ELF HQ on Friday 12-5 or 6. If anyone wishes to drop toys for Extra toy room, you can do that as well. Decorating party still on Sat!
Can i drop off my Christmas decorations on friday?? We will be out of town on sat?
Thank you head elf for all you do
The first match that was made last night was a difficult one, but it reminded me that this program and Christmas itself is NOT about commercialism and just buying the hottest toy for a deserving child. But it can be about healing, spiritually and mentally. The Santa explained that she and her husband did this every year and asked for children who were the same ages what their children WOULD HAVE BEEN. Their children had passed and shopping for another child of the same age that they would have been, helped them to feel close to their children who had passed. It helped them to heal, while helping another family. I asked permission to tell their story and honor their children to remind people that this is NOT about buying things, but about healing and hope and new beginnings. I always say every year, Every day should end in HOPE. I am thankful for the Santa who shared their story, and for the reminder of why we at the pantry do this program and do what we do. May they have a very Merry Christmas.
Special story from a very special couple. Christmas blessings to you dear souls 🙏🏻🙏🏻
God bless them for their generosity and caring for someone's family that makes them feel a little peace in their own life. 🙏🙏🙏🙏
Sending them love and prayers for continued healing. Christmas is more about family than anything.
Instant heart tears! (eyes full as well!) So grateful for hearing their story, grateful they shared that with you, and grateful you found them a match. I hope they have a lovely Christmas, and that their hearts feel some measure of comfort about their loss! 🎀❣️💝
I haven't received a match yet, but I am assuming it is just because you are busy and working as hard as you can. I just wanted to make sure. Thank you for all that you all do!!! <3
🥹 absolutely beautiful my whole heart goes out to them for being able to share this ❤️❤️ I’m in tears knowing the pain an joy this family is going thru for Christmas ❤️❤️
Tears , completely in tears
We do this for our sons birthday. It's as much of a blessing for us, maybe even more than for us - than for them. This is lovely 💗
With every child they bless with Christmas gifts, may their healing be amplified. There are angels among us, no doubt.
Beautiful my heart hurts so much for them I have a had time getting through the holiday so I know how they feel my store is a different kind I feel them
Such a beautiful tribute
Such A Special Story. Blessings For All❤️
Prayers sent. God bless this couple.
Awe ❤️ Such a sweet idea!
What a special story!!
Prayers.
Absolutely 💯 <3
I know how they feel
Heartfelt story
🙏🏼
Do you have any old Christmas deco, tinsel, lights, whatever laying around unused? It time to decorate ELF Dispatch ! Sat at 1 we need helpers and decorations over at ELF Dispatch HQ to get it decorated and ready! Bring what ever! Tape, ribbons, lights, tinsel, bow, greenery, and lets get sparkly! ELF HQ is in Smith Pike plaze betwee Urban Air and El Ranchero. See you then!
I would love to help if I can arrange transportation. Do you know approximately how long you will be there?
How abkut a tree?
The City Hall case is almost done. Have to go back in the morning for 1 or 2 final things, like our name...
Keeping everyone in the loop as to where I am with all of this. We still need about $21000 to finish paying the meat bill for Thanksgiving, which is A LOT better than the over $58000 it was!
ELF: Printing is complete except new Santa sign up from today.
Alphabetizing and numbering is complete.
I have matched 66 children so far!! Their Santas have been informed and confirmed. About half the parents have been informed, working on informing the other half.
Wednesday, I have to take a tiny break from ELF as there is Pantry business in the morning and then we have been blessed with being given half of the City Hall Display case to decorate and showcase the pantry for the month of Dec and I have to go decorate it. I encourage everyone to come by in Dec to City Hall at 401 N Morton and check out our cool display case! Pics will follow tomorrow, of course. As soon as that's done its full steam ahead with matching and sending out the matches!!
Please, Please remember, when you get your match, LET ME KNOW that you have it and are happy.
To Donate for the Meat Bill OR The ELF Dispatch Children's Gifting program ( you can say which you want your donation to go to )
We have a donate button on www.pantry279.org
PayPal pantry279@yahoo.com
VENMO @pantry279
Mail to Pantry 279 P.O. Box 312, Ellettsville, IN 47429
OR just bring by the Pantry while we are there or to ELF HQ while we are there!
Thank you!!!
So are you doing Christmas boxes this year
Where’s in info to donate?
Thank you so much!❤️❤️👋👋💯
Thank you ❤️❤️❤️
Thank you 😊
Shout out to the New Pizza Hut in Ellettsville for sending us down 10 pizzas today to feed us all at the Pantry 279 in honor of Giving Tues! Thank you!! We very greatly appreciated it!
Thank you Pizza Hut! 🤗
Absolutely awesome
Love this ❤️. Thank you!
That is so sweet!
This is so awesome!!
Wow! That's awesome!
That's awesome 👏
Wow! That's awesome!
That's awesome 👏
One business helping those that deserve a reward.
❤️❤️❤️❤️
Wonderful!
Awesome‼️
So kind
NICE
So how does all of this ELF Dispatch work? Why isn't my match instant? This is how it works here at ELF HQ:
Start with A LOT of coffee!
When the emails come in , they are all printed off ( DONE as of right now )
Then they must be alphabetized and numbers and the number of kids in each family written in the corner for easy access.
Then they are put in either the Santa Book or the Child book.
The matching begins! The HEAD Elf matches every child and every Santa personally to make sure there is the best fit possible.
Then the matches are hand typed and sent to the Santas!
( This can take a while, that much typing is exhausting and yur hands cramp badly )
Then the parents are notified that they have a match and when/where to pick up.
As more Santas sign up, we repeat the process.
All the while the phone rings day and night, facebook has DM's and comments needing answered, emails needing answered, posts need to be made to get funding and Santas to make this happen, AND the pantry must continue to run and food must be found.
So sounds like a small army needs to be at this right? Nope 1 person. Luckily, I have a absolutely amazing, rock star of a tiny staff and handful of volunteers that run the pantry and keep it going while I do all that stuff listed above, as Head ELF. At times, if possible 1 or 2 will pull off to try and help as much as possible. But with the high need, it is almost impossible to leave pantry.
This is why things are not instant and sometimes do take a few days or even I week. I truly am trying to get you all your matches asap. We currently have everything printed as of about 20 min ago, been printing since noon, and over half is alphabetized. Hang tight!!
For those wanting to help with either the meat bill due in 3 days OR toys for kids, but don't have the time to shop ( and we will shop for you and have gifts direct shipped to parents ), donations can be made via:
our webpage: pantry279.org/
Paypal pantry279@yahoo.com
VENMO @pantry279
Snail mailed to: Pantry 279, P.O. Box 312, Ellettsville, IN 47429
OR just brought by the pantry while we are there!
Thank you all for making these huge, important projects happen and Christmas miracles happen for so many!
Cindy, What is the deadline for signing up to be a Santa ?
Head elf, Cindy, you do an amazing job at all of this! Thank you for what you do! If it wasn't for you and the rest of your staff, most of the children wouldn't have help for Christmas! 🎄 ⛄
You are amazing! Thank you for all you do!
You are the best ❤️
Really people are like that? Smh I'm sorry you have to explain that though. We're praying for everyone and elf's in here.
You All Are AMAZING🎄🎅🏼
Bless you and you ELVES