Pantry 279

2 days ago

Come ride for the pantry! Saturday Oct 2, 2021
There will be the Annual William "Pitbill" Butler Memorial Ride all proceeds to go to Pantry 279.
Ride Registration will begin at Harley Davidson in Bloomington, IN on Kinser Pike at 10am
Kick Stands up at 12 noon.
This is an approximate 2 hr ride for fun and a great cause in memory of an amazing man.
COST : $20 Rider $5 Passenger.
Menu: Hotdogs, Brats, Chips, Lemonade, Tea, Water, Soda
To be served during Registration.
THOSR WHO DO NOT HAVE BIKES ( CYCLES) are welcome to follow the bikers in their car for same price. ALL ARE WELCOME!!

Bill was a regular volunteer at Pantry 279 several times a week. He did not know he was ill. One day, he picked up a heavy object, felt a pop and later went to the hospital. Much to all of our surprises, what we thought was a hernia, was in fact advanced stage Liver Cancer. Bill passed a few weeks later surrounded by those he loved . Family, Southern Cruiser Family, and members of Pantry 279. He is greatly missed.

Please come out and enjoy a lovely fall ride benefitting the pantry.
Those who can't make it, but wish to contribute in Bills' name may do so vis Paypal ( Pantry279@yahoo.com ), Venmo ( @pantry279 ) or mail Pantry 279 P.O. Box 312, Ellettsville, IN 47429 Please make a note in memory of Bill
Thank you and PLEASE SHARE ... See MoreSee Less

Pantry 279

1 week ago

I know it has been a long time since I wrote a "what's the world like at Pantry" post, and we are getting ready to post a LOT as it's the season and, as always, I apologize. Yes long read. The US is trying hard to open up, there are a lot of issues. Covid is NOT over, just not in the news nearly as much as this time last year, and let's face it, we are TIRED and bored of hearing about it. But that doesn't mean it's over and it definitely doesn't mean the problems that it has caused are over. I can sit here are talk about how jobs, while there, are a lot different, sickness, shortages, etc, but you all know all of this. The fact is this WILL continue for a while, it takes a long time to get back to where we were. There are and are going to be shortages and backorders. We have started to see it badly here. Donations of food and money have dropped to almost 0. I think ALL food banks and pantries are seeing this. The need for food is still very high, although it is down from Dec/Jan. Instead of 8000 a month, we are down to 5 or 6000 a month. The only way we are all going to make it thru this is to not argue as to the cause and who did what, and HELP each other! When Covid started, every one stopped and HELPED, they helped in anyway they could. Might be donating, Volunteering, cutting a neighbors grass, offering a kind word, there were many ways but the feeling of caring was amazing! We need to return to that. Please take a moment for self care. Take a nice shower/bath and be thankful you can as you have a place to live with water. Have a nice tea,coffee, or soda ( wine??) and a yummy snack. Then get some good sleep. THEN go be a part of the solution! HELP in any way you can, big or small. There are many people and places that need this. Sometimes just a smile and a thank you can bolster a tired worker to continue on. Really, think about it, we need this right now.
OK so on to what we need as everyone keeps asking. We need IT ALL. Canned food of anykind, crackers, water, Diapers in NB, 1, 4,5,6 sizes and wipes, cleaning supplies, toiletries. Those little Ipsy bags ( to put feminine products in for teens ). Plan for helping in Nov with Thanksgiving, talk to your businesses or organizations. If they are interested in having someone come out and do a talk about what we do and whom we serve and WHY, I'm thrilled to do this! Feel free to email or PM or call me! pantry279@yahoo.com 812-606-1524. But in the end, be kind, and remember to take care of yourself, your family, and help those around you. Thank you PLEASE SHARE ... See MoreSee Less

Pantry 279

2 weeks ago

Before Covid, we delivered to roughly 6-10 households a week. With COVID, the deliveries have gone up to between 50 - 90 deliveries a week. I feel we need to go over the delivery facts and rules, as I have come to find out some are abusing this privilege, and both myself and the volunteers do not like being yelled at or cussed at when people don't get what they want.
SO Deliveries!
1. Deliveries are FOR THE 100% HOME BOUND ONLY! This means, you can't leave your property due to illness, disability, a family members illness, quarantine, or have no car and no one to pick up for you.
2. Deliveries are done on Saturdays. Everyone once in a while we have to be closed on a Sat due to a holiday, on those weeks we attempt to get drivers for a mid week delivery to our most vulnerable families. Please do not ask for a special delivery on a different day, we just don't have the people.
3. Deliveries are NOT guaranteed! As we are volunteer based, all of our drivers are Volunteers. They use their own vehicle and provide their own gas and time. They do this because they are kind people and want to help. Sometimes life happens and they don't show up. Sometimes their car breaks down or they get into and accident. At those times, some of the deliveries do not happen. We try and find replacements, but it is extremely difficult.
4. While we attempt to meet your dietary needs, deliveries are prepacked with what we have. We can't and won't take a shopping list of items you need and get you those items. A request for diapers can probably happen, but for milk, eggs, butter, steak, chicken noodle soup, etc that doesn't happen. We give you what we have. DO NOT YELL AT THE VOLUNTEERS!
5. Deliveries are considerably SMALLER than if you come to pantry or have someone pick up for you. Our drivers only have so much room in their cars and many deliveries. Also being that deliveries are on Sat, we are usually out of fresh produce and breads in warm months. But if you are 100% home bound, some food is better than none. DO NOT CALL AND YELL BECAUSE ITS NOT AS MUCH AS YOU SEE OTHERS GET AT PANTRY.
6. Due to Covid, we are on a no contact delivery systems, which means we bring it to your door, knock and leave on the porch. If you are not there due to an emergency, please leave a cooler outside to help keep food safe. Also if you live in a locked building, we do not have keys to get in and the "oh there is always someone letting people in" never seems to work. We can't leave food outside of your locked building as it will be stolen or pests will be attracted to it, and then the building supervisors will be most unhappy with us.
7. Answer you phone!!!! If we are delivering and the building is locked, we call, sometimes text, but if you don't come, the food will be given to another person and we will not return.
8. No the regular volunteers can't make a special trip! There are roughly 4-6 regular volunteers and they work at pantry 8-11 hours a day FOR FREE. They have no time to make deliveries, as pantry is very intense and busy. They are very tired when the day is over and hungry and just want to go home to AC, a hot bath, and dinner.

Thank you for understanding and following these rules. ... See MoreSee Less

Pantry 279

3 weeks ago

Many Thank yous to United Way, not only for continuing to support us, but also for being our first grant ever when Covid first began.$414,280 in additional COVID Relief Fund grants just announced for 24 human service organizations to continue to support critical safety net needs! In this round of funding the CDC’s Social Determinants of Health were used as a guide. These grants encompass a wide range of programs and interventions and could be used for operational support, health and human services infrastructure, and basic needs outreach.

We deeply appreciate the work that these organizations, their staff, and volunteers are doing in our community to keep everyone healthy, safe, and cared for: American Red Cross of Indiana, Amethyst House , Beacon, Inc , Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Central Indiana , Bloomington Refugee Support Network , Boys & Girls Clubs of Bloomington , Cancer Support Community Central Indiana , Catholic Charities Bloomington , Community Justice & Mediation Center (CJAM) , Courage to Change Sober Living , El Centro Comunal Latino - CCL , HealthNet, Inc., Hoosier Hills Food Bank , Indiana Recovery Alliance , LIFEDesigns , Middle Way House , Monroe County United Ministries , Mother Hubbard's Cupboard , New Hope for Families , New Leaf-New Life , Pantry 279 , St Vincent De Paul Society , Stone Belt , Wheeler Mission . #COVID19 #Community #Reimagine #Rebuild #Resilient #StrongerTogether ... See MoreSee Less

Pantry 279

3 weeks ago

OK, Here we go! Thanksgiving Sign up are LIVE!
To sign up to GET A BOX click: pantry279.org/thanksgiving/receive-a-meal
OR if you have issues, you can call 812-606-1524 12pm - 9pm
**To DONATE MONEY to help buy the food click: pantry279.org/thanksgiving/contribute/donate-money
or PayPal ( pantry279@yahoo.com ) VENMO ( @pantry279 )
or mail to Pantry 279 P.O. Box 312, Ellettsville, IN 47429

** To DONATE FOOD click: pantry279.org/thanksgiving/contribute/contribute-food

** To VOLUNTEER click: pantry279.org/thanksgiving/contribute/contribute-time

PLEASE SHARE and we'll get this Thanksgiving off to a great start! Thank you! ... See MoreSee Less