It was with great shock and sadness that we learned of the passing of Dan Combs, Perry Township Trustee. We came late into meeting Dan, as were are the "young" one in the non profit world. Dan hunted US out in 2020 to offer help. He was very passionate about going up and above to help those in the community, especially those needing food or shelter. He asked a lot of questions, but it was to figure out how best he could help. For these past few years of knowing him, he has always been very kind and exhibited a passion I wish everyone had, and one to strive to have. Our deepest condolences to his family and friends. This truly has left a wound in the community. Thank you Dan for years of caring and being a great person!
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Your health matters. 💉❤️ Join us at Pantry279 for FREE HIV & Hep C testing on Wednesday, January 7, from 3–6 PM. No cost, no judgment—just care and support for our community.
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Normally, I do the year end via a live, but I am sick. So year in review! We started off strong, but then quickly the numbers started to rise. Thanks to IU Health Foundation, we were able to increase our delivery area to include all of Monroe, plus Owen and Lawrence counties! We grew by hiring a delivery director and a driver and deliveries increases from 50-80 a week to over 100 - 200 a week. We started having a limited amount of healthy produce focused on improving our guests health, and it has had immediate positive affects! Children's Summer program did very well and over 3400 children received food while school was out. However, much to our shock and sadness, in early June, we lost Felicia Nunn, the originator of the Children's Summer Food Program.
While we were reeling from the news and dealing with the grief, the number really started to climb, yet food assistance was cut. We were faced with many cut programs resulting in more people in need of food, yet less food. As always, YOU all stepped up, as did an anonymous donor, and did not have to take a break and were able to continue feeding the community. Thanksgiving was just starting, when we were all dealt another blow as the government shut down, Federal workers were not paid, and food stamps did not reload. Again, the community surged forward! Anger became kindness, arguing over political sides gave way to helping others, the community pulled together, allowing us to feed Federal Workers, and all the extra people, plus adding on a new county sending people for food. We hit record numbers of 11.000 + people in a month. Thanksgiving, we lost our turkeys, but the community came forward and helped us get more. Thanksgiving served 2623 families which was 21,940 people, 530 of which were deliveries. Everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Dec 1, ELF started with a BANG, website crashing over and over as parents tried to sign up their children. In the end, we had more families with smaller amounts of children to match. Like a miracle, the community answered! After extra toy day 2433 children received gifts!
Final numbers for 2025 are an astounding 39,124 families which was 137,089 people feed! I can honestly say, I believe there is NO community in this country as strong as ours and as caring as ours. As we go into 2026, we go with uncertainty of what will happen economically, BUT I go with Hope and full Faith that I have the strongest Staff, most passionate volunteers, and a community that will not let us fail. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to all of you for every donation, money or food, every share, every like, and every bit of strength you have given me and my crew. I also want to recognize the best Pantry family, Staff and volunteers, a person could ever have on their side fighting hunger, love and thankfulness. Finally our partners, HHFB, Midwest Food Bank, Salvation Army, IRA, Glick, IU Health, Smithville Communication, KEHE, Toyota, Subaru, and many more, thank you for keeping my dream alive and growing. Happy New Year to ALL!!
#hhfb #Pantry279 #believe #CommunityStrong #CommunityHeroes
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We could really use some extra hands today 💙 We need volunteers now through 6 PM, and even just a couple of hours can make a huge difference. If you’re free at all, please come help us serve our community—we’d be so grateful.
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