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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UPDATE: Thanks to our very generous community, we now have the freezer ordered and on the way and enough to replace the meat we lost! Thank you everyone!!
Sadly, over the short holiday break, our old commercial freezer, died. It is old and parts are expensive if you can even find them. We lost about $1700 in meat too, but the freezer is more important. The pictured link is what we need to replace it. we are not asking for any place to donate this big ticket of an item, but if we could get enough smaller donations, we could get it. While most charities are able to build up donations during Christmas, we use our Christmas giving time to provide extra food and ch8ildren's gifts thru ELF. If you are able to help us get this needed freezer, donations can be made via : www.pantry279.org
Paypal Pantry279@yahoo.com
Venmo : @pantry279
Cash App $pantry279
Mailed to P.O. Box 312, Ellettsville, IN 47429
or just brought in while we are at pantry this week on Mon, Tues or Sat.
Thank you!!! And please SHARE
www.webstaurantstore.com/avantco-ss-3f-hc-80-7-8-solid-door-reach-in-freezer/178SS3FHC.html
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The hours are the same this week as last, but there will not be any deliveries on WednesdayHours for this week. (Dec 21-27)
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Merry Christmas to everyone 🎄❤️
Wishing you warmth, love, and peace today and always. We hope your day is filled with joy, comfort, and the magic of being together.
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