In Sept 2023, we had long out grown the space in the church, and moved just up the road to Smith Pike Plaza. With the help of many volunteers, we built and moved over 2 months. Now the girls true vision began to unfold. The idea of a 1 stop place, so to speak, where instead of people using valuable gas and time going to several different places, they could get a lot of it all in one place! Clothing pantry, Pet, Baby, Toiletries sections became a thing. We had commercial refrigeration for meat, dairy, and produce. Smithville Foundation bought us a much needed truck, and the strawberry car was donated . Through the help of thousands of people in the community, we have grown to what we are today, and continue to grow. With the help of all kinds of donations and monetary donations, we were able to accomplish feeding 1189 people just this last Sat Nov 1, 2025: everyone got food, no one was turned away. From the bottom of our hearts, we at Pantry 279, thank YOU, this community, for helping us grow from 607 people fed that first month, to 10500+ people fed a month currently. Hunger is new an option! #thankyou # community #gratitude
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We learned so much! Awards started coming in. Extra programs became a thing and we had our first Thanksgiving Kindness Box happened with 907 boxes going out feeding 7000 ish people in 2016 and now feeds over 2700 families ( 20,000+ people ), Shortly after the Head ELF decided to come to Ellettsville and ELF Dispatch became a Christmas Tradition for so many with over 2000 children getting gifts as of 2024 from 39 in 2016, Felicia Nunn in 2021 came up with Children's Summer Food Program to help kids who struggled with food when school was out, and her grand kids helped her. Also, in 2016 we started delivery to the homebound at first 6-10 a week, now over 300+ a week! #delivery #Thanksgiving #foodpantry
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So with cookie money, LOTS of cookie money, and some help from "the bank of Grandpa", the girls build shelves, collected food, and opened for a ribbon cutting and first day open! Proud parents, teachers, and even the Principal were present. That day we served 5 families ( feeding 25 people), including those friends that had needed help. We had cake and ice cream and at the end of the day, took very tired girls out to dinner. That first month, we served 607 people......and began to question of decisions, as the need was hirer than we had ever imagined. But with the help of Hoosier Hills Food Bank, we continued. #GirlScouts # Hoosierhillsfoodbank #givingback #foodpantry
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Finding a place to have the pantry proved very challenging! Lilly went to Trinity Lutheran Church and they allowed us to set up in their bus bay and Juanita Hoffmann joined us as the church liaison. Juanita turned out to be my new bestie and close friend to many of the girls and community. Sadly, she passed a summer ago, but her legacy will live on in us and the Pantry. #juanitahoffmann #trinitylutheranchurch # Ellettsville
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How did it start? Hard work, determined children and parents, and a wing and a prayer. The girls from Ellettsville Girl Scout Troop 69-279 ( How we got the name ) needed a Silver Award Project. At the time, some friends were asking for left over school food to stash in lockers so they could eat on the weekend, as parents were struggling. The girls were concerned for their friends, so at the meeting we talked about options of food banks and pantries. They said Ellettsville really didn't have one, Let's build a food pantry! And so it began....
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On this day, 10 yrs ago, what started as a desire to help some friends at school have food at home, grew to feeding a community. Happy 10th Birthday to Pantry 279! We will take to day to remember where we started from, how we've grown, and be thankful to our you girls who worked hard to make their vision a reality, and we will take the week to party! We will have cupcakes for all at the pantry, come by and enjoy one, see how we've grown, and maybe bring a donation!
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Wow — only 2 days in and we’re already halfway to our goal! 🦃✨
701 turkeys down, 699 to go before distribution day!
Our community never fails to amaze us with its generosity and heart. Let’s keep the momentum going and hit that 1,400 turkey goal together! 💛
#Gobblepalooza #Pantry279 #CommunityStrong #TurkeyDrive #GiveThanks #FeedTheNeed #Thanksgiving2025 #TogetherWeCan
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Today, I want to focus on some of the uplifting things that have happened in the past week. As many of you know, 10 yrs ago we were started by a local Girl Scout Troop ( 69-279 thus the name ), in continuing the desire to feed our community Troop 3007 dropped off 3 HUGE shopping carts full of food both to help with Thanksgiving and to put much needed food on our shelves! Also, Troop 2497, who after being together since Kindergarten, graduated and disbanded the troop. The left over cookie money ( $603.21 ) left in their account, they donated to the pantry! These ladies also built and maintained a Little Free Pantry in Country View, so that this needed neighborhood resource didn't end, we at Pantry 279 have taken it over and refill every week. Please join us in thanking these amazing Girl Scouts in their strong commitment and hard work in our community! We salute you!
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🦃✨ You’re invited! ✨🦃
Join us for the 17th Annual Thanksgiving Dinner hosted by Cry of the Children, Inc. 💛
📅 Saturday, November 8, 2025
🕚 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
📍 Second Baptist Church, 321 North Rogers, Bloomington, IN
It’s a free community event — open to all, filled with love, good food, and gratitude. 🥧🍗 Let’s come together and give thanks as one community. ❤️
📞 For more info: cryofthechildren@gmail.com or call Mrs. Boddie at 812-361-4059
#BloomingtonIN #ThanksgivingDinner #CommunityLove #CryOfTheChildren #FreeDinner #GiveThanks #TogetherWeServe #CommunityEvent #FoodAndFellowship #ThankfulHearts
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Thank you Bloomingfoods for allowing us to be your Positive Change partner for November! If you shop Bloomingfoods, please help be rounding up! The first 7 days are crucial !
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