Indiana Food Pantry Seeks Help With 40,000-Pound Donation

When 10 Girl Scouts started a food pantry to help hungry classmates in 2015, they hoped to serve 30 people a week. Nine years later, Pantry 279 is preparing for its biggest delivery yet: 40,000 pounds of food.

The Indiana pantry needs volunteers on Wednesday, June 24, to help unload, sort and organize the massive shipment of canned and dry goods. Executive Director Cindy Chavez says each volunteer shift will last just two to three hours at their location on W. Ind. 46 in Bloomington.

The timing couldn't be better. With food and gas prices climbing, more families are turning to Pantry 279 for relief, Chavez explains.

The delivery comes through The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints partnering with the America250 Commission, part of celebrations for the country's 250th anniversary. Former presidents and first ladies from both parties are co-chairing the broader initiative.

The Ripple Effect

What started as a middle school Silver Award Project has grown beyond anyone's imagination. Those Girl Scouts from Troop 69-279, ages 11 to 13 at the time, just wanted to help friends who only ate at school.

With support from their troop leader, parents and Trinity Lutheran Church, the girls opened Pantry 279 in November 2015. They expected to reach their 30-person weekly goal after a year of building awareness.

They hit that number in week two. The first month, they served 607 people. The second month topped 1,200. By month three, over 1,400 people walked through their doors.

Today, Pantry 279 serves more than 1,800 families monthly, totaling over 9,000 people. And the numbers keep growing.

Anyone interested in volunteering for the Wednesday delivery can call the Pantry 279 office at 812-606-1524.

What began as a school project by 10 determined girls now stands as proof that small acts of compassion can feed thousands.