Pantry 279, the food pantry serving residents in Monroe and other counties, is seeking volunteers to help unload, sort and organize a very large delivery of food expected to arrive at its service center on Wednesday, June 24.
Cindy Chavez, executive director of Pantry 279, said the 40,000-pound shipment — 20 tons — will include both canned goods and dry goods.
“We are so excited for this delivery and have been eagerly awaiting it since January,” she said. With climbing prices for food and gas, growing numbers of the pantry’s clients are seeking “a little relief by getting much-needed, healthy food from us.”
Each shift of volunteers can expect to work two to three hours at the Pantry location, 3610 W. Ind. 46 in the shopping complex next to Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park. People interested in volunteering should call the Pantry 279 office: 812-606-1524.
The Bloomington distribution is part of a broader effort led by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in collaboration with the America250 Commission, a nonpartisan initiative to engage Americans in celebrating the 250th anniversary of our country, co-chaired by former presidents and first ladies George W. and Laura Bush and Barack and Michelle Obama.
Pantry 279 is named for the 10 Girl Scouts from Troop 69-279 who founded it.
“It was conceived, built and run by the Girl Scouts as their Silver Award Project,” according to the pantry’s website. “The girls, age 11 to 13 at the time, wanted to build a food pantry to help their friends at school who were only getting food while at school.”
With the help of their leader, parents and a partnership with Trinity Lutheran Church, Pantry 279 opened Nov. 2, 2015.
“We expected that after a year of operation to be serving approximately 30 people a week. This happened on Week Two. Our first month, we served 607 people, the second month over 1,200, third month over 1,400, and so it has continued.”
“Currently, Pantry 279 serves more than 1,800 families a month — more than 9,000 people a month — and we continue to grow.”
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Volunteers needed to help Pantry 279 with 40,000 pounds of food
Reporting by Norm Crampton, Special to The Herald-Times / The Herald-Times
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Norm Crampton, Special to The Herald-Times | USA TODAY Network
