Pantry 279

What Pantry 279 does

Pantry 279 is a nonprofit food pantry headquartered in Bloomington, Indiana, that collects and distributes food to individuals and families facing hunger in Southern Indiana. Founded on November 2, 2015 by 10 Girl Scouts from troop 69-279 as their Silver Award Project, the organization operates free, community-funded food distribution across multiple channels: in-person visits at the main Bloomington location (3610 W. State Road 46), a homebound delivery service covering five counties (Monroe, Morgan, Owen, Lawrence, and Greene), curbside pickup, and a Children's Summer Food Program operating at five satellite sites. As of 2025, it serves more than 1,800 families per month, equivalent to over 9,000 people, with growth from 607 clients in its first month to the current scale, including a doubling of demand during the COVID-19 pandemic. Core product offerings include weekly grocery distribution, summer children's meals, homebound delivery, Thursday clothing assistance, Thanksgiving meal boxes, the ELF Dispatch holiday program, and community gardens for fresh produce.

The organization operates with 1–10 employees and is primarily volunteer-driven, with a 20+ partner network of churches (Trinity Lutheran Church provides the foundational facility and utilities), school districts (Bean Blossom Community Schools, Edgewood Schools), healthcare providers (Positive Link for HIV/HepC testing), and local businesses (Ken Nunn Law Office, South Central Indiana REMC, Duke Energy Foundation, Back Yard Berrys, Dapper Designs, TKS Detailing, Capital Realty Group, Tieman Tire, Bloomington Board of Realtors). Technology infrastructure is minimal and standard: a WordPress website (pantry279.org), Facebook and Instagram social channels, and donation intake via PayPal ([email protected]), Venmo (@pantry279), CashApp ($pantry279), and US Mail. The organization holds a GuideStar Silver Seal for nonprofit transparency.

The revenue model is donation-based and relies on three streams: monetary donations (individual giving via digital channels and mail), in-kind food and supplies (community donations, local business contributions, and sourcing through Hoosier Hills Food Bank), and corporate/organizational sponsorships structured in Platinum, Gold, and Silver tiers for the Children's Summer Food Program. All services are provided free of charge to community members. The organization is independent, with no parent company, private equity, or venture capital involvement. A new building campaign signaled by Faith Lutheran Church partnership activity indicates planned capacity expansion.

Name

Pantry 279

Legal name

Pantry 279

Website

https://pantry279.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Pantry 279 is a nonprofit food pantry in Bloomington, Indiana that provides free weekly food distribution, homebound delivery across five counties, and a multi-site Children's Summer Food Program to 1,800+ families monthly in Southern Indiana. Founded in 2015 by 10 Girl Scouts and funded entirely through donations and sponsorships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Food Assistance Services

NAICS

Community Food Services (62421)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAEAA

Food Assistance & Food Banks

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Social Services & Community Support (Food, Housing, Family)

SECONDARYBPAIAKAF

Food & Nutrition Assistance Programs

Business & Public Services/Public Sector & Government Administration/Social Security, Benefits & Welfare Administration

SECONDARYEDACAMAA

Child Nutrition & Meal Programs (CACFP/Snack Programs)

Education/Early Childhood Education/Health and Nutrition Programs for Young Children

Keywords

• Food pantry services
• Community food assistance
• Summer meal programs
• Food distribution nonprofit
• Holiday meal boxes

Headquarters

HQ city

Bloomington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Monetary Donations: Receives donations via PayPal ([email protected]), VENMO (@pantry279), CashApp ($pantry279), and US Mail. Also accepts in-person donations at the pantry location.
2. Donated Food and Supplies: Receives food donations and supplies from community supporters, local businesses, and partner organizations. Box truck (Barney) used for picking up large donations and food purchases.
3. Corporate and Organizational Sponsorship: Platinum, Gold, and Silver sponsors support the Children's Summer Food Program including South Central Indiana REMC Operation Roundup, Ken Nunn Law Office, and others.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Pantry 279 is a nonprofit food pantry that collects and distributes free groceries to families and individuals facing hunger in Southern Indiana. Core services include weekly in-person food distribution at the Bloomington pantry location, homebound delivery service across five counties, a Children's Summer Food Program with multiple distribution sites, and seasonal programs such as Thanksgiving meal boxes and clothing assistance. All services are provided free of charge and funded through community donations, sponsorships, and grants.

Product overview

Pantry 279 is a community food assistance organization offering a unified set of services centered around food security. The core offering is its weekly food pantry service, supplemented by specialized programs including a Children's Summer Food Program with multiple distribution sites, homebound delivery service, Thursday clothing assistance, seasonal Thanksgiving meal boxes, the ELF Dispatch holiday program, and community gardens for fresh produce. All programs are provided free of charge to eligible community members in Southern Indiana, with the main pantry serving over 1800 families monthly.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Food Pantry Services Weekly food distribution service providing free groceries to families and individuals in need in Southern Indiana. Serves over 1800 families per month (over 9000 people), with operating hours on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday, plus special Tuesday hours for disabled and 60+ individuals. Limited to one visit every seven days.
• Children's Summer Food Program Supplemental food program providing free kid-friendly food weekly to children ages 0-17 during summer break. Available at multiple outdoor locations including Bloomington (Winslow Plaza), Spencer (Owen County Fairgrounds), Oolitic (Fire Dept), Ellettsville, and the Fayetteville/Bedford area. Operates in addition to the regular grocery pickup service.
• Homebound Delivery Service Food delivery service for homebound, ill, disabled, or carless individuals in Monroe, Morgan, Owen, Lawrence, and Greene counties. Delivers pre-packed bags of food to those unable to visit the pantry in person. Delivery requests must be submitted by noon the day before.
• Clothing Assistance Clothing distribution program available on Thursday afternoons from 11am to 4pm, providing clothing items to community members in need in Southern Indiana.
• Thanksgiving Box Meal Program Annual Thanksgiving meal box program providing complete holiday meal packages to families in need during the Thanksgiving season in Southern Indiana.
• ELF Dispatch Holiday gift and assistance program providing additional support to community members during festive seasons.
• Community Gardens Program Program providing community gardens for fresh produce, supporting local food security with homegrown vegetables for the Southern Indiana community.

Quantifiable outcome

• Serves over 1800 families (9000+ people) monthly
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major, significant and supporting.

• Trinity Lutheran ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides the physical space and utilities for Pantry 279 operations. This partnership literally serves as the foundation for all community services. Located behind Trinity Lutheran Church in Ellettsville.
• South Central Indiana REMC Operation RoundupmajorOthersPlatinum-level sponsor for the Children's Summer Food Program. Supports the pantry van operations and community programs.
• Ken Nunn Law OfficemajorOthersPlatinum-level sponsor for the Children's Summer Food Program.
• Law Offices of Paul D Baugh, PCsignificantOthersGold-level sponsor for the Children's Summer Food Program.
• Ellettsville House of PrayersupportingOthersSilver-level sponsor for the Children's Summer Food Program.
• Back Yard BerryssupportingOthersLocal blueberry farm that provides fresh produce donations to help fight local food insecurity.
• Dapper DesignssupportingOthersProvides t-shirt and apparel designs to help keep volunteers cool during summer heat.
• Duke Energy FoundationmajorOthersMajor supporter of the Thanksgiving program and all pantry operations.
• TKS DetailingsupportingOthersProvides auto detailing services to keep the pantry van looking clean and professional.
• Capital Realty GroupsupportingOthersStaunch supporter that provides swift aid when needed. Managing broker Carole Damon described as 'amazing super woman.'
• Crossroads United Methodist ChurchsupportingOthersHas supported since the very beginning, faithfully sending food and donations every month.
• Ellettsville Christian ChurchsupportingOthersLong-time supporter providing donations, volunteers, and support for the pantry van.
• Zion Community ChurchsupportingOthersMakes monthly donations and at a moment's notice will send large groups of hard-working volunteers.
• Ellettsville Seventh-Day Adventist ChurchsupportingOthersWonderfully supportive with bountiful donations and frequent volunteers.
• Maple Grove Christian ChurchsupportingOthersReliable supporter and champion of the Thanksgiving meal boxes from the very beginning.
• Bean Blossom Community SchoolssupportingOthersK-12 school system that has been huge supporters since day one. Not surprising since Pantry 279 was founded by girls from Edgewood Jr High.
• South Central Indiana REMCsupportingOthersGenerous supporter of the pantry van operations.
• Faith Lutheran ChurchcoreOthersHuge supporter from the beginning. Supports Ongoing, Thanksgiving, and Christmas programs, and is working hard to aid in the new building campaign.
• Tieman TiresupportingOthersLocally owned and operated business helping keep the delivery vehicle on the roads and riding smoothly.
• Bloomington Board of RealtorssupportingOthersHas been a supporter for several years, sending grants and donations from time to time.
• Positive LinksupportingOthersProvides free, confidential HIV and Hep C testing on the first Wednesday of each month from 3-5pm at the pantry. Available to all community members regardless of whether they are coming for food.
• South Central Community Action ProgramsupportingOthersReferral partner providing energy and water assistance to pantry clients who need additional support.
• Hoosier Hills Food BankcoreOthersFood assistance partner through which Pantry 279 sources food for distribution to the community.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Hoosier Hills Food Bank: Regional food bank serving the same Southern Indiana footprint, including Monroe County; an actual sourcing and food-assistance partner of Pantry 279 through which the pantry obtains food for redistribution. Directly comparable mission (hunger relief) and distribution model.
• Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana: Indiana's largest food bank, distributing food to a statewide network of pantries including those serving the Bloomington region. Directly comparable as a food-rescue and redistribution nonprofit serving low-barrier client needs.
• Midwest Food Bank: Multi-state food bank operating volunteer-driven distribution sites, food rescue, and disaster relief feeding, similar in mission and operational model to Pantry 279 but at a larger regional scale.
• Community Kitchen of Monroe County: Local Bloomington-area nonprofit focused on hunger relief through meal service and food distribution. Directly comparable as a community-based, volunteer-supported food-assistance organization serving overlapping populations in Monroe County.
• Salvation Army of Bloomington: Provides food assistance, holiday meal programs, and emergency relief in the same Bloomington region. Comparable in mission (basic-needs provision) and donation-dependent model.
• Catholic Charities Indianapolis: Faith-based social services organization offering food pantries and emergency relief across Indiana. Comparable as a nonprofit, community-supported food and basic-needs provider with similar volunteer and donation dependencies.
• Meals on Wheels of Monroe County: Local nonprofit delivering prepared meals to homebound, elderly, and disabled residents in Monroe County. Directly comparable in addressing the same homebound client segment that Pantry 279 serves via its delivery program.

Broad incumbents

• Feeding America: National umbrella network of 200+ food banks and the largest hunger-relief organization in the U.S.; Hoosier Hills Food Bank is a Feeding America member. Indirectly comparable as the overarching network shaping funding and supply available to pantries like Pantry 279.

Regional players

• Second Harvest Food Bank of East Central Indiana: Regional food bank serving a different (east-central) Indiana geography, operating a comparable food-rescue and pantry-support model. Comparable in operational structure but not directly competing in Pantry 279's territory.

Others

• Edge of Humanity: Adjacent volunteer-driven mutual support organization focusing on food and basic-needs assistance. Thematically comparable grassroots mutual-aid model though smaller and less documented.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Pantry279
• Instagraminstagram.com/pantry279
• Xx.com/Pantry279

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Pantry 279