Ellettsville's Pantry 279 moving to larger location in Smith Pike Plaza
Pantry 279 in Ellettsville will be moving into a new location in about two months, after eight years at Trinity Lutheran Church.
About a mile down Ind. 46 in Smith Pike Plaza is the area where Pantry 279 has collected and distributed food for its annual Elf Dispatch in past years. Soon that 4,000-square-foot space — three times larger than current pantry — will become the pantry's new home.
"We're going to go back to shopping," said founder Cindy Chavez, who anticipates the new pantry location will be open for patrons by the first week of September.
Since COVID hit in 2020, Pantry 279 has provided boxes and bags of food to people who line up in vehicles to receive their weekly allotment. That was a change from the previous "shopping" patrons did before the pandemic when they would walk inside the pantry area, possibly get a cup of coffee or a snack and choose what they wanted.
An informal survey of people waiting in line for food revealed that about two-thirds wanted to park their vehicles and walk inside the food pantry to pick items to take home. Doing so ensures they get what they want and need and aren't given items they'll throw away.
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"Shopping is always better," Chavez said. "There are still some people who are afraid of germs and they don't want to come in. And others can't or don't have time to come in, so for those, we have curbside."
People at the new location who want to wait in their vehicles will be able to park in specific spaces while staff or volunteers bring out their order.
Planning how to lay out the pantry inside the space between Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park and El Ranchero Mexican restaurant has led Chavez to decide not to erect permanent walls. Instead, "rolling walls" with storage cabinets along the bottom will be constructed. The moveable walls will allow the rooms created to be changed anytime it's needed.
Planning for the future of Pantry 279
With a larger space comes the need to purchase materials, furniture and then stock the shelves with food and other items. A walk-in cooler is needed. Tables and chairs will be in part of the pantry to provide seating for people.
The bathroom needs repairs and Chavez wants to create a small kitchen for staff and volunteers.
"We desperately need an electrician and a plumber," she said, adding she hopes someone will be able to volunteer.
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"The move is going to allow us to open up a lot more. We'll be able to stay open to 7 (p.m.) one day a week," Chavez said, adding that the pantry will also allow senior citizens to have their own time slot at the pantry as it did in the past. "That was their only social time, when they would come in, for senior days. It really helped everyone mentally."
Chavez is planning to bring back pet food and will increase what else is offered — with more cleaning supplies and the addition of clothing and household goods.
The extra space means there will be an area where people can have a snack, drink some coffee, talk to people they know and make new friends.
"It was really a great situation, pre-COVID," Chavez said of the fellowship at the current pantry. She recalled people making friends, sharing rides to the pantry and elsewhere and saving gasoline in the process. With the larger space, she's excited about having an area just for socializing.
Donations needed, especially with matching grant of up to $50,000
"It will be a whole new experience," Chavez said, envisioning colorful artwork on the walls and a large saltwater fish tank for people to enjoy.
Donations are needed to help with the move and expansion. To that end, a private philanthropic organization has offered up to $50,000 in a matching grant. All donations in June will go toward that matching grant.
As of June 4, Pantry 279 had received $14,436, which is just under 25% of the total it hopes to raise. Updates and ways to donate can be found at the pantry's website, pantry279.org, or its Facebook page.
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Ellettsville's Pantry 279 moving to Smith Pike Plaza by September
