Pantry 279 was conceived, built, and run by 10 Girl Scouts from troop 69-279 as their Silver Award Project. The girls, ranging between age 11 – 13 at the time, wanted to build a food pantry to help their friends at school who were only getting food while at school, due to family crisis.

With the help of their Leader, parents and a partnership with Trinity Lutheran Church, this was achieved and 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 2. Our first month we served 607 people, the second month over 1200, third month over 1400, and so it has continued.

The pantry grew much faster than anyone ever expected! Then COVID-19 happened and out numbers doubled and climbed again. We currently serve over 1800 families a month, which is over 9000 people a month, and we continue to grow.