Stepping up with Food!

When monthly income isn’t enough to pay monthly bills, a family’s food budget is typically the first thing sacrificed.

For families living paycheck to paycheck, any form of relief is freedom from the daily stresses that come with food insecurity. Ruby’s Pantry provided relief to hundreds of thousands of families throughout the Upper Midwest until it abruptly ceased its operations on April 1.

A faith-based program, Ruby’s Pantry held pop-up pantries at sponsoring churches once a month to distribute corporate donations and food surplus that would normally end up in landfills. With no residency or income requirements, it was available as a resource to anyone who wanted to save some money on their monthly grocery bill. In a statement to media, Ruby’s Pantry organizers revealed that the ministry was no longer financially sustainable.

Ruby’s Pantry first came to Itasca County in 2011. At that time, it was hosted by Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Cohasset. Every third Thursday of the month was distribution day. In the first six months of operation, the Ruby’s Pantry in Cohasset became one of the program’s busiest sites in Minnesota. The program was later sponsored by First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Grand Rapids where it distributed food out of the U.S. Armory Building a few blocks away from the church.

Ruby’s Pantry attracted a vast variety of people on distribution days. Lines of cars would be wrapped around entire city blocks as people waited for the monthly distribution to open. At times, the wait could be hours. But, for those with patience, the shares were always fair and full. For a $25 donation, people received an abundance of groceries valued at up to $100 in return.

The absence of Ruby’s Pantry has been noticeable as families continue to visit First Evangelical Lutheran on a regular basis. The church’s members have stepped up in response as the number of people in need continues to grow.

“So many people are aware of what’s going on,” says Loretta Persig, of the loss of Ruby’s Pantry and the persistent hunger among Itasca County families.

Persig chairs a committee of four people who are in charge of The Lord’s Pantry ministry. Operating from a small room in the basement of First Evangelical Lutheran, The Lord’s Pantry is working to fill boxes that Ruby’s Pantry has left empty. The people who continue to visit the church, sometimes weekly, are those who have no other option.

One man stopped by The Lord’s Pantry this Tuesday and explained that he owns his house but his $700 fixed monthly income is stretched further and further as things like electricity and property taxes become more expensive. He visits the pantry regularly and also picks up food for his daughter and her family.

Another woman relying on The Lord’s Pantry explained that she picks up what she can for herself and her 92-year-old grandmother. When it’s a busy day for the pantry, this woman allows others to go ahead, waiting for what’s left. Persig sees her often and suggests she add her grandmother’s name to the prayer list next time she visits. The congregation makes it a point to pray for every name on the list, Persig tells the woman.

“Everyone is so grateful,” commented Persig. “If we don’t have much, they won’t take much.”

According to Persig, The Lord’s Pantry has served approximately 440 families, or 1,100 individuals, since it opened last November. Weekly, about 27-28 families rely on the pantry for fresh produce, bakery items, frozen meat, canned goods, meal kits and household items. The donations to fill the shelves come from the First Evangelical Lutheran congregation as well as community groups and neighboring churches.

Other local congregations, like Solid Rock Church of Christ, are also stepping up to meet the demand. The church opened Father’s Heart & Hands food shelf many years ago and have served a mix of new, occasional and regular clients. Father’s Heart & Hands stocks both food and clothing items so transient people passing through town are often referred to their program, according to Solid Rock Pastor Mary Fultz who has led the church with her husband for the past six years.

Rev. Fultz explained that local church leaders met with area helping agencies last fall when interruptions in SNAP benefits caused considerable strife among food insecure families.

“We brainstormed about what each of us could offer,” said Rev. Fultz of the roles the faith community was prepared to take on in response, from coordinating food assistance efforts to leading prayer networks.

When Ruby’s Pantry closed last month, the churches that were already providing food relief braced for an influx. Surprisingly, Father’s Heart & Hands has yet to see a big increase in clients, “and we’re not sure why,” admits Rev. Fultz.

The central location of First Evangelical Lutheran may be one reason why The Lord’s Pantry is seeing the most visitors now. Just a few blocks north of City Hall, the church is an easy stop for those with transportation challenges.