Ruby's Pantry, a faith-based nonprofit that ran at least 80 food shelf locations across Minnesota and the upper Midwest, abruptly ceased operations Wednesday. The shutdown of the volunteer-run food pantry network comes at a time when thousands of Minnesotans will begin losing their federal SNAP food assistance benefits due to stricter eligibility requirements, and the need for food aid is expected to soar.
The announcement was made on the nonprofit's website, notifying community partners and its clientele of its decision "to end operations of Ruby’s Pantry effective immediately."
“We recognize that this is difficult news to receive and do not take this decision lightly,” the announcement continued.
The statement on Ruby's Pantry’s website did not explain why the organization is shutting down operations, but a separate statement provided to the news media says “the ministry is no longer financially sustainable.”
Ruby’s Pantry had more than 80 food distribution locations across Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota and Wisconsin, according to its website. The group would set up pop-up food distribution sites, usually in churches, serving more than 300,000 families every year.
There were no income requirements for using Ruby's Pantry's services. Each visitor would donate $25 and receive a box of food and other household necessities valued at up to $100 in return. The groceries were primarily made up of corporate donations of surplus and excess foods and other items.
Ruby’s Pantry’s food shelf coordinators and volunteers say they were blindsided by the non-profit’s sudden decision to close all of its more than 80 locations across Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa and North Dakota. While some volunteers said they knew there were financial problems, the complete shutdown caught them by surprise.
Brian Kreager is co-coordinator of Ruby’s Pantry Coppertop in Duluth, which provided food out of the Coppertop First United Methodist Church every third Thursday of each month.
”Over the past year or so, (rising costs for) truck repairs, truck leases, operational expenses, fuel, insurance, things like that. I think things just kind of stacked up,” Kreager said.
He now worries about those who rely on Ruby’s Pantry to feed their families.
“This abrupt closure makes things difficult, and maybe hard, and only time is going to tell how that shakes out,” Kreager said. “We are prayerful and hopeful that the families served don’t fall through the cracks.”
Many of the comments left on the organization’s various social media pages expressed shock, dismay and disappointment, with some commenters expressing concerns about the impact on families that rely on the food pantry, noting that many were already struggling with rising grocery costs and food insecurity.
The abrupt closure comes as recipients of federal SNAP benefits must now meet strict work requirements, and thousands of Minnesotans are beginning to lose their monthly food aid.
Shay Moris is CEO and President of Second Harvest Northland, a regional food bank that serves 15 counties in northern Minnesota.
“It takes programs like Ruby’s Pantry, like Second Harvest and the SNAP program working alongside to be a true safety net for people who need food support,” Moris told MPR News. “So when one of those things go away or their SNAP changes, neighbors really feel that.”
“You know, going to the grocery store is more expensive. [People ask] ‘How do I feed my family?’” Moris added. “We've got seniors on fixed incomes, and now we've had more recent SNAP changes. So that's almost creating the perfect storm, along with Ruby's Pantry not being available, that there's going to be a need for more food access.”
