Perhaps you’ve heard of Ruby’s Pantry in passing and been curious about it, or wondered how it works. This week Macaroni Kid went onsite to explore and share with you the pop-up pantry experience.
What is a Pop-Up Pantry?
Ruby’s Pantry holds Pop-Up Pantry’s in a number of locations across Minnesota and Wisconsin every month. Ruby’s Pantry is faith-based and is organized and hosted by a group of volunteers from a local church. A Pop-Up Pantry is held either at the church location or at a site easily accessible for guests.
There are no income or resident limits/requirements and you can attend a Pop-Up Pantry at any city/state location.
What to Expect at a Pop-Up Pantry
There is a $20 donation per food share.
We recommend you bring 2 boxes or totes with you to the Pop-Up Pantry.
When you arrive at a Pop-Up Pantry for the first time, you will need to register and sign in. This registration is simple and requires no documentation. The registration form can be printed from https://www.rubyspantry.org/. You may also pre-register a share for your pop-up location on the web site. There is an additional $1 charge to pre-register a share. A limited number of pre-registered shares are available. If the pre-registered shares are sold out, you may still attend. That does not mean the shares are sold out.
How It Works in Eau Claire
The Eau Claire pop-up takes place on the first Thursday of every month at the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd located at 1120 Cedar Street, Eau Claire, 54703. Upon arrival you enter through the front doors and either check in (if you pre-registered) or pay your $20 food share amount if you did not. There are no income requirements or documentation required. You simply provide your name, address and attest that you will not resell any of the food you purchase. At that time, you are given a number, printed on a sticker, that is placed on your hand. You proceed into the chapel where you wait for your number to be called. Be sure to take your boxes, bags or baskets with you at this time. Most people brought two laundry baskets with them. I brought along reusable grocery bags. Either works fine but I think boxes are a little easier.
In the chapel you wait quietly while an overhead screen provides information about the items offered in the monthly share and other pop up locations nearby. I waited for less than 10 minutes. A group of 10 numbers was called over a speaker and we proceeded into the service area where a volunteer gave us a wagon upon which to place our boxes. The volunteer “guides” you through the food share selections and you may chose whatever you’d like. If you don’t want something you just move along. When you are finished, you are given a number on a card which corresponds to the number on your wagon. You leave, get in your car and drive through the loading area where you provide your wagon number and volunteers load your groceries into your car.
That’s it. The entire process took about 30 minutes from start to finish. Everyone was extremely friendly. I can’t believe it took me this long to check it out. While I’ve not been to other locations, I would suspect they work in a similar manner.
What’s in a Food Share?
Each month a new selection of items is offered. Products are mostly donated from the manufacturers, who also have donated semi-trailers upon which the food is hauled in. As an example, this month the $20 share purchased:
Ham
Quinoa
Yogurt
Sausage
Chicken
Chicken Nuggets
Potatoes
Coffee
Creamer
Candy
Jalapenos
Cheese
Pickles
Tortilla Chips
Pizza
Toilet Paper
6 cans of soda
3 bottles of water
Pretzel chips
Popcorn
How did Ruby’s Pantry begin?
Ruby’s Pantry was inspired by Ruby Flodin. Ruby lived in Western Wisconsin for 89 years. Although she had little, she always shared what she had with others. She had a large garden that was grown in sandy soil. Despite the growing conditions, Ruby was always blessed a great harvest. She could also be found picking wild blueberries and other berries that she would can and freeze. Although not blessed financially, Ruby was rich because she always had enough to share. She truly was the example of someone who realized that if you only have enough for yourself you don’t have enough. Ruby looked for every opportunity to share food from her pantry with others.
Today, Ruby’s Pantry offers monthly pop-up locations throughout Wisconsin and Minnesota. To find a location near you or learn more about Ruby’s Pantry, visit https://www.rubyspantry.org/.
Macaroni Kid Eau Claire is a free weekly newsletter and website focused on fun family events and information in the Chippewa Valley. We gather together all kinds of local family events and activities each week and add useful information about classes, family-focused businesses, book and product reviews, recipes, crafts, school and camp guides and more. Subscribe at https://eauclaire.macaronikid.com/subscribe.
