Ruby’s Pantry 10 Years in Grand Marais

Ruby’s Pantry marks 10 years in Grand Marais during its monthly distribution event at the Cook County Commu­nity Center on Tuesday, May 9, from 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. This is a “drive-thru” distri­bution; follow the signs. A donation of $25 per bundle of food is recommended but not required. The Cook County Ruby’s Pantry Facebook page says, “If you eat, you qualify for Ruby’s Pantry (distribu­tion)!”

Ruby’s Pantry is a non-prof­it, faith-based ministry that distributes food at “Pop-Up Pantry” locations across Min­nesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and North Dakota. It partners with over 170 food manufacturers, distributors, and producers to gather surplus and food over­ages. The collected food is sorted at warehouse distribu­tion centers and then delivered to the Pop-Up Pantries month­ly. These pantries are hosted by local churches and community locations and are run entirely by volunteers.

Spirit of the Wilderness Epis­copal Church in Grand Marais signed on with Ruby’s Pantry 10 years ago this May. The Rev Mary Ellen Ashcroft, Vic­ar, encouraged her congrega­tion to take on this community leadership role as a church, and she signed the agreement with Ruby’s Pantry.

A variety of places in Grand Marais have donated space for Ruby’s use on the Sec­ond Tuesday of each month. These include Cook County High School, Cook County Community Center, Great Ex­pectations School, The Hub, and The Highway Dept. The pantry’s local leadership ex­pressed gratitude for each en­tity’s cooperation.

On distribution days, fork­lifts are needed to unload the semi. The school, highway department, and recycling cen­ters’ forklifts have been used at different times. Beth’s Fudge and Gifts’ recycle trailer hauls cardboard to recycle.

The local Pop-Up Pantry operation relies on volunteers who help unload trucks, sort food, pack bundles, and as­sist guests. Without the won­derful volunteers who have been part of Ruby’s in Grand Marais over the past 10 years, they could not have given out 24,406 shares. Some months, up to 60 volunteers have been on hand, but last month, only 34 were on hand. Many of the original volunteers have been part of Cook County Ruby’s Pantry for the past 10 years. They need new volunteers. If you’d like to help, show up at 3:30 pm, and they will be hap­py to train you.

Ruby’s provides gift certif­icates for those in need. Last month, out of 111 shares dis­tributed, Ruby’s provided 85 free gift certificates, a value of $2,125. The local Pantry pays for the cost of trucking the food up to Grand Marais. Individual donations provide the prima­ry funds, but Empty Bowls and Hunger Heroes have also helped provide the dollars needed to cover the free gift certificates. The Annual costs of gift certificates are as high as $25,200. You can donate to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Ruby’s Pantry, PO Box 5, Grand Marais, MN 55604.

More families, seniors, and children need food assistance now than ever. Ruby’s mis­sion is to feed people in Cook County.

Local volunteer leadership is in the hands of Carol Stender, Phil Grave, Donna and Orvis Lunke, Tim and Beth Kennedy, Karen Halbersleben, Amber Pfiel, Jane Shinners, and Bob and Ginny Padzieski.

Other long-time volunteers include: Melodee and Dan Riddle, Glen and Renee Lar­son, Nikki Boostrom, Val Gus­tafson, Craig and Diane Pe­terson, Michael Peterson, Jim Shinners, Carolyn and Milan Schmidt, Howard Hedstrom, Anne Hegg, and Gerry Grant.

Remember, anyone who eats can attend and get a “bundle” of groceries. There are no income or residency require­ments.