NORTH BRANCH, Minn. (WJMC / WRN) — Ruby’s Pantry, a regional food pantry in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa and North Dakota has shut down.
The charity said after 23 years, the ministry was no longer financially sustainable and it was ending operations immediately.
Named after Burnett County Wisconsin native Ruby Flodin, the faith-based organization was established in 2003 to help combat food insecurity. Site coordinators partnered with food manufacturers, distributors and producers to gather surplus food. Volunteers distributed food bundles monthly to recipients, who paid $25 for $150 worth of groceries.
Ruby’s Pantry held pop-up food pantries in the region, including in Amery, Cameron, Chippewa Falls, Cumberland, Ellsworth, Hayward, Menomonie, New Richmond and Spooner.
The organization distributed 34 million pounds of food, and delivered 242 thousand bundles of food last year.