Some of the members of the steering committee working to bring the Ruby’s Pantry program to Grand Marais met on Tuesday, Feb. 17. (L-R) Georgene Daubanton, Kathy Hellner, MaryEllen Ashcroft, Beth Kennedy, Barb Spaulding, Larry Spaulding.
Starting in May, people from Cook County will no longer have to journey to Silver Bay to visit Ruby’s Pantry: Grand Marais will have its own monthly distribution. Ruby’s Pantry requires a church sponsor for each site, and Spirit of the Wilderness Episcopal Church will be that.
A number of people are working on a steering committee and have volunteered for various oversight responsibilities: Karen Halbersleben and Jane Shinners will coordinate registration and money; Barb Spaulding will line up volunteers; Beth Kennedy will be in charge of marketing. Our site coordinator is Ginny Padzieski. Others are leading in areas such as organizing logistics and set up, greeting people as they arrive, as well as providing a range of optional services for people in the waiting area, including financial advising, routine medical tests, and prayer.
Ruby’s Pantry was developed with a twofold purpose: to help people in rural Minnesota stretch their food dollars and to lessen food waste. Around 40 percent of food in the USA is thrown out.
Here’s how it works: Food near expiration is donated to the Ruby’s Pantry warehouse in North Branch, Minnesota. From there it is trucked to various distribution sites in small towns. People gather once a month and give a $20 donation for a share—which entitles them to an abundance of food. People go through the distribution line with a box or other container and have food handed to them. (If a shareholder is given a food item they don’t want, they’re encouraged to pass it on to someone who would.)
People can purchase multiple shares. Donations help cover shipping and supplies. North Shore Federal Credit Union has offered financial support for some start up necessities, and an anonymous donor has also made some money available.
A number of people on the committee have visited a distribution in Silver Bay. At our last meeting, Heather, who helps coordinate the Silver Bay site, visited and answered questions. Mary Ellen Ashcroft visited the distribution site in Cook, Minnesota in October to see how the distribution works on a weekday. If you would like to be part of a site visit, members of the steering committee are visiting Ruby’s Pantry distribution in Silver Bay on Feb. 28.
On each distribution day, around 60 volunteers are required. Many volunteers also buy shares. Please contact Barb if you’d like to be put on the list of volunteers. lbspaulding@borel.org
The Cook County distribution will take place on the second Thursday of each month, from 4:30 – 6:00 p.m. For more information on Ruby’s Pantry, visit: www.rubyspantry.org/. And stay tuned for more information about Ruby’s Pantry in Grand Marais.
Ruby’s Pantry needs volunteers for:
. Readying the site.
. Setting up signs for parking and organizing parking.
. Truck unloading.
. Sorting and packaging bulk food.
. Handing food to people going through the line.
. Restocking from pallets.
. Calling individual numbers for distribution.
. Helping those who need it as they go through the
distribution line.
. Flattening boxes when empty.
. Providing miscellaneous services as people wait for their
number to be called.
. Helping people get their food to their cars.
. Cleaning up and restoring site.
. Delivering leftover food to food shelf and/or assembling
boxes of food for some in need.
. Taking any materials to recycling.
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