ELLSWORTH – A nonprofit organization that has provided county residents with affordable food shares for the past four years has ceased operations. Ruby’s Pantry announced the sudden closure of its pop-up food pantries across the Midwest on March 30.

On the first Saturday of each month, Bethel Covenant Church of rural Ellsworth hosted a Ruby’s Pantry pop-up location at Pierce Pepin Cooperative Services. For $25, people could receive a generous share of groceries including produce, non-perishable items, meat and dairy products.

Ruby’s Pantry, a faith-based nonprofit organization based in North Branch, Minn., announced the sudden and immediate closure of 85 locations scattered across Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa and North Dakota only 17 days after the organization’s executive director emailed site coordinators across Wisconsin and neighboring states to assure them a modest price increase would keep the ministry running “for years to come.” They had planned to raise the price of shares from $25 to $30.

Ellsworth Ruby’s Pantry location organizer Becky Bechel said they learned of the closure just a few days before the April distribution. They received a note from the Ruby’s Pantry home office: “Over the past several months, we have been thoughtfully realigning the work, structure, and focus of Ruby’s Pantry to ensure our mission remains at the center of everything we do. As part of this process, we have worked to better align community needs with our goal of operating in the most effective and seamless way possible.

“As a result, we have decided to end the operations of Ruby’s Pantry effective immediately. We recognize that this is difficult news to receive and do not take this decision lightly.”

Though the website is no longer functioning, before it was taken down it stated that the ministry was no longer financially sustainable. Bechel believes rising costs in insurance and fuel prices may have had a hand in the decision to close.

While the Ellsworth Ruby’s Pantry location began distribution in April 2022, the organization had been operating for 23 years. Bechel said Bethel Covenant had wanted to expand its outreach when they decided to bring Ruby’s Pantry to town.

“We knew that if we could find something that would help people stretch their food budget, because even back then after Covid it was really difficult with people not being able to work and not getting out and about,” Bechel said.

Throughout the years, Bechel estimated 440 volunteers helped distribute food in Ellsworth.

“They didn’t all work every month,” Bechel said. “We had an average of 80 volunteers every month. It was amazing, but God plans everything and knows everything, and for the food we had we had the right amount of volunteers.”

Bechel said on average, the Ellsworth pop-up distributed 10,000 to 14,000 pounds of food (or 325-350 shares) each month.

“Some months we had two trucks coming,” Bechel said. “At one point we had 600 shares that came. The highest number was 555 shares that went out in one month.”

Bechel knows of many people who relied on Ruby’s to help stretch their food budgets each month. She spoke of one woman who lived on $1,800 a month, with $1,100 going toward rent. After utility bills, there wasn’t much money left for food or anything else.

“They just relied on that, that it would help them through,” Bechel said. “The amazing thing was that if people couldn’t use the food, they would share it with their neighbors and friends. Neighbors were coming and getting shares for people if they couldn’t get out of the house. It was awesome to see the community come together and work together.”

Volunteers have been talking about how they might help fill the void left behind by Ruby’s Pantry.

“We’ve been discussing and right now we’re just praying about it, seeing where God wants to lead us,” Bechel said. “In our next adventure, whether it’s food or maybe something else.”

One way they hope to help is by expanding Bethel’s Basement Blessings, which offers people the chance to “shop” for free clothes and household items donated by community members. Bethel’s Basement Blessings’ upcoming shopping dates will take place 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. April 21 and 22 and May 19 and 20. If people don’t have to spend money on clothing, they may be able to stretch their food budgets more, Bechel said.

She recommends people wanting to help consider donating items to BBB or food and money to their local food pantry. While BBB has a mini pantry, it’s not going to be enough.

“The food shelf is going to feel a little bit more weight on their shoulders, trying to get food for people,” Bechel said.

A banquet will be held at the end of April for all the Ruby’s Pantry volunteers. Bechel also expressed gratitude to all the volunteers and community members who bought shares.

Watch the Bethel’s Basement Blessings Facebook page for updates on summer shopping dates or needs. People can also call Bethel Covenant (W8405 County Road KK, Ellsworth) at 715-792-2397 with questions.