Rhinelander will soon be home to a new food pantry. Ruby’s Pantry is slated to make a large delivery of surplus and donated food once a month.
Organizer Chrissy Peterson says she originally had trouble finding the right space to house what could be thousands of pounds of food and hundreds of people. Eventually she found Grace Foursquare Church on Highway 17.
“They have a big gymnasium. This is the perfect site, it’s right on the highway. A semi’s gonna come in, right around 2:00, we’ll have plenty of time to unload. We have the manpower. So we’re all ready to roll.”
Ruby’s Pantry is a faith-based organization that distributes food in Wisconsin and Minnesota. Unlike the Rhinelander Area Food Pantry, Peterson says there are no income limits to take advantage of the pantry. And recipients do pay a small amount of money.
“All we ask is for people to bring two laundry baskets for the food. And a $20 cash donation is also appreciated.”
Organizers are starting off with a giveaway on February 4th, of surplus potatoes, bread, and ice cream.
The first full-scale pantry is scheduled two weeks later on February 18th. It will happen just one day a month, on 3rd Tuesdays.