ABOVE: Volunteers Katie Alford and Norma Martin pack a vehicle’s trunk with food boxes during an East Chain Ruby’s Pantry food ministry drive-through grocery distribution on Saturday morning at the East Chain Evangelical Free Church in Granada.

GRANADA/EAST CHAIN — The East Chain Ruby’s Pantry food ministry, a part of East Chain Evangelical Free Church in Granada, since September 2014, has been filling both trunks with groceries and the hearts of the community at its monthly distributions.

“It’s really neat to see how it’s impacted the community and how our church has been able to reach out and help out,” said Site Coordinator Matt Bauer.

He has been involved with East Chain Ruby’s Pantry since its inception, and stepped into his current role from food line coordinator two years ago.

The East Chain Ruby’s Pantry garners from around 100 to nearly 300 people, and operates in drive-through fashion with usually 15 to 20 volunteers on site. After paying the bundle cost, the trunk of the recipient’s vehicle is packed by several volunteers, and the recipient may be prayed for at a separate station. The food included in bundles vary per distribution, but often include meat, produce, snacks, desserts, drinks, grains, miscellaneous ingredients and more, and are provided by food donations through Ruby’s Pantry’s producer partnerships.

As site coordinator, Bauer communicates with Ruby’s Pantry to determine food supply and offerings at the local distribution.

“You realize that every month you help out. You can tell that it’s very, very needed in the community, and that continues to push us on to continue this ministry. Even though there have been some ups and downs, some months not a lot of people come through the line, or some months we might not have enough volunteers, but what keeps pushing us to do it is that we see the need in our community, and to be able to help them out just keeps it going,” Bauer explained.

In the 11-and-a-half years since East Chain Ruby’s Pantry has been around, Bauer and the team of volunteers have served many communities, packing vehicle trunks from as close as the East Chain, Granada and Martin County areas, to Humboldt, Iowa, Madelia and beyond. Additionally, volunteers themselves have joined East Chain Ruby’s Pantry from many different towns and churches.

“You can see [the recipient’s] gratitude as they come through the line. You know, there are days when we’re [holding the distribution] in 15-degree weather, and people are very, very grateful for what we’re doing. That always feels good, when God calls us to serve one another. That’s why we do it,” Bauer shared.

Martin County, especially Ruby’s Pantry recipients, recently grappled with the closure of the Sherburn Ruby’s Pantry after its last distribution in late February, as the Regional Worship Center in Sherburn, the site of that distribution, wanted to head in a different direction. East Chain Ruby’s Pantry hasn’t faced significant changes since the closure of Sherburn Ruby’s Pantry; however, Bauer anticipates growth in recipients. Even though one of the two area food ministries is gone, East Chain Ruby’s Pantry is ready to provide food bundles to everyone.

In addition, the food ministry has received a notable amount of positive feedback, a testament that the volunteers’ work doesn’t go unnoticed by those it serves.

“We always heard that people really enjoy coming to our site. Our distribution. They say we’re very friendly and welcoming. And so that’s always encouraging to hear as well,” Bauer said.

Through every distribution, East Chain Ruby’s Pantry volunteers aim to carry out its church mission, ‘to love God, love people, and make disciples of Jesus Christ.’

“And that would definitely play into what we’re doing at Ruby’s Pantry,” Bauer added.

He said that East Chain Ruby’s Pantry will happily welcome more recipients and more volunteers.

“Whatever you might think it is if you’ve never been there, it’s definitely something different. There’s more food, there’s more people involved. It’s a bigger event than I think people realize, and you don’t know it until you come see it,” Bauer said.

As for a goal looking ahead, he hopes East Chain Ruby’s Pantry will inspire people to join the church on Sundays.

The next East Chain Ruby’s Pantry drive-through grocery distribution is slated for 10 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 25, at the East Chain Evangelical Free Church, located at 507 280th Avenue in Granada. Due to climbing transportation costs, prices per bundle at Ruby’s Pantry locations will increase from $25 to $30 beginning April 1.

The distributions are usually held on the fourth Saturday of each month. Only cash will be accepted. Recipients are encouraged to clean their vehicle trunks thoroughly before arrival. For additional information about the East Chain Ruby’s Pantry, distributions, bundle list or volunteering, visit the Facebook page, “Ruby’s Pantry – East Chain MN” or rubyspantry.org.