Twenty dollars to spend on food might not get you much at a supermarket; it might fill a plastic bag or two.  However, bringing it to Ruby’s Pantry could get you an entire cart full of food.
On the first Thursday of every month, a group of happy, hungry participants lines up outside the Marshall National Guard Armory.  Most will be equipped with cardboard boxes, laundry baskets, plastic tubs or totes.  Inside, after paying their $20, they’ll move down a line of tables, filling their containers with food.

Becki Johnson, a Campus Minister from the Holy Redeemer church, helps to organize volunteers for Ruby’s.  Through the Campus Religious Center, she directs these students, although anyone is free to help out.

The volunteers operate the “assembly line,” offering different food items to each of the participants.  By the end of the line, boxes are often overflowing as they’re loaded into shopping carts and brought outside to be put in cars.

“The biggest focus [for Ruby’s] is the benefit for the community, people that care for and support each other.  I’ve seen that a lot with SMSU students,” Johnson said.

A wide variety of food is given out, things that will beef up any kitchen.  The line usually starts with bottles and cans of soda, as well as other drink options.  Oftentimes there are bags filled with potatoes, pasta, green beans, lemons, onions… Sometimes they will offer you an entire box of yogurt, a pint of ice cream, cereal, eggs, milk, cookie. . .and at the end of the line, they top your box off with a few loaves of bread.

Is it worth the money?  Absolutely.  Getting a cart full of food for twenty dollars is next-to-impossible at a supermarket.

Community response has been overwhelmingly positive, Johnson said.  Many of the same people come every month.  Johnson recounted the tale of a woman who, whenever she goes through the line at Ruby’s, shares recipes that she’s tried out.

There are plenty of touching moments, too.  One that stood out to Johnson involved a woman who wasn’t sure she could afford Ruby’s that month.

“She was debating it, because she really needed the money for gas,” Johnson said. “But sometimes, people will come up to the table and ‘donate’ a share.  They will put in an extra $20 and say ‘give this to person number…’  The woman was so happy when she found out her share had been paid for.”

There are no pre-requisites for attending Ruby’s.  The food comes from corporate surplus, which would otherwise be thrown away.  In a sense, it’s just recycling what isn’t sold.  Just show up with the money and two boxes or laundry baskets.

Students especially can benefit from this, whether they are on meal plans and want to supplement with some food for weekends or snacks, or if they are living off-campus and buy all their food.  Instead of using up Dining Dollars or getting fast food, stocking those empty shelves with Ruby’s is an excellent alternative.