Ruby's Pantry helps locals living on fixed income - WEAU

Ruby's Pantry helps locals living on fixed income - WEAU

EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (WEAU)- Groceries can be expensive, especially if you're living on a fixed income.

Roughly 19% of people living in Eau Claire county are 60 years or older; and the majority of them live on fixed incomes; and nearly half, at 9%, live in poverty and struggle with food insecurity.

As a way to make that dollar stretch, hundreds attend Ruby’s Pantry at The Lutheran Church of the Good Shepard every month.

Donna Switzer of Eau Claire, who relies on her social security income, is one of them.

“You get fresh veggies quite often, you get fresh fruit, you get meat,” Switzer explained. “It helps older people because you don't lose your dignity by having to beg. You’re paying for it, so it makes you feel good that I can afford to do this and in turn help other people also.”

Now it’s a little different than a typical food pantry. Switzer and nearly 300 others in the community pay just $20 dollars to go home with a trunk full of food.

“The $20 dollars is expected, it feels like they’re not asking for help,” said Pastor Mike Wollman. “We do have a certain number of clients every month who are unable to do that too, and we're always ready for them. We have prepaid certificates available for everyone who comes without any money because everyone who comes gets food.”

Asking for food is something Aging and Disability Resource Director Jennifer Owen says can be hard for older adults.

“Maybe you worked your whole life and you never needed to ask for help and its uncomfortable and something that you’ve never done before,” Owen said. “So I think it can be a combination of the unknown and not knowing what to expect and pride for people; but don't be afraid to ask for help.”

That’s why programs like Ruby's Pantry continue to expand.

“There’s always plenty of food, what’s hard is getting it where it needs to go," Wollman added.

Ruby's Pantry is open to everyone and not just someone living on a fixed income.

It takes place the first Thursday of each month around 2 p.m. and wraps up around 6:30.

For more information, click on the link to the right.