I Tried Ruby’s Pantry; Here’s What You Need To Know
Updated on April 14, 2026
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Have you ever heard about Ruby’s Pantry and wondered if it was worth it? Here’s what I learned from personal experience!
Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
Unfortunately, Ruby’s Pantry was shut down unexpectedly in March 2026.
Ruby’s Pantry is a pop-up food pantry with religious affiliations available to anyone, regardless of income. They market themselves as a “great way to extend your monthly grocery budget and enjoy a variety of foods.” It cost only $25 for a trunk load of food! Foods provided are sourced and donated from excess by corporations in the Midwest. Because of this, they limit waste and promote sustainability.
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As a stay-at-home mom on a single income, I’m always on the hunt to learn new money-saving tricks. I’ve known about Ruby’s Pantry for a while, but hadn’t tried it until recently, when I saw a grocery haul online. The closest location to me was about 30 minutes away, so on the designated day, I loaded the kids up and we headed out on an adventure!
Ruby’s Pantry Locations
Ruby’s Pantry is located in Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, and Wisconsin. They have pop-up locations, usually at churches, but there is no residency requirement to attend. Each location has 1 day per month designated for pickup, so be sure to check the date of pick-up and time once you choose your location!
My Experience
The location that I chose started handing out bundles at 4:30 pm, so I planned to arrive right at the start. I hadn’t realized just how large an operation this was, however, so by the time I arrived at 4:35 pm, there was already a line of cars several blocks long. It didn’t take long for the line to get moving, though!
A semi truck had unloaded food into a large parking lot, and volunteers had separated it into 5 stations throughout the lot. I ordered 1 “share” for $25, but you are able to order 2 shares for $50 if you choose. There were 2 pickup lines for efficiency, and everyone drove through the line with their trunks open so volunteers at each station could fill their car. The volunteers were all very helpful and cheerful, especially when I let them know this was my first time! There wasn’t a good spot to pull over after going through the line, so I drove back home before checking out everything I had been given.
My Grocery Haul
Here’s a list of all the foods I received in my single share, along with the approximate value to buy in the store.
- 2 pudding mixes (~$3)
- Assorted Crackers (~$4.50)
- 3 Dijon mustards (~$6.50)
- 3 Cheese Dips (~$3.50)
- Snack Cakes (~$4)
- 4 Pre-made Mashed Potatoes (~$12)
- 35 K-Cups (~$20)
- Bag of Seasoned Fries-Food Service Sized (~$16)
- Box of Waffle Buns-Food Service Sized (~$70)
- 1# Frozen Turkey (~$9)
- Jar of Ghost Pepper Relish (~$4)
- Tortillas (~$2)
- Hawaiian Rolls ($4)
- Sub Rolls (~$3.50)
- 2, 1/2 Gallons Chocolate Milk ($5)
- 7 Cans Assorted Pop (~$8)
- Loaf of Bread (~$2)
- Croissants (~$1)
- Party Size Bag of Chips (~$5)
- Dried Pasta (~$1)
- 4 Packs Coffee Filters (~$8)
The grand total of value for my Ruby’s Pantry single share bundle was $192! It’s worth noting that many of the items I received were close to or past expiration. Nothing had mold or any signs of it being inedible, but much of the food needed to be frozen or used right away. Overall, this was a great way to stretch my grocery budget and bulk up my pantry!
It’s also important to remember that Ruby’s Pantry offers different foods every month, so it may not be the same value every month, but it’s guaranteed to be much more than your $25 donation. If you’re on the fence about going to their grocery distribution, you can always check their Facebook page to see what they might be offering. They usually post a list of 10 or so foods that they know will be available the day before the pop-up pantry.
Is Ruby’s Pantry Worth it?
Yes, Ruby’s Pantry is worth the $25 donation! I received almost $200 in food and coffee filters for my $25 contribution. Of course, we did get food my family won’t use, but I was able to give that away to other family and friends. Overall, it was definitely worth it, and I will plan to go again!
Tips For Attending Ruby’s Pantry
Unfortunately, Ruby’s Pantry was shut down unexpectedly in March 2026.
- Arrive Early: Even though doors may open at 4:30, there will be a line of people already waiting
- Have an Empty Trunk: You will receive quite a bit of food, so you’ll need to have room for it
- Bring Cash: If your location doesn’t have an Express Track reservation option, you’ll need to have cash for payment
- Bring A Cooler: You might receive frozen or refrigerated foods that need to stay cool on your drive home
- Check Updates: Check the Ruby’s Pantry Facebook Page for updates and insight into the foods they’re offering the day before each pop-up pantry.
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