How has the closure of Ruby's Pantry affected food insecurity in Morrison County?

The final pop-up in Little Falls for Ruby’s Pantry was held in December 2025. For many years, it was a go-to food hub for families and individuals. While nearly half a year has gone by since the closure, the families and individuals who once circulated the Ruby’s Pantry popups have either continued getting food at other local places or outright stopped.

How has the closure of Ruby’s Pantry affected the number of families seeking food assistance? That’s the question that was asked to three organizations in Little Falls.

Nina Lange, licensed social worker and program director at Oasis Central Minnesota, said while Oasis has not worked directly with Ruby’s Pantry, it was a strong promoter of it. However, since the closure, the staff at Oasis has not observed a significant change in the number of individuals seeking food assistance through the organization. What they have experienced, on the other hand, Lange said, is an increase in phone calls related to food and resource needs.

Click here to read the original article from the Morrison County Record.