What is new for Northwoods Drifter in 2026
If you’ve been wincing at the grocery store checkout lately, you’re not alone. Families across the Northwoods are feeling the squeeze as food prices continue their upward march, and many are discovering a lifeline they didn’t know they needed.
The Neighbors’ Place in Wausau has welcomed around 200 new families through its doors so far this year. That’s on top of the 1,287 households who walked in for the first time last year.
These aren’t just statistics. They’re your neighbors, making tough choices about what goes on the dinner table.
Donna Ambrose with The Neighbors’ Place says the message is simple: don’t struggle if you don’t have to. “We really want to encourage people not to struggle, not to live check to check if they don’t have to, come here and get some resources,” she explains.
The reality hits different up here in the Northwoods. Limited grocery options and higher transportation costs mean we already pay more than city folks for the same box of cereal or gallon of milk.
When food-at-home costs have jumped over 20% since 2020 across the Midwest, those extra pennies add up fast. For families already stretching every paycheck to cover heating bills through our long winters, something’s gotta give.
The closure of Ruby’s Pantry in Wausau has folks wondering where to turn next. Ambrose wants everyone to know The Neighbors’ Place stands ready to help.
Located at 360 Grand Ave. Suite 200 in downtown Wausau, the pantry serves all of northcentral Wisconsin. That’s a big territory, stretching from Marathon County well into the heart of Northwoods communities.
“We don’t want people to panic, we don’t want people to struggle,” Ambrose says. “We really want people to utilize our resources and get the help they need.”
“It’s a joy to see families here. They say, ‘I can do so much now, I can get my kid, start dinner and pop over here and get some groceries.'” — Donna Ambrose, The Neighbors’ Place
This isn’t your grandmother’s food bank with dented cans in cardboard boxes. The Neighbors’ Place operates more like a grocery store where you shop for what your family actually needs.
Walk in and you’ll find fresh produce alongside pantry staples, plus diapers and hygiene products many families struggle to afford. It’s designed to restore dignity while meeting real needs.
The pantry recently expanded with a Thursday night market, making it easier for working families to swing by after picking up kids or finishing the day shift. No more choosing between work hours and feeding your family.
Key services include:
Climate challenges aren’t helping. Wisconsin’s unpredictable weather — from flooding that washes out crops to harsh winters that strain supply chains — ripples through to what we pay at the store.
The Northwoods faces unique pressures. Rural communities deal with food deserts where quality groceries are miles away, transportation costs eat into budgets, and retail competition stays thin.
That combination hits hardest for families already navigating seasonal employment shifts or fixed incomes. When heating oil and gas prices spike during our brutal winters, the food budget becomes the easiest place to cut.
Here’s something Ambrose wants everyone to understand: using the pantry isn’t a failure. It’s smart resource management.
“While people in need isn’t a good thing,” she says, “I’m happy when the numbers increase, because I know people are getting what they need.”
Anyone can show up to receive food, though registering ahead of time online helps the pantry prepare. There’s no income verification, no judgment, no hoops to jump through.
The goal? Eliminate stress so families can focus on what matters — keeping jobs, raising kids, enjoying this beautiful place we call home.
As we head deeper into 2025, The Neighbors’ Place continues adapting to meet growing demand. The Thursday night market has proven popular, and the organization keeps its doors open to anyone struggling with rising costs.
The Northwoods has always been a place where neighbors help neighbors. Sometimes that means lending a chainsaw for storm cleanup or pulling someone’s truck out of a ditch.
These days, it might mean knowing where to turn when groceries cost more than your budget allows. There’s no shame in that — just community doing what community does best.
Written by
Mike has been coming up or living in the Northwoods since his childhood. He is also an avid outdoorsman, writer and supper club aficionado.
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