The best part of the business, he says, is loving the people.
The back two acres of the property are Barnabas Farms, which grows the produce for the food pantry. The food pantry is ministry related. The ministry is called Bride Ready Ministries and works out of Wildwood Ministry Center.
“Bride Ready is how we learn to live for Christ and how we help the community,” Albus said.
The ministry has farms in Africa, but he has not been able to go there since the start of COVID, so he decided to see what he could do in Chino Valley. His ministry and farms in Africa led him to Kenya, Uganda, South Sudan, Tanzania and Rwanda. He visited once a year for seven weeks until the pandemic hit. That’s when he decided to address needs locally and recognized the two acres as an opportunity for a farm. “I call it God’s acres,” he said. “We grow a wide range of produce and it’s all run by volunteers.”
The food pantry charges $5 a bag to cover expenses. “If someone can’t pay, then we give them the food,” he said. “We’re open to everyone like a Farmer’s Market, but [those who can’t pay] can get food, too.”
Albus moved to Chino Valley in 2004. He opened a now-defunct art gallery in 2009 and created Going Local in 2013 when he noticed a need for an appliance store. He opened the thrift shop in 2019 and the farm and food bank in 2020. Initially, the food bank helped 10 to 15 families a day; now, it helps more than 300 people per week.
Albus said they buy food from other places to stock the pantry, as it costs them $4,500-$4,800 a month to keep it open. The operation has 12 to 20 volunteers helping with the farm and food bank.
The ministry came about when his former church closed and gave Albus the building.
“That’s how I got the non-profit, and that is how God opens doors,” he said.
The best part of the business, he says, is loving the people. He had one woman whose husband died and he gave her a memory ornament, which helped her through the tough time.
The Albus family often goes without paychecks so they can pay the three staff members. “A good business sacrifices for its workers,” he said.
Currently, the operation is seeking a volunteer farm director. QCBN
By Stan Bindell, QCBN
Photo by Stan Bindell: Luzanne Hansen, manager for the Going Local thrift shop and food pantry, says she loves the store because it touches people’s lives. “We make a difference by giving back to the community.”
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