Published: July 07, 2008 11:41 am            

Grocery program available through Angel Food Ministries

CLINTON — Two area churches are hoping to make sure area families have enough to eat every month by participating in a national food outreach program, Angel Food Ministries.

Angel Food Ministries is a non-profit, non-denominational organization dedicated to providing grocery relief and financial support to communities throughout the United States. The program began in 1994 in Monroe, Ga., with 34 families and has grown to serve thousands of families every month through churches and community organizations in 32 states.

Local distribution of Angel Food Ministries grocery assistance is offered through Christ Episcopal Church, located at 2100 N. Second St., and Rev. Sue Eades, and the Free in Jesus Ministries, 78 Main Ave., led by Pastors Jerry and Criscynthia Drake.

“A lot of people are running out of food every month and don’t know this is out there,” Criscynthia Drake said.

Participants can sign up for the program through Free In Jesus Ministries by calling 593-4852 or Christ Episcopal Church at 242-5740 to find out when the next sign-up day is. Anyone of any income is eligible to participate as there are no applications or qualifications to order Angel Food. The program is available to all Gateway area residents in Iowa or Illinois. Orders and payments are collected during the first part of each month and they are then turned in to the Angel Food main office. At the end of the month, volunteers with the churches pick up the food from the Angel Food warehouse in Cedar Rapids on Distribution Day morning and transport the food to the church site. Distribution of the food begins at 2 p.m at Christ Episcopal Church.

The groceries come in units which contain approximately $75 worth of food for which participants pay $30. A different menu is offered every month, available in English or Spanish, and the units are set up to make it easy on families to create meal plans. The units consist of ample portions of “restaurant grade” food items including meats, frozen vegetables, fruits, canned goods and dairy products acquired through vendors of high-quality, name-brand foods.

Patrons can purchase as many regular units as they would like. Add on units are available with the purchase of a regular unit. Participants can pay for the units with cash, money orders, food stamps or an EBT card and are asked to bring a container or box to transport the items home.

Drake said the program is helping many area families make sure they have enough to eat.

“It’s really helped a lot of people out. They can come and get enough groceries to get through the month,” said Drake. “It’s cut their grocery bills and helped them save a lot of money.”

Program officials encourage anyone in the Gateway area who would like to receive a little help with their monthly groceries to order the meal packages.

Orders can be made over the phone or can be taken on Distribution Day; the next Distribution Day is July 19. Purchases can be made during office hours from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday and every Sunday morning.

Anyone interested in volunteering to assist Free In Jesus Ministries or the Christ Episcopal Church with the Angel Food distribution, or who would like to make a donation to help fund a family’s order or transportation costs, is asked to call the Drakes at 593-4852 or Eades at 242-5740.

        

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