Angel Food more than cake

Angel Food Ministries is a national nonprofit group providing groceries to families and individuals in communities such as Flint at bargain prices. The program began in 1994 in Monroe, Ga., and has grown to serve hundreds of thousands of families in 35 states.

The group distributes food through local church host sites. Volunteers at the host site process orders during the first part of each month and the orders are turned in to the Angel Food main office in Monroe. Several days later, food is delivered to the host site and distributed by volunteers.

According to Donna Foust, coordinator of the food program at Eastwood United Methodist Church, there are no program restrictions for participants.

Couples, families or individuals may choose from a variety of offerings like the $30 Signature Box, valued at about $70 — enough food to feed a family of four for a week.

The box is filled with about 14 pounds of restaurant grade meats, cheese entries, frozen vegetables, fruits, dairy products, breakfast items and desserts. No “seconds” or “day old” type products are involved. The menu choices change monthly.

“We also have specialized boxes like the seafood box filled with six to eight pounds of seafood for $34, an allergen-free food assortment at $25 or the senior convenience box filled with 10 prepared meals ready for the microwave at $28,” Foust said.

“Special boxes like a meat or a fruit and vegetable assortment for $22 are available, but participants have to purchase a Signature Box first,” Foust explained.

“Some people can stretch their food box to last an entire month,” Foust said. “Customers may pay for their purchases with cash or EBT cards.”

There are seven churches in the city participating: Bethel Park Free Methodist, G-6046 Corunna Rd.; Calvary Life and Praise, 918 Spencer St.; Eastwood United Methodist, 3312 Whittier St.; Faith United General Baptist, G-1116 W. Hill Rd.; Flint First Wesleyan, 3825 Davison Rd.; Freedom Center North, 2125 N. Saginaw; and New Creation Community Outreach Corp., 3472 Lennon Rd. Contact any church for more information or to place an order.

On-line ordering is also available at many of the Flint churches and churches in the area, through the Angel Food Ministries web site at www.angelfoodministries.com.

“This program really does make a financial difference in my food budget,” said Joan Bigalow, who orders an allergen-free food assortment for her family of five from Freedom Center North Church.

“I save lots of money by buying from Angelfood compared to what I would have to pay for the same type of food at the grocery store,” she said

“It’s easy to become a host site,” said Foust, “Any church can do what we’re doing,” she said. “There’s a $50 application fee that provides training materials for volunteers who take orders and distribute the food.”

Angel Food Ministries donates $1 per convenience box sold to the host churches’ benevolent fund. Since its inception, Angel Food Ministries has contributed over $12 million into host benevolence funds.