By By MARCIA STEFFENS / Niles Daily Star
CASSOPOLIS – With gas prices soaring often families are making tough choices on whether to buy food or be able to commute to work.
There is some relief available through a special organization in place in our area.
Angel Food Ministries, a non-profit, non-denominational organization, began in 1994, as a small outreach ministry serving a rural community in Georgia.
The goal was to help neighbors who needed a hand up in a tough economic time. Today, Angel Food Ministries can be found in 3,200 communities in 35 states and helps feed more than 500,000 families a month.
Anyone is able to sign up for food. At this time, cash, checks or EBT food cards are accepted, according to local volunteer Julie Hubbard.
Angel Food partners with churches and community organizations throughout the country to help distribute food to those in need. They are looking for more churches and volunteers to participate.
For $30 you can receive a box of food containing both fresh and frozen items. Food items are top quality bought from major food producers throughout the country to insure only the best comes to your table.
Generally, one unit of food assists in feeding a family of four for about one week or a single senior citizen for almost a month. The food is all the same high quality one could purchase at a grocery store. There are no second-hand items, no damaged or outdated goods, no dented cans without labels, no day-old breads and no produce that is almost too ripe.
Also offered are specialty boxes such as steaks, chicken and pork. Many participants in this bonus program appreciate the expanded choices.
Additionally, there is no limit to the number of units or bonus foods an individual can receive. There are no applications to complete or qualifications to which participants must adhere.
For example, the May order included bacon, chicken breast filets, pork steaks, salisbury steak, burritos, popcorn chicken, pizza vegetables, fruit, dry milk, cereal, muffin and soup mix, eggs and one dessert item – all for $30.
Bonus boxes were $20 and had a variety of meats, including steaks, chicken and hamburgers.
You will need to bring a box to pick up your order.
Orders are picked up on a Saturday. This month, orders must be placed by Friday, July 11 and will be picked up on July 26.
Presently, volunteers travel to Benton Harbor to load up the orders at 6 a.m., Hubbard said. " If we can get 400 or 500 participants a month, we can get our own distribution center," she said.
You can place your order by contacting Julie Hubbard at (269) 462-9103, P. O. Box 822, Dowagiac, julie4angelfood@yahoo.com; Maggie Focht (269) 445-1778, 19091 Quaker St., Cassopolis; or Penn Friends Community Church (269) 445-8546. Bertrand Bible Church in Niles is also participating.