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
with 34 families in Monroe, Georgia (between Atlanta and Athens),
and has grown to serve hundreds of thousands of families every month
across 32 states. Angel Food Ministries crosses denominational lines
and has spread the good news of the gospel of Christ through
salvation tracts that are placed in each food order.
Blessings by the box
Angel Food's groceries are sold in a
quantity that can fit into a medium-sized box at $30 per unit. Each
month's menu is different than the previous month and consists of
both fresh and frozen items with an average retail value of
approximately $50. Comparison shopping has been done across the
country in various communities using a wide range of retail grocery
stores and has resulted in the same food items costing from between
$42 and $78.
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 would purchase at a grocery store. There are no second-hand
items, no damaged or out-dated 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 purchase, and
there are no applications to complete or qualifications to which
participants must adhere. Angel Food Ministries, like most all other
retail grocery stores, also participates in the U.S. Food Stamp
program, using the Off-Line Food Stamp Voucher system.
How the Program works
Food sales and distribution are
handled by church host sites. Orders and payments are collected by
the host sites during the first part of each month. These orders are
then turned in to the Angel Food main office in Monroe, Georgia, on
a predetermined date. Several days later, in the same month, the
host site either picks up the food from Angel Food's 160,000 square
feet warehouse to fill the orders on Distribution Day or, because
this ministry is growing nationwide, food is delivered to the host
site by a pre-arranged delivery mode. In most cases, as long as
there is a truck headed in the direction of a community who wants
this program and sees its ministry influence, there are no extra
transportation costs.
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