Angel Food Ministries is a nonprofit, nondenominational organization dedicated to providing food relief and financial support to communities throughout the United States. First Baptist Church of Cortez has been a host and distribution center since May 2010. Distribution is held on the last Saturday of every month at the church location at 100 N. Market in Cortez. Orders must be phoned in by the third Saturday of each month.
Angel Food is available in a quantity that can fit into a medium-sized box at $31 per unit. Each months menu is different than the previous month and consists of both fresh and frozen items with an average retail value of approximately $60. 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 $42 to $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 that 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 There are no second-hand items, no damaged or outdated goods, no dented cans without labels, no day-old breads and no produce that is almost too ripe.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, and there are no applications to complete or qualifications to which participants must adhere. Angel Food Ministries also participates in the U.S. Food Stamps program, using the Off-Line Food Stamp Voucher system.
Orders and distribution are handled by church host sites. Orders 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, Ga., on a predetermined date. Several days later, in the same month, the host site either picks up the food from Angel Foods 160,000-square-foot 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.
For more information, contact Donna Pharo at 565-3193 or Johnny Mosher at Town and Country Furnishings located at 38 N. Linden in Cortez.
