Angel Food, more than a piece of cake

With the cost of living on the rise, people are looking for a way to stretch their dollars. Angel Food Ministries may be an answer. The Rev. Jane Willan, of United Church of Christ (Congregational), said she heard about Angel Food Ministries through one of her parishioners, Kathy Grinstead, and checked out its Web site. “I liked it,” said Willan. “It looked reputable.” According to the Web site, Angel Food Ministries is a non-profit, non-denominational organization dedicated to providing grocery relief and financial support to communities throughout the United States. After discussing the possibilities of bringing Angel Food to Creston with other local ministers, Willan invited Andrea Baker, Angel Food minister of outreach for central and western Iowa, to speak at UCC Tuesday evening and invited others interested in such a program. Feeding the masses Baker is also the site coordinator of Angel Foods for the St. Lukes Episcopal Church in Des Moines. “We started about 20, 21 months ago, we have been one of the largest host sites in America for the past five out of seven months,” she said. “It shows you that we are meeting a need right here in Iowa. We know that there are people traveling several hours one weekend a month to get to Angel Foods. We also know that right now with the price of gas, that’s not cost effective.” Baker said there is not a host site in this area of the state and there is a need here. “What Angel Food Ministries can do with their buying power they pass on directly to each one of our consumers,” she said. “Anyone and everyone can participate.” Each month Angel Food delivers boxes of food consisting of nutritional, high-quality fresh and frozen food. For a fee of $30 per regular “unit,” consumers receive approximately 21 pounds of food, 17 to 19 items, with an average value of $60. “Because of Angel Foods involvement with only the best producers and vendors our products are high quality, name-brand foods — never seconds or day-old products,” said Baker. “Each month’s food menu consists of both fresh and frozen items and canned goods.” Nutrition Baker said 50 percent of each menu is made up of protein foods. “So you’re going to have steaks and chicken and pork and roasts and eggs, peanut butter, things like that,” she said. “When we designed these units we wanted to make sure they were well-rounded, that whole meals could be made from these units. They are not just canned goods.” Baker said people may purchase as many units as they want, there is no limit. One unit feeds a family of four for about a week or a single person for about a month. There is also a new unit being offered, referred to as the senior box, containing 10 frozen prepackaged dinners for $25. After a unit of food is purchased the consumer may also purchase special packages offered, such as a 4 pound steak box or eight - 8 ounce rib eye steaks for $20. Participate Angel Food is purchased in advance through the host site, usually a church, with check, cash or food stamp card. Consumers pick up their food at the same site a couple of weeks later on Saturday. “We will be the host site,” said Willan. “Other pastors said they will send volunteers and participate, but our church will be the host site.” Angel Food Ministries produces a monthly menu to inform customers of what food items will be available a month in advance. There are no applications or prequalifiers to participate. Willan said she hopes to bring Angel Foods to Creston soon, but she still needs final approval from the church board and the host site must fill out an application and find the necessary volunteers to help with distribution. Watch the Creston News Advertiser and www.crestonnewsadvertisr.com “local” news for more information as it becomes available. —————— Stephani Finley can be reached at (641) 782-2141 ext. 237 or sfinley@crestonnews.com