Food Program Helps Deduct 50 Percent from your Grocery Bill

By Heather Canter

As Editor Ron Fitzwater mentioned in his editorial last week, we here at the Ashe Mountain Times wish to collect and gather information, tips, ideas and more to help our fellow citizens get by in these tough times. The economy is in a mess and although we are in a small town, our friends, families and neighbors are feeling the effects as businesses, factories and stores close their doors and layoffs are announced.

We asked for readers to send us tips and ideas to live cheaper and make it work with what we have available. For our Ashe County Survival Collective, the first tip we received came from Teri K. Goodman, concerning a program called Angel Food Ministries.

Angel Food Ministries we learned is a non-profit, non-denominational organization dedicated to providing financial support in the form of food relief to communities throughout the United States, according to their website, www.angelfoodministries.com. There is no membership, no qualifying income limits, no applications and no limit to the number of boxes you can order. Orders may be paid for with cash, check, money order or EBT food stamps. Credit cards and debit cards are also accepted. Orders using credit or debit may be placed on-line at the Angel Food website as well.

Angel Food offers a medium-sized box of food for $30 that contains top-quality food staples from every food group, including chicken or beef, milk, eggs, vegetables and other nutritious items. One box of food feeds a family of four for about one week, or a single senior citizen for almost a month. The menu varies each month and includes fresh and frozen items with an average retail value of approximately $60. A senior box with prepackaged meals for $28 is available. The senior/convenience box is for seniors or people on the go and include 10 perfectly season, nutritionally balanced, fully-cooked meals that can be just heated and served. There are also specials each month for $18-$21.

Mike Wood of Angel Food Ministries, said in a press release, "We offer each and every family who comes to us the opportunity to put a decent meal on the table, no matter what their financial situation. We are especially honored to be able to provide a protein rich diet for many families who wouldn't otherwise purchase meat."

In Ashe County, there are four sites where residents can take advantage of this program. The Riverview Community Center, located at 17719 NC Hwy. 88 West in Creston, is one location. Rev. Rickey Mitchell heads up the program. The Center has a dinner on Thursdays from noon until 1 p.m. and Mitchell sets up at the dinner and answers questions about the program and takes orders for the food. Those interested may call Mitchell at (336) 385-6260.

Bald Mountain Baptist Church at 1460 Bald Mountain Road in West Jefferson also participates with Angel Food Ministries. For more information, you can click to www.baldmountainchurch.org or call the coordinator, Sherrie Matthews at (336) 977-2597.

The third location is Laurel Springs Baptist Church, located at 7504 US Hwy 421 South in Deep Gap. The coordinator is Kathy Idol and the phone number is (828) 262-1330. Office hours for the church are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. until noon.

The final location is Faith Fellowship and Harvest Ministries at 513 East Main Street in Jefferson. For more information, call Vicki Jones at (336) 977-9296 or (336) 982-6197 or Mary Desautels in the business office at Faith Fellowship, Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at (336) 846-3346. You can also click to their website at www.faithfellowshipnc.org.

For Alleghany County residents, the Cornerstone Christian Fellowship at 1276 Grandview Drive in Sparta is a participant in the program. The coordinator is Marcella Galyean and the contact number is (336) 372-3070. Also, in Galax, Va., Hillcrest Baptist Church at 1205 South Main Street in Galax, Va. is a participant. They can be contacted at (276) 236-5855. Coordinator is Mary Spivey.

Wilkesboro residents have three locations where they can get Angel Food products. Those locations include Rocky Springs United Methodist Church at 4211 Rocky Springs Road in Hiddenite. The contact number is (828) 632-0674. Oakwoods Baptist Church in Wilkesboro, another location, is at 2385 Brushy Mountain Road. Their website is www.oakwoodsbaptistchurch.com or the contact number is (336) 667-7838. Also, in North Wilkesboro, 17 Harvest Time Ministries and Christian Academy is part of the network. They are located at 501 C Street in North Wilkesboro. Their contact number is (336) 667-9105.

According to Angel Food Ministries, their food is purchased directly from some of the top suppliers in the country. "Those who participate with Angel Food receive brand name food without worry about it being fresh," said a press release from the organization. "The great part is that Angel Food is for everyone. There are no limits to the quantity of boxes per individual, nor are there any applications or qualifications for eligibility."

Orders are taken the first two weeks of each month and delivery is on the third Saturday of the month. Orders must be picked up at the location where the order was placed. For more information about the Angel Food Ministries, contact one of the local coordinators or click to www.angelfoodministries.com.

Watch for this column again next week as we continue to seek out ways to help you save money and live better. Anyone with ideas may submit them by e-mail to heather@mountaintimes.com, call (336) 246-6397, fax us at (336) 246-3240, mail: PO Box 327, West Jefferson, NC 28694 or stop by our office at 7 East Main Street in downtown West Jefferson, across from Parkway Theater.