Drop in use threatens Angel Food program
By Bobbi Mlynar (Contact)
Originally published 02:19 p.m., March 31, 2008
Updated 02:19 p.m., March 31, 2008
Whether it was caused by Kansas sales tax, increased cost of fuel, the weather or a combination of factors, the number of Angel Food participants has plunged in recent months.
Angel Food Ministries distributes boxes of food monthly at a cost of $30 per box, with the option of buying lower-cost bonus boxes of meats and prepared meals after the initial box has been purchased.
“The biggest concern for us is when the orders drop significantly and the trucks are not as full as they want them to be, they’re going to send us someplace else to get our food, and when that happens, none of the churches that are doing this can afford to drive to Topeka or Kansas City or Wichita to get that food back here,” said Andrea Ceretti of the Emporia Church of the Nazarene, who has overseen the program that includes three local churches and churches in Americus and Eureka.
So far, Angel Food Ministries officials at their Georgia headquarters have said they will not stop the Emporia delivery in the immediate future.
“It could go away,” Ceretti said. “If the orders were to continue to drop we could lose Angel Food here in Emporia.”
In addition to the Nazarene Church, the program includes the Emporia Presbyterian Church and Grace United Methodist Church in Emporia and Americus Presbyterian Church, and the Friends of Peace Holiness Church in Eureka. Those churches pick up their food at 6 a.m. at the Nazarene church.
Ceretti said it is especially important to keep the program running because, in addition to serving people already in need, it also could help displaced Tyson workers cope with the loss of jobs and wages.
Angel Food boxes were well received when the project began at the Nazarene church in December of 2006.
“Our church alone was doing 400 orders a month, so things have dropped way, way down,” Ceretti said. “We’re doing well to get 300” total orders with all five churches combined.
Last month’s distribution at Nazarene, however, was up 30 boxes from the previous month, with 113 orders.
“A good portion of those people that came in and ordered last month were Tyson employees,” Ceretti said of the new customers.
Still, their numbers were not even close to the original numbers of participants.
“We can’t really put our finger on it,” Ceretti said. “Some people were discouraged when they found we’d raised the prices. That was a Kansas tax issue when it went up to $28, then Angel Food itself had to raise prices and that was because of fuel prices. Even now, it’s just a huge bargain for $30 a box.”
Long lines initially formed on delivery days, though the orders seemed to be handed out quickly, considering the numbers. That problem was solved when the delivery truck began arriving at 6 a.m. so volunteers could have all of the food boxed and ready by the time customers arrived.
“If people got discouraged because they were having to sit in line and wait for their food, that problem’s been alleviated,” she said.
And, despite the increased cost, the food remains a bargain.
She said that one of the program’s customers had gone to a local store and bought everything on that month’s food list.
“She bought those same groceries, and she said it cost her $75, so she knew she was getting a deal at $30,” Ceretti said.
Sponsors are looking for ways to let people know that Angel Food is available.
Ceretti said they had tried to circulate information about Angel Food through the Emporia school district, but was not allowed to give flyers to students to take home.
“It kind of seems sad to me that the district has so many kids on free lunches, but they can’t seem to find a way to let them know about cheap groceries,” she said. “They told me if they let one organization distribute, they have to let all of them distribute.”
In addition to buying boxes for personal consumption, Ceretti said that residents also can purchase boxes to donate to the Salvation Army and other charities, or purchase gift certificates to give to other individuals, or to the Salvation Army to give to clients.
“All they have to do is bring that gift certificate to us during ordering time and instead of giving us cash, they can just give us a gift certificate,” Ceretti said.
Gift certificates can be purchased at the Nazarene church between 8:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, and people who use Vision Cards or food stamps also may order ahead. Regular orders need to be placed at specified times and dates that are announced monthly.
Food orders will be taken this week.
Angel Food boxes for April will contain: 2 lb. fully cooked meatloaf, 1 lb. beef fajita strips, 3 lb. breaded frying chicken, 2 lb. St. Louis-style ribs, 2 lb. lasagna dinner entree, 1 lb. gourmet sausage, 1 lb. fully cooked meatballs, 16 oz. broccoli, 15 oz. refried beans, 12 ct. tortillas, 26 oz. pasta sauce, 16-oz. pasta, 6 oz. pancake mix, 1 lb. fresh carrots, 3 lb. potatoes, 4 oz. chicken noodle soup (makes 64 oz.), 4 lb. oranges, 1 dessert item.
Bonus boxes of specialty items may be purchased after buying one regular box.
A 7.5-pound family variety grill box containing baby back and country-style pork ribs, a thick cut sirloin filet, all-meat patties and mild Italian sausage costs $20; a 4-pound box of New York strip steaks will cost $19; and 4.5-pound stuffed chicken breast combo will cost $18. A senior convenience meal box containing five dinner entrees, each with two side dishes, five breads, milks, margarines, and desserts, will cost $18.
Food boxes must be paid in advance by Vision Card, cash or money orders; personal checks are not accepted. Delivery will be on Saturday, April 19, with times assigned through each church.
The schedule for ordering is:
• Grace United Methodist Church, 2 Neosho St.: Thursday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Friday, 2 to 6 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Emporia Church of the Nazarene, 2931 W. 24th: Wednesday, 2 to 7 p.m.; Thursday, and Friday, 2 to 6 p.m., and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Emporia Presbyterian Church, 802 Commercial St.: Thursday, 2 to 4 p.m.; Friday, 4 to 7 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Americus United Presbyterian Church: Friday, 2 to 5 p.m., and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Americus location accepts cash only.
Pickups will be at the churches, with the exception of the Emporia Presbyterian, which distributes from the Spic ‘n’ Span Cleaners building, Fourth Avenue and Merchant Street.
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