BY SARAH JONES
SPECIAL TO THE HERALD COURIER
BRISTOL, Va. – A local church is doing something about high grocery bills.
Covenant Fellowship Church of Bristol, Va., has partnered with Angel Food Ministries, a nationwide nonprofit Christian organization, to bring inexpensive groceries to area families.
Tracie Farmer, coordinator of Covenant’s Angel Food Ministries site, described the ministry as a “food program designed to help families stretch their budgets.”
Associate pastor Mike Moll found Angel Food as he developed a Web site for a previous church.
“I came across the program and started looking into it. When I came here [to Covenant], I talked to our pastor about the ministry and we got started in February of last year.”
The program sells boxes of groceries at discounted prices. In July the Signature box will provide seven pounds of meat in addition to milk, eggs and vegetables, at a cost of $30. Angel Food also provides boxes of fully cooked meals for seniors at $28 each, and allergen-free boxes also are available.
“Every month there’s a different menu,” Farmer said. “The Signature box costs $30 for $70 or $80 worth of food.
“We have been purchasing one – or more than one – box for families that we know are in need,” Farmer said.
She emphasized that the food is of good quality. “Sometimes with a food pantry you get fruit and vegetables that are almost too ripe or cans that are dented. With this, the food is fresh just like you would go to Walmart and buy.”
Prices are kept low due to simple measures like using clear or black wrapping on meat products, and Angel Food’s status as a nationwide charity lends it buying power. Proceeds from the boxes keep the ministry self-sufficient.
“This is not a fundraiser for our church by any means,” Farmer said. “We do get one dollar back from each sale, but it goes into our benevolence ministries.”
Angel Food has become an important part of the church’s ministry. According to senior pastor Mike Booker, “The church is supposed to be salt and light in the community, to make a difference. Jesus met spiritual needs as well as practical needs. We wanted to do our part in practical, hands-on ministry as well as having church services every week.”
This practical vision of ministry extends to the regularly held church services. Orders for boxes are taken at the Sunday morning services, and orders also can be placed at the church on Mondays and Fridays from 3-6 p.m.
“We have one designated order time per month. The deadline changes every month, but it’s always on a Monday and pickup day is that Saturday. People can order online with a debit or credit card,” Farmer said.
Orders will be taken July 10 from 3-7 pm, July 11 from 10 am to 2 pm and July 13 from 3-7 pm. Online ordering is available at any time until July 13. Information on future deadlines and online orders as well as a menu for this month’s Signature box is available at http://covenantfellowshipchurch.net/afm.htm.
Anyone interested in donating to Angel Food Ministries can contact Farmer at angelfoodministries@covenantfellowshipchurch.net. Covenant Fellowship Church is located at 109 Gate City Highway in Bristol, Va.
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