Doing God’s work against high grocery bills
Published: August 8, 2006
Good food, cheap.
That’s what’s attracting people to a new program offered at New Covenant World Outreach in Brodheadsville.
The church has become a host site for Angel Food Ministries, a nonprofit, nondenominational organization based in Monroe, Ga., that has been providing grocery relief to people since 1994.
In its 12th year, the organization has spread to 29 states with hundreds of churches involved in a food distribution system that benefits thousands of families.
New Covenant World Outreach found out about the ministry when its pastors, Steven and Marie Reed, returned from a visit with family in Oklahoma.
The Reeds’ son and daughter-in-law attend a church that is involved with Angel Food Ministries. After going along for a food pick-up, the Reeds were impressed.
“I thought we should do this,” Steven Reed said. “And here we are.”
After applying to be a distribution site, the church began doing the ministry just within the church to see how it would go. After three months in-house, the church opened up Angel Food to the community, putting up fliers and telling all their neighbors and friends.
Ministry director Pauline Mydosh said, “The first three months we sold 37 units on average. In July, the second month open to the public, we sold 121 basic units.”
After buying a basic unit, people can choose from three different meat specials. In July, people ordered 127 specials.
“It’s nice stuff. People are really happy with it,” Mydosh said.
Friday, July 28, was distribution day at New Covenant World Outreach. Earlier in the week, volunteers converted the church’s sanctuary into a distribution center, stacking chairs out of the way and setting up rows of tables. Friday afternoon, church volunteers drove the church’s newly purchased 16-foot truck to Life Church in Allentown to pick up the month’s order.
At 7 p.m. the church’s parking lot was packed with cars, and box-toting people lined up to pick up their pre-paid orders. The July menu included fresh carrots and eggs, frozen vegetables, pizza, burritos and french toast sticks, biscuit mix, ground beef and frozen chicken breasts.
The basic menu contains 17 grocery items and costs $25. People who purchase a basic unit are entitled to buy up to three meat specials. One of the August specials contains eight 8-ounce sirloin strip steaks for $17 — $4.25 per pound. The August chicken combo special contains 10 pounds for $18 — $1.80 per pound.
At 7 p.m., volunteers began filling orders. Some people brought cardboard boxes, others brought large coolers or laundry baskets to cart away groceries.
“Everything is done by volunteers,” Mydosh said. “Another thing that amazes me — nobody complains. They all talk about how much fun they had.”
As she checked out her order, Barbara Slutter of Blakeslee said she used to be part of SHARE, or Self-Help and Resource Exchange, a nonprofit community food program. “They put us in touch with this,” Slutter said.
Moving through the line with three boxes, Warren Elmore of Albrightsville said his family has been ordering through Angel Food Ministries for about three months, at first through a church in Allentown. The Allentown church referred them to New Covenant World Outreach. “It seemed like a good value. I’m picking up for my friends, too,” Elmore said.
Mary Rita Tomasko of Palmerton found out about Angel Food through a flier at her chiropractor’s office. “It’s a wonderful ministry this church is providing. It helps benefit a lot of people, limited income or not. It’s open to everyone.”
The Rev. Steven Reed is glad that there are no income requirements in the program. “There are only two criteria,” he said. “You eat, and you like to save money.”
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