Angel Food Ministries

[Marilyn. 340]

so it basically is like a grocery store and the reason they can give out the boxes so cheap is because they don't have any overhead costs...

I just told my hubby about it and he seems interested in doing this..

[HAL 9000 96]

Homeboy remember those 4K- 2K for me and 2K for some dude in NW DC...

At least I'll hook you up with a Fosters.

I prefer Michelob here in the States. Hard to find Lowenbrau or Carlsburg.

This is Chicago. Any brew is relatively easy to find.

Obviously they are not going to discriminate but this is clearly subsidized / donated food for those who cannot afford it. I don't believe this is designed for everyone to get a cheap meal. There is nothing worse than people who can afford something abusing something available for those who are struggling.

There is a girl I know who used to regularly go to thrift stores, obviously for the less fortunate, solely so she could get a bargain.

I shop at thrift stores. Does that make me a bad person?

Food wholesalers work on a different marketing plan that nets them a boatload more cash than a not-for profit food subsidy. Note I did not use the word charitable anywhere there- there are not-for profits where overhead costs can be lowered via tax-deductible donations. Not to knock on you there, but you should know that having an economics background.

Six of one. Half a dozen of another. Not for profit is similar to a charity. If these guys gave the stuff away they would be a charity.

Some act as if this is a special deal from Costco.

Hint: Why do you think they are handed out by churches etc?

Actually, I run a conference of an international charity organization and our conference is solely responsible for providing food and toy donations to roughly 6 parishes at Christmas time. There is a distinct difference between a charity organization and a not-for-profit organization. The school I work for is designated as a not-for-profit. The charity I run is a designated non-profit CHARITY. The school, not-for-profit, exists due to donations, funding from the archdiocese, tuition, and auction and other fundraising. While the charity does get some (very minor) funding, the majority of what is used to run the organization is donations. Our food and toys boxes are given out to those in need. "Given out" being the key words.

I've heard of Angel Ministries and though there isn't one in our area, it is a wonderful thing they do. The money that people spend to buy the boxes of food from this ministry goes back into what they use to help out others in need. No one is ripping them off. And frankly, I doubt you'd find too many people with large disposable incomes "stooping to this level." Most people I know who have never had any financial need wouldn't bother, as they'd find it too demeaning.

Exactly. For those that can afford to purchase food at higher prices elsewhere, there is always the potential to contribute to their fellow members of the species by either giving more to charity or investing in alternatives to charity so that charities become obsolete.

[*JG* 2]

so it basically is like a grocery store and the reason they can give out the boxes so cheap is because they don't have any overhead costs...

I just told my hubby about it and he seems interested in doing this..

Basically, yes. Read their web site. Find your site and make a call. Ours was really nice in answering questions and telling us what to do. They were also very nice the day we picked up the last two monthly boxes.

It was started by a Church in Georgia and run exclusively through local Churches, so there may be some literature from the local Church and there will be the monthly Angel Food Network magazine. I read that magazine from cover to cover the last two months. It was very inspiring. When I am able to quit one of my jobs eventually, I want to volunteer to help at a local site.

The way I look at it is a sort of pay it forward. People helping people.

I will continue to use the resources as long as they are available.

As for the person talking about the Parishes, I worked in a Parish for 7 years, until they closed the Church. This is completely different then any food pantry I have every worked at. You are correct in stating the difference between purchasing and handing out. Also, the paperwork involved. And, ironically, I scoured that list of participating churches and could not find a single Catholic Church on any of the lists I saw. I found that odd. I suppose it is because many organize food pantries at their sites.

[*JG* 2]

I am not fond of the stooping to this level comment. Survival instincts is all it is....plain and simple. You cut costs where you can to survive.

[Marilyn. 340]

yeah food in the grocery store seems to be costing more and more....

there is one close to where my hubby works and one close to where I work...

do they have specific days and times you can go pick up the boxes..??

I ask because I only work 2 days a week.. usually Wednesday and Friday... it might be easier to get my hubby to pick up the box but he could only pick it up after work..

Edited September 23, 2008 by *Marilyn*

[jundp 191]

I am not fond of the stooping to this level comment. Survival instincts is all it is....plain and simple. You cut costs where you can to survive.

JG, by posting this site I think you will help a lot of people on here. Thank you for the post! I wish they had a place closer to us, not just for us, but also for many of the people that I come in contact with who could benefit from this. Heck, anyone with kids (esp. teenagers!) knows how expensive it is to stock the pantry.

[Marilyn. 340]

I am not fond of the stooping to this level comment. Survival instincts is all it is....plain and simple. You cut costs where you can to survive.

JG, by posting this site I think you will help a lot of people on here. Thank you for the post! I wish they had a place closer to us, not just for us, but also for many of the people that I come in contact with who could benefit from this. Heck, anyone with kids (esp. teenagers!) knows how expensive it is to stock the pantry.

I can buy groceries on Friday and by Monday the soda is almost gone and so are most of the snacks and it is just me and the hubby.. he likes to snack a lot when he is home...

[jundp 191]

True story, Marilyn

[*JG* 2]

yeah food in the grocery store seems to be costing more and more....

there is one close to where my hubby works and one close to where I work...

do they have specific days and times you can go pick up the boxes..??

I ask because I only work 2 days a week.. usually Wednesday and Friday... it might be easier to get my hubby to pick up the box but he could only pick it up after work..

The last 2 months, our site has had a 2 hour time period on a specific Monday for orders and a 2 hour time period on a Saturday morning for us to go pick it up. They also offer the option to order for the next month when you do your pick up, saving you a trip. Either way, you have to pay when you order. And, when you pick up, you must bring a big box.

I suggest you call either of those sites and find out when they take orders and when they have pick ups for October. There is a chance pick ups may be this Saturday. You could go see how it works first hand and place your first order that way.

Edited September 23, 2008 by Jomo's girl

[HAL 9000 96]

I am not fond of the stooping to this level comment. Survival instincts is all it is....plain and simple. You cut costs where you can to survive.

JG, by posting this site I think you will help a lot of people on here. Thank you for the post! I wish they had a place closer to us, not just for us, but also for many of the people that I come in contact with who could benefit from this. Heck, anyone with kids (esp. teenagers!) knows how expensive it is to stock the pantry.

And pay for USCIS fees.

[*JG* 2]

I am not fond of the stooping to this level comment. Survival instincts is all it is....plain and simple. You cut costs where you can to survive.

JG, by posting this site I think you will help a lot of people on here. Thank you for the post! I wish they had a place closer to us, not just for us, but also for many of the people that I come in contact with who could benefit from this. Heck, anyone with kids (esp. teenagers!) knows how expensive it is to stock the pantry.

It has really helped us. I want to pay it forward as best I can at this point.

There is a place on the website where you can request a site in your area. It could not hurt to put in a request. If they can't, they can't. But, if they can in the future, you may potentially help a lot of people. You should try.

[jundp 191]

I am not fond of the stooping to this level comment. Survival instincts is all it is....plain and simple. You cut costs where you can to survive.

JG, by posting this site I think you will help a lot of people on here. Thank you for the post! I wish they had a place closer to us, not just for us, but also for many of the people that I come in contact with who could benefit from this. Heck, anyone with kids (esp. teenagers!) knows how expensive it is to stock the pantry.

And pay for USCIS fees.

Seriously. And we have two teenage boys in the house and a 9 year old.

I am not fond of the stooping to this level comment. Survival instincts is all it is....plain and simple. You cut costs where you can to survive.

JG, by posting this site I think you will help a lot of people on here. Thank you for the post! I wish they had a place closer to us, not just for us, but also for many of the people that I come in contact with who could benefit from this. Heck, anyone with kids (esp. teenagers!) knows how expensive it is to stock the pantry.

It has really helped us. I want to pay it forward as best I can at this point.

There is a place on the website where you can request a site in your area. It could not hurt to put in a request. If they can't, they can't. But, if they can in the future, you may potentially help a lot of people. You should try.

Thanks. That's awesome. It's so disconcerting at Christmas time to see the numbers of people helped by St. Vincent de Paul. Not because we don't want to help, but because we can never quite fill the need that is out there in our community. This would be a great service indeed. Especially because for those who can't afford it, we have donors who would purchase boxes for families....

[Donna A 4]

i was hoping this thread would pop up again. i sent it to my sister for her daughters and forgot to bookmark it for me.

[HAL 9000 96]

i was hoping this thread would pop up again. i sent it to my sister for her daughters and forgot to bookmark it for me.

Yeah I had a thought about it the other day... voilá.

[*JG* 2]

I am not fond of the stooping to this level comment. Survival instincts is all it is....plain and simple. You cut costs where you can to survive.

JG, by posting this site I think you will help a lot of people on here. Thank you for the post! I wish they had a place closer to us, not just for us, but also for many of the people that I come in contact with who could benefit from this. Heck, anyone with kids (esp. teenagers!) knows how expensive it is to stock the pantry.

And pay for USCIS fees.

Seriously. And we have two teenage boys in the house and a 9 year old.

I am not fond of the stooping to this level comment. Survival instincts is all it is....plain and simple. You cut costs where you can to survive.

JG, by posting this site I think you will help a lot of people on here. Thank you for the post! I wish they had a place closer to us, not just for us, but also for many of the people that I come in contact with who could benefit from this. Heck, anyone with kids (esp. teenagers!) knows how expensive it is to stock the pantry.

It has really helped us. I want to pay it forward as best I can at this point.

There is a place on the website where you can request a site in your area. It could not hurt to put in a request. If they can't, they can't. But, if they can in the future, you may potentially help a lot of people. You should try.

Thanks. That's awesome. It's so disconcerting at Christmas time to see the numbers of people helped by St. Vincent de Paul. Not because we don't want to help, but because we can never quite fill the need that is out there in our community. This would be a great service indeed. Especially because for those who can't afford it, we have donors who would purchase boxes for families....

That is an awsome idea with the donors.

I work for the Jesuits now and I want them to do this at Christmas time. We usually adopt a family from a local school. I want to add some food boxes this year too. We'll see if I can talk them into it.