By TODD SHAW
Youth Ministry Leader,
Round HIll Baptist Church
The Angel Food program, open to anyone looking for quality food at low prices, has been an exciting opportunity for the EPIC Youth Ministry of Round Hill Baptist Church.
Angel Food Ministries is a non-profit, non-denominational organization based in Good Hope, Ga., that uses local churches to distribute boxes of groceries. Like most retail grocery stores, Angel Food participates in the U.S. Food Stamp program, but there are no income restrictions on ordering from Angel Food. An Angel Food box costs $30 but typically includes items that would cost $60-$80 at a supermarket.
When EPIC Youth Ministry first joined Angel Food Ministries in November 2008, a total of 18 boxes were sold. Last month, March 2009, a total of 298 boxes were sold.
The EPIC (Endless Possibilities In Christ) Youth Ministry, which meets every Friday evening from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. for students in 6th to 12th grades, is very excited about the response.
“It feels good inside when more and more people come through the door,” said volunteer Rachel Thompson.
Along with EPIC’s Leadership Team, the youth volunteer their time on distribution days each month, working as greeters and runners who gather the food boxes and shuttle them from the church to the customers’ vehicles. An exit station is set up for taking orders for the next month.
Distribution days are major productions, from unloading all the food items and stocking the boxes before the customers arrive, to loading boxes in the customers’ cars, but the EPIC volunteers find the opportunity to help so many people very rewarding.
“It’s exciting that we’re not just helping people who need it,” said Nicole Denson, one of the group leaders, “but also people who take advantage of the opportunity” to get good food at greatly reduced prices.
There is no limit to the number of Angel Food boxes or regular units a customer can order. “Special” boxes can also be ordered by customers who buy a standard Angel Food box or a senior/convenience box.
To place an order to be picked up at Round Hill Baptist Church, contact the church office at 540-338-6306 or visit the church’s website www.roundhillbaptist.org/AngelFood.html for menu and order form downloads in both English and Spanish. Online ordering via the Angel Food link is provided on the RHBC website.