Pine City residents now have another avenue to pursue to get food for themselves and their families in this time of economic challenges. Evergreen Community Church in Pine City recently became an ordering and pick up point for Angel Food Ministries, a non-profit, non-denominational organization dedicated to providing food relief and financial support to communities throughout the United States.

This program operates quite differently from many food distributions. According to the group’s Web site, the ‘blessings by the box’ Angel Food is available in a quantity that can fit into a medium-sized box at $30 per unit. Each month’s menu is different and consists of both fresh and frozen items with an average retail value of approximately $60. Generally, one unit of food feeds a family of four for about one week or a single senior citizen for almost a month. The food is all the same high quality one could purchase at a grocery store. There are no second-hand items or outdated goods.

Floyd and Jan Nettleton, who are very involved in helping start this program in Pine City, have ordered from Angel Food the last few months through a Braham church. The Nettletons have been impressed by the quantity and quality of the food boxes. They also are pleased that there is a different menu to choose from each month, giving them more variety at mealtime.

“We learned about Angel Food Ministries from the church in Braham,” Jan said. “We checked it out. It was what they said it was. Instead of being a handout, it’s a hand up. People get good food for a reasonable price.”

Kris Engh of Pine City is also involved in the program. “I think the best part is that it is for everyone, there are no guidelines as to who can purchase the food. I would hope that it will bring people together from all of the area churches and other communities,” she said.

On the fourth Saturday of each month volunteers will go to Minneapolis to the Angel Food distribution site to pick up the boxes that have been ordered. Tim Leland is donating the use of his truck and trailer to pick up the food. The boxes will be available for pick up at Evergreen Community Church, 710 Fifth Ave. SW, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Boxes must be paid for in advance. If they are not picked up, the boxes will be distributed to other families who need them. The boxes will not be held for pick up at a later date.

The February $30 signature box includes:

Balanced nutrition and variety with enough food to assist in feeding a family of four for a week.

1.5 lb. top sirloin steaks

1.5 lb. boneless pork roast

2 lb. boneless/skinless chicken breast

1.5 lb. fully cooked boneless chicken drumsticks

1 lb. lean ground beef

1 lb. frozen baby limas

1 lb. frozen green beans

1 lb. broccoli florets

1 lb. rice

1 lb. pasta

28 oz. pasta sauce

1 lb. fresh carrots

4 large baking potatoes

32 oz. 2 percent shelf stable milk

1 dozen eggs

Dessert

There are also boxes of ten senior and convenience frozen meals, an allergen-free food box, a seafood variety box and other specialty boxes. The meats, senior meals and vegetable items are frozen. There is no limit to the number of units or bonus foods an individual can receive, and there are no applications to complete or qualifications.

In order to become a host site, Evergreen has paid a one-time $50 application fee. Angel Food Ministries donates $1 per regular unit purchased to the host church’s benevolent fund. Since its inception, Angel Food Ministries has contributed over $12 million into host benevolence funds. Angel Food Ministries distributes to more than 5,200 volunteer host sites across the United States, who in turn provide boxes of Angel Food to individual families.

Each month’s menu is available at the purchase/pickup site and online at the Angel Food Web site. Call Floyd Nettleton at 763-222-9206 with questions about Angel Food Ministries or go to www.angelfoodministries.com. For delivery on Feb. 27, order online by 10 a.m. on Feb. 18 or stop by Evergreen Community Church on Wednesday, Feb. 10 from 6-8 p.m. People can also stop by the church on Sundays, Feb. 7 and 14 between 10:10 and 10:30 a.m. or at 11:30 a.m. Cash, credit card, money order or food stamps are accepted. No checks can be taken.

Orders will also be taken at the Pregnancy Resource Center, 862 Main Street South in Pine City on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Tuesdays from noon to 4 p.m. There are also plans to set up ordering and delivery in the near future at senior apartments for people not able to get out to the delivery site.

“I’m glad to be involved in this wonderful ministry and it is a great way to be involved in the community,” said Engh.

In January the volunteers distributed 33 boxes. They anticipate that this much needed service will only continue to grow each month as the word spreads and budgets continue to be tight.

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