A Great Experience

[Hound dog]

Since dh is now unemployed and Nichole is out on her own.......we both decided it was time to sign up for Angelfood Ministries. We both need all the help we can get in making that money stretch.

We put in our orders last month. Nichole did it against bf's wishes......he threw a hissy fit. And even dh was doubtful.

That order came in today. Our pick up is at the fair grounds. BTW if you do this it is wise to bring your own box (big) and if you have issues carrying bring something to get that box to the car. Although we'd have had some healthy males to help if we really needed it.

Now I've had some bad experiences with this sort of thing in the past. I've gone to food pantries where the people volunteering act put out and look down their noses at you......or worse. Sort of discouraged me from going back. Hey, I may be poor and having a hard time of it, but it's not my fault their volunteering.....and everyone goes thru a hard time in life at some point.

Most of those bad experiences have been in this area. Food banks in Dayton I've used have staffed kind people who go out of their way. So to be honest, I've been hesitant to do this from the get go. We're just reaching that desperate point.

I expected a crowd and a long stand in line. This area has been hit hard buy the bad economy and it was a very poor rural area to begin with. We get there and there are cars parked. Go to the building and no line at all. The volunteers had it very well organized. You scoot your box along the tables they have lined up and they fill it with the food you ordered, then double check to make sure nothing was missed at the end of the line. Everyone very friendly, very helpful. No one standing in judgement, no looking down their noses. Didn't take much to see these people like what they're doing and helping people.

Once your finished (which took all of 5 mins) you can order right there if you want for the next month or wait and do it online. Nichole and I both had to wait to do it online.....but you bet I'm putting in another order for next month.

OH, and FYI, they have a fantastic holiday package available for next month which I'm also ordering. Actually I'm going to order 3 packages next month......so we'll be bringing Aubrey's wagon to get it back to the car. LOL

Another thing I truly liked is that it is a church based organization......and I'm spiritual but not an organized religion type of person so that can sometimes put me off...........but they aren't the least bit pushy in that direction for anyone who would have a problem with that sort of thing.

I know we have members here who are out of work........or who are just plain struggling to make ends meet in this bad economy. This is a great way to get high quality food at dirt cheap prices to cut that food budget down. And they take food stamps. I have to tell K this as she's been waiting to hear if they did.

Here is the link for those who would like it.

http://www.angelfoodministries.com/

I know I'm not the only one here who uses it because this is where I found out about it. They have locations all over the country........and honestly, if a pick up site is located in my dinky lil rural town there is most likely one near you as well.

It's so nice to have this sort of help when you really need it. Of course someday down the road I'll be one of those people at the food pantry handing out food to repay the kindness......but that's just me. lol

[donna723]

They have that here too and run ads in the paper for it all the time. And they stress that there are NO income guidelines, no eligibilities to meet, anyone who wants to can participate in it. They have several different packages available and you can get more than one if you want to. They even have one that is geared to senior citizens that is a great deal and is very helpful to those on a fixed income. Some of these packages even have steaks in them, which I haven't been able to afford for a long, long time! It's very good high quality food.

I haven't done it but my brothers family has. They now have their newly divorced daughter and her two small kids living with them, and my brother has gone through several 'furloughs' from work. It's been very rough for them financially, but this has helped A LOT!

[Dammit Janet]

I have used it several times for Cory here in my town. I will admit I get him to pay for the initial box but I supplement it and buy an extra box of meat for him. Costs me an extra 20 bucks I think. Yeah I know...detach! I fail.

The line is a bit longer in my town I guess because it can take a little longer than 5 minutes to get through but the people are really nice. They have coffee and a water cooler set up while we wait. Its in a church here with a large auditorium. They have a group of teens that carry the boxes to peoples cars who need help. (Like me and seniors...lol)

Cory loves the food.

[Andy]

That does sound like a positive experience. When you are struggling, you don't need rude people to make you feel worse.

The negative volunteers are why I am so poor at asking people to help out on a project. If someone says no, I leave it at that. I am not going to badger someone into doing something they really don't have their heart into doing. So, I think those volunteers who do not show joy in their work probably don't really want to be there but someone nagged them to help out. They finally agreed just to get the person to leave them alone.

The food shelf is often helped out by organizations of "We have to do this because it is the right thing to do" type of people. Occassionally you do get a group of stuck up "I am better than they are and it is my civil duty to help out" kinds of people who do it just for show, not really to help. There is not always joy in that. Yes, it is the right thing to do, but you should do it gladly, not with a "this is a burden" type attitude.

It is so nice to hear that there are kind people who really like to help.

[klmno]

Thanks- I've seen this mentioned a little in other threads and I think I'm going to look into it.

[donna723]

Along those same lines, one of the churches here has a "clothing closet" too, for anyone who needs it, and they have tons of nice childrens' clothing. It has almost turned into an exchange for kids clothes. My SIL and niece go there often to get clothes for niece's 3 year old and 6 month old. Most of them are very nice brand name clothes too, just like new. They outgrow them so fast, and when they're too small for them, they take what they've outgrown back and re-donate them and find some bigger ones!

[susiestar]

It is a truly awesome program. We now have 2 churches who participate. There was a 3rd, but the church went bankrupt. Neither one has EVER made any of us feel unwelcome or snootied upon.

I am glad you had a great experience.

The monthly menus now offer a choice for those with food allergies also. I encourage everyone to try them!

[Mattsmom277]

We have a program kind of like that (I think) here in town, strictly for fruits and veggies.

We have a local food bank. I went several years ago. The volunteers? I was shocked. Why give of yourself and your time to people you obviously loathe, look down at, sneer at, don't respect? There was ONE kindly person working there. The person who "signed me up" grilled me in an inch of my life. By the time I was "okay'ed" for some help, this person knew my income, its source, my entire household list of bills and amounts, and I was made to validate my budget weekly for groceries etc. I was stunned. I never returned.

About 2 years ago I was told about a nearby church. They were wonderful. You can call once a month but I've only used them once. You phone on Tuesday mornings between a certain hour and they merely ask your first name, address and the ages of the others in your household. Then you stay home and that afternoon, two people arrive with fresh groceries. Meat, dairy, grains, veggies, fruits, canned goods. When you have school aged kids, they provide lunch treats, meat etc. I honestly cried when they brought in the groceries. They left me with dignity and you could see no judgement, just a desire of theirs to help someone who needed it. I have since donated to the church food fund even though I am not a member of the church and have never attended there.

I'm so glad your experience was positive!

[Lothlorien]

I'm glad you had a good experience. There is a local chapter in my area. It's a good reminder for me to tell people about it. I forget that it's available here.

[tiredmommy]

We have a local church participating in angelfood ministries, their motto is that "if you eat, you qualify". We live in a middle-to-upper-middle class community but groceries cost a lot. We picked up our second box yesterday. Dh is especially pleased because he's on a mission to control costs wherever possible and the quality is good.