National organization offers food relief for families in East County

By Roni Gehlke
For the Contra Costa Times

Pastor Carleton Booker knows that there are a lot of people going hungry right here in East County. He believes there are more people than just those who live in shelters or accept a dinner prepared at the soup kitchen. There are people who work hard for a living, but have to make daily decision as to whether to purchase gas to get to work or provide a balanced diet for their kids.

"It is expensive to buy food these days," said Booker, who is pastor of Oakley's Mountain View Christian Center in Oakley.

When he heard that the Angel Food Ministries program was looking for a local organization to help distribute food in this area he jumped at the chance to offer Mountain View Christian Center.

"There is a great need for these services now," Booker said. "Everyone is going through hard times now. This is a great way to save money and feed families."
Angel Food Ministries is a nonprofit, nondenominational group that has been providing relief to families nationally since 1994. It does not give free food away, but offers it at discount prices.
"This is a helping hand, not a handout," Booker said.

The program offers food packages at discount prices, which Booker said are affordable to nearly everyone.

The program offers a monthly delivery of food that is ordered in advance by those who are in need. This month one box of food includes five different types of meats, including top sirloin and boneless rib roast, lasagna, four vegetables, pasta, sauce, rice, potatoes, eggs and milk. Each box costs $30. Those interested can purchase more than one box since all of the orders are placed in advance.
Each month's menu is different, but consistently it has both fresh and frozen food with an average retail value of $60. Comparison shopping has been done across the country so here the value of the box might be higher. Angel Food believes that of their "blessings by the box" can feed a family of four for up to a week or a single senior for a month.

"The food is the same high quality food that you can purchase at any grocery store," Booker said.

While the food is donated by various distributors around the country, the organization guarantees no secondhand food is sold.

"The beautiful thing about Angel Food is there are no income qualifications," Booker said. "Everyone is welcome."

While Booker's distribution program is in Oakley, he has made arrangements with other nonprofits in other local cities to pick up ordered boxes and host a distribution center in their area. On their first distribution day last month, Booker said that 211 families came from as far as Sacramento and Tracy to pick up a box of food.

Booker said that he is the only distribution center for the program in the Bay Area and is looking for other cities to get involved with the program.

"This is a nondenominational program," Booker said. "It doesn't have to be a church that can become involved. Schools, community nonprofits can also get involved."
Booker explained that all the group would have to do is offer volunteers to help sort food and a place for the community to pick up the food boxes. The boxes are ordered through the national group's Web site.

Orders must be in by Feb. 18 for the Feb. 27 distribution. For those who don't have Internet services at home, Booker suggests using the local libraries, which offer free Internet services. Those who can't order online are welcome to call and make arrangements through the church. All boxes must be paid in advance and food stamps are welcome.

To order a box go to the Web site at www.angelfoodministries.com and put in your Zip code to locate the host site and follow the directions to place an order, or contact the Mountain View Christian Center at 925-625-9570.

FOOD BOXES
WHEN: For delivery in late February
DEADLINE: Order by Feb. 18
COST: $30
INFO: www.angelfoodministries.com or Mountain View Christian Center at 925-625-9570