Pro-life idea.

[icenine]

I’ve had an idea I’ve been mulling over and I thought I’d share it here.

There is an organization called Angel Food Ministries that some of you may have heard of. Here is a summary of their program from their website.

                                      http://www.angelfoodministries.com/images/newstop.gif
                                                                                                    Angel Food Ministries is a non-profit, non-denominational organization dedicated to providing grocery relief and financial support to communities throughout the United States. The program began in 1994 with 34 families in Monroe, Georgia (between Atlanta and Athens), and has grown to serve hundreds of thousands of families every month across 35 states. Angel Food Ministries crosses denominational lines and has spread the good news of the gospel of Christ through salvation tracts that are placed in each food order.

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 than the previous month and consists of both fresh and frozen items with an average retail value of approximately $60. Comparison shopping has been done across the country in various communities using a wide range of retail grocery stores and has resulted in the same food items costing from between $42 and $78.
Generally, one unit of food assists in feeding 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, no damaged or out-dated goods, no dented cans without labels, no day-old breads and no produce that is almost too ripe.
Also offered are specialty boxes such as steaks, chicken and pork. Many participants in this bonus program appreciate the expanded choices. Additionally, 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 to which participants must adhere. Angel Food Ministries also participates in the U.S. Food Stamp program, using the Off-Line Food Stamp Voucher system. angelfoodministries.com/about/

I have never used this program but I have heard from folks on another board that the food is of good quality. I like that there is no means testing. It isn’t just for poor folks so you don’t have to provide income information in order to participate. Most of the folks on the other board I mentioned are retirees on a fixed income who wouldn’t even come close to qualifying for a government program. Still, they are on a tight budget and say that this really helps.

Anyway…here’s my idea. What if there was an organization who did a similar program with things like formula, baby food and diapers? I even thought it might be great if someone from the Catholic Church contacted Angel Food about working with them to expand their program to include these items. It would need to be a separate box from the monthly food box and it would need to be age appropriate, but I think it could work. By bulk purchasing these items directly from the companies and cutting out the middlemen, families could purchase the box for much less than these items would cost from the store. It would be perfect for those folks who don’t qualify for aid but still need some help.

I think I’m going to email Angel Food Ministries with this idea since they already have the distribution program in place. Currently, the distribution of the boxes takes place at churches. I just thought I’d mention it here because it would be a great program for the Catholic church to be involved in. This has really been on my mind a lot recently since I read an article about a baby who almost died because his mother was watering down his formula. The article said that this has become a big problem as formula becomes less affordable for folks on a tight budget.

 

[RobHom]

I think your idea is a sound one. But have you thought of approaching St. Vincent DePaul Society with an idea like yours?

They may already have something in place similar, and SVDP does not discriminate in any way…

 

[icenine]

Thanks Rob, that’s a great idea! I will send an email to both Angel Food and SVDP.

I was just looking at the Angel Food site and noticed that they have now added a special box for seniors so it probably wouldn’t be too much of a stretch to think they might consider adding a special box for babies.

 

[DebChris]

A local parish provides baby items for Room at the Inn, a place for homeless mothers.

 

[RobHom]

Thanks Rob, that’s a great idea! I will send an email to both Angel Food and SVDP.

I was just looking at the Angel Food site and noticed that they have now added a special box for seniors so it probably wouldn’t be too much of a stretch to think they might consider adding a special box for babies.

Your welcome! I have often thought that one of the best ways to help defeat abortions is to help the woman considering it to find ways to be able to financially afford to have the child. Many abortions are caused by financial concerns. If many of those concerns can be allayed…then many abortions can be prevented.

I have always thought that this battle can be won, but it must be won incrementally, and on more than one front…