nvent the wheel.

My favorite group along this line is Angel Food Ministries, based in Monroe, Georgia, and dedicated to providing grocery relief to communities throughout the United States.

Non-profit and non-denominational, Angel Food Ministries was started in February, 1994, feeding 34 fa

One of the most rewarding activities that any church or other group can undertake is a food ministry. As someone who has helped start food ministries before, I must warn you that it is also a tremendous amount of work. Don't jump into it on a whim or without doing sufficient planning.

A food ministry can take one of several forms. A soup kitchen is the most familiar to many people. Increasingly, though, food ministries are being built around the idea of providing groceries to individuals and families in the community.

Whatever type of food ministry you decide to start, it is crucial that you have the full backing and encouragement of your church or group's governing board. A significant number of members of the group must be honestly committed to putting in the time and energy to keep it going on a long-term basis.

A relatively new concept is that of outsourcing food ministry organizing to an outside group that is experienced with sourcing groceries, obtaining them at good prices, and helping to set up a distribution system. This does not take away from local church members the responsibility for making the activity a success. What it does do is relieve you from having to reinvent the wheel.

My favorite group along this line is Angel Food Ministries, based in Monroe, Georgia, and dedicated to providing grocery relief to communities throughout the United States.

Non-profit and non-denominational, Angel Food Ministries was started in February, 1994, feeding 34 fam

stry can take one of several forms. A soup kitchen is the most familiar to many people. Increasingly, though, food ministries are being built around the idea of providing groceries to individuals and families in the community.

Whatever type of food ministry you decide to start, it is crucial that you have the full backing and encouragement of your church or group's governing board. A significant number of members of the group must be honestly committed to putting in the time and energy to keep it going on a long-term basis.

A relatively new concept is that of outsourcing food ministry organizing to an outside group that is experienced with sourcing groceries, obtaining them at good prices, and helping to set up a distribution system. This does not take away from local church members the responsibility for making the activity a success. What it does do is relieve you from having to reinvent the wheel.

My favorite group along this line is Angel Food Ministries, based in Monroe, Georgia, and dedicated to providing grocery relief to communities throughout the United States.

Non-profit and non-denominational, Angel Food Ministries was started in February, 1994, feeding 34 fa

you have the full backing and encouragement of your church or group's governing board. A significant number of members of the group must be honestly committed to putting in the time and energy to keep it going on a long-term basis.

A relatively new concept is that of outsourcing food ministry organizing to an outside group that is experienced with sourcing groceries, obtaining them at good prices, and helping to set up a distribution system. This does not take away from local church members the responsibility for making the activity a success. What it does do is relieve you from having to reinvent the wheel.

My favorite group along this line is Angel Food Ministries, based in Monroe, Georgia, and dedicated to providing grocery relief to communities throughout the United States.

Non-profit and non-denominational, Angel Food Ministries was started in February, 1994, feeding 34 fa

ganizing to an outside group that is experienced with sourcing groceries, obtaining them at good prices, and helping to set up a distribution system. This does not take away from local church members the responsibility for making the activity a success. What it does do is relieve you from having to reinvent the wheel.

My favorite group along this line is Angel Food Ministries, based in Monroe, Georgia, and dedicated to providing grocery relief to communities throughout the United States.

Non-profit and non-denominational, Angel Food Ministries was started in February, 1994, feeding 34 fa

nvent the wheel.

My favorite group along this line is Angel Food Ministries, based in Monroe, Georgia, and dedicated to providing grocery relief to communities throughout the United States.

Non-profit and non-denominational, Angel Food Ministries was started in February, 1994, feeding 34 families that first month. Since then it has expanded to more than 30 states, feeding well over 100,000 families in a typical month.

Angel Food Ministries works through local churches and other community organizations, which are designated as "host sites." Host sites purchase units, or boxes, of groceries through the organization for distribution to needing households. The food is restaurant-grade meats, frozen vegetables, dairy products, etc. It is all first-quality, name-brand food--never "seconds" or "day old" type goods.

There's information on how to become an Angel Food Ministries host site at www.angelfoodministries.com, along with complete details of how the program works.

Whether you start your own food ministry from scratch, or affiliate with an organization such as Angel Food Ministries, I know that you will feel richly blessed. Get everyone on board, do your planning, and--assuming the commitment is there--you will succeed.