Feeding People, One Box At a Time

By Gretchen Murray
TRAVERSE CITY RECORD EAGLE (TRAVERSE CITY, Mich.)

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. November 06, 2007 10:45 am

— Food costs have skyrocketed along with the cost of gas and utilities. These days, everyone is trying to shave a few dollars off the grocery bill.
It takes some know-how to stretch that food dollar, and Scott and Kim McLain are experts. The Traverse City couple are parents of nine children. Yet as busy as they are caring for their three biological and five adopted children and being a legal guardian to another, Kim McLain is never too busy to make sure others are fed as well.
Along with running her busy household, Kim McLain is the local coordinator for Angel Food Ministries, a nationwide food ministry whose local church affiliate is McLain’s church, Living Hope Assembly of God.
Once a month the ministry distributes boxes of restaurant-quality food for $25. These are not seconds or damaged goods, no dented cans or day-old breads. It’s estimated that the boxes carry a retail value of between $50 and $60, and the best part is, there are no income requirements. The discounted food is available to anyone.
“The Angel Food program helps people from 20-somethings just starting out to the elderly on fixed incomes trying to cut corners on their food budget,” Kim McLain said.
The program accepts government food stamps. McLain said it also can provide a lot of groceries for people using the Michigan Bridge Card, a cash assistance card available for those who qualify for state help.
“We hear people say, the work is seasonal; my husband lost his job; I’m a single mom. It fits all these criteria,” she said.
The program also helps balance a budget when medical costs take an unexpected chunk out of monthly income.
Participation has increased since McLain took on the job as coordinator two years ago. She says over 100 customers have signed on since May.
The Angel Food Ministry, headquartered in Monroe, Ga., began in 1994 when Rev. Joe Wingo started distributing food from his back porch. He first tried to give the food away, then realized that even those with a great need were too proud to accept a handout. He changed direction and offered the food at a deep discount with the new insight that there is dignity in poverty. The ministry currently reaches roughly 300,000 people in 32 states including Michigan.
“I had heard about the program and looked into it,” McLain said.
The McLains and several other families sampled the food to see what the quality was like and investigated how much work would be involved in getting the church distribution center up and running.
“Around that time, four different people came up to me and mentioned Angel Food. I said ‘OK, I get it.’ I knew God was telling me I was supposed to be the one to get it started at Living Hope.”
It’s estimated that the box can feed a family of four for a week, or a senior citizen for almost a month The menu items vary from month to month, but include fresh or frozen items such as steak, chicken nuggets, frozen vegetables, a dessert, frozen pizza or corn dogs. In addition, boxes of three or four meat specials can be purchased along with a regular order for an extra $18.
“I feel good giving good food at a great price,” McLain said. She takes pleasure in seeing people buying a box of food for themselves as well as a box for others — a care package, she said. Others are saving on food bills and donating their savings to ministries.
Dealing with food logistics was nothing new for McLain. The family has been active members at Living Hope for five years and McLain already was running the church food pantry as well as the adoptive food co-op.
“Many of the families in church have children in foster care. The children are eligible through Child and Family Services for food through a co-op run by the Gleaners, but once a child is adopted, he is disqualified from the program,” she said. “This is difficult because some of the children have medical problems and eating issues.”
As adoptive parents themselves, the McLains recognized the need for the food co-op at the church, which currently serves about 12 families.
For them, the Angel Food Ministry is another option.
“It offers people a way out instead of a hand-out,” she said. “I just love this job. It fits me to a T.”
Much has been written in this column and other sections of the Record-Eagle about food resources available throughout northern Michigan. Angel Food Ministries does not have income guidelines. Anyone can purchase the food and many middle-income families do. It is a Christian ministry, but not limited to Christians. To learn more, call Kim McLain, 929-3673 or visit www.angelfoodministries.com.

Gretchen Murray writes for the Traverse City (Mich.) Record Eagle.

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