Angel Food ACO Food Drive

Angel Food Ministries (AFM), an outreach mission of FUMC Allen, plans to provide 300 families being served by Allen Community Outreach (ACO) with a $30 box of groceries. Groceries in each AFM box have a retail value of $42 to $78 and will provide nutritious meals for a family of 4 for approximately one week.

For some time, our church has had a close relationship with ACO, a non-profit organization providing assistance to families in our area. Many of our members serve as volunteers in the ACO Resale Shop or deliver Meals on Wheels. Many more are involved in helping to provide groceries and gifts each holiday season. However, a brief list of statistics brings home the fact that a need exists year round. ACO assisted 3,665 new families in 2007, 1,091 families received assistance with utilities and rent, and 11,944 individuals were provided assistance with food and/or clothing needs.

Another statistic reveals that more than 1,600 children attending Allen elementary schools receive free or reduced cost lunches. This underscores a special need for grocery assistance in the summer months, when these children, sometimes several in a family, are home for three meals a day.

This project benefits ACO in two ways: Many families served by ACO will receive free groceries, and ACO families have discovered a program that will save them money on quality food as they work toward establishing financial stability for their families.  The benefit to AFM will be two-fold as well. This campaign provided an opportunity to reach out to families with a need for access a savings in their grocery expenses. In addition, distribution of the grocery boxes at our facility has provided an opportunity to furnish each family with information about Vacation Bible School and other activities at our church.

Angel Food Ministries at FUMC Allen distributed 160 boxes of food to ACO families in May, June, and July, 2008. Individuals, Sunday school classes, and other groups contributed generously toward the purchase of the $30 boxes of groceries.

This will be an annual event.  Donation checks should be made out to FUMC-Allen and marked Angel Food Ministries-Food Drive. Donations can be placed in the offering plate, dropped in the AFM food drop box near the east entrance, or dropped off at the AFM table on the order date, one Sunday, each month.

For more information about Angel Food Ministries, visit the church website: www.fumcallen.org. To be an Angel Food Ministry volunteer, contact Tom Hosack, hosacktom@gmail.com.