How to feed a family of 4 for $30

I saw this program featured on a TV news show a couple of weeks ago and now a Pottstown-area church is sponsoring the event. With so many people struggling to make ends meet, it's worth checking out. The Web site is at the bottom of the press release.

With gas prices nearing $4 a gallon and other costs of living going up, wouldn’t it be good to feed a family of four for a week for only $30? With the Angel Food Ministries’ food program, that's possible.

Angel Food Ministries is a nonprofit program sponsored by Calvary Christian Center, 426 Laurelwood Road, North Coventry. How the program works is that a family or individual buys a unit for $30. One unit will generally be enough food to assist in feeding a family of four for about one week or a single senior citizen for almost a month. Monthly specials are also offered for an additional cost.

"This is all name-brand food," says Cindy McKinley, Angel Food coordinator for Calvary Christian Center. "The menus change each month and there’s plenty of variety. A unit consist of both fresh and frozen items."

She pointed to May's menu as an example, which includes Stouffer's Flat Bread Pizza, Borden milk, bacon wrapped beef filets, breaded chicken breast filets, popcorn chicken, cereal, corn, green beans, eggs, onions and canned pears among many other items.

Since starting last spring, close to 300 families have taken advantage of the program at Calvary Christian Center. McKinley said there is no income limits, because this is not that kind of program.

"If you eat food, you qualify," she says. "It's simply another way to buy the same high quality food you could get at your local grocery store."

May orders are being taken and must be placed by May 16. Distribution will be held at 7 p.m. on May 30 at the church. Food can be paid for by using cash, money order or food stamps.

For more information, please call the church at 610-323-0480 or visit the church's Web site at www.calvarychristian.info for the monthly menu.

You can find out more about Angel Food Ministries at the group's Web site, http://www.angelfoodministries.com/