Angel Food Ministries suspends food deliveries for September

[Donnachaidh]

http://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta/angel-food-ministries-suspends-1161573.html

Mack Cook Jr. has come to depend on the monthly boxes of food from Angel Food Ministries.

:snip:

The Monroe-based nonprofit, which has faced legal and financial problems in recent years, said Wednesday it is suspending its food distribution for September -- the first time in 17 years. It's unclear when distribution will resume.

:snip:

The nonprofit works through a network of about 5,000 churches and some community organizations across the nation. Food boxes are sold for up to half off what a customer might pay at regular retail prices. People can pay for the boxes through their churches, online or directly to AFM.

:snip:

Some area food banks said they don't know what spillover they might get from AFM suspending distribution this month. Jeri Barr, CEO of the Center for Family Resources in Cobb County, said food resources are already tight. "We don't have enough for folks already coming to our door. We can't keep food on the shelves."

More at the link --

[OneGrassRoot]

1. Dang, I really liked that program...

but see where the founder gave himself a salary of nearly $700k.

It's what gives so many nonprofits a bad name. Just another form of corporate greed when they do that, even if they are doing something good in the process. They could do even more good if they weren't greedy (and, yes, I do believe $700k is greedy).

:(

[closeupready]

9. Here is a story discussing whether his pay is excessive (and I think it is, personally)

http://www.ajc.com/opinion/content/opinion/stories/2009/03/18/proconed_0318.html

[emilyg]

10. It is.

[OneGrassRoot]

15. Thank you so much for this!

This is a subject that I ponder frequently, as I'm in the midst of it in various ways, and try to explore alternatives to the "old" ways of doing business -- both for profit and nonprofit business.

I may create an OP when I can express it more clearly.

But I truly appreciate you sharing this.

:hi:



edit for typo

[closeupready]

16. Very welcome.

:hi: :toast:

[SpiralHawk]

2. The RepubliCons have an economical solution for feeding the hungry

"Fill yourselves up with your own damn bootstraps. And don't forget to tune into Fox 'News' (R) to learn how you can support MORE MORE MORE tax cuts for Wealthy RepubliCons. Smirk. Sneer."

- Republicons, Inc. (R)

[William769]

4. Unfortunately it is not just "RepubliCons". NT.

[SpiralHawk]

6. I do not accept the bogus 'Equivalancy' meme the Republicons spew

Republicons are the party that panders to the rich and craps upon the poor - infallably.

The record screams this truth loudly.

[William769]

7. I accept fact. And I stand by my original statement.

[FSogol]

3. K&R. Now would be a good time to make a donation to your local food bank.

:thumbsup:

[Le Taz Hot]

5. And while so many people are in such dire need.

This is tragic.

Last year our County Fair had a day in which, if you brought 4 cans of food, you got into the fair for free. Last year we broke the world record in food tonnage collected in one day. Perhaps something like this might be considered?

[RebelOne]

8. A neighbor bought from Angel Food all the time

after she was laid off her job. Good thing she is working now. The prices were good. They sold big boxes of meats, fish (no cheap cuts) and vegetables for $30. She said one box would last her a month.

[Lars39]

11. However will some of the mega churches now claim to feed the poor?

While this company did fill a need in some communities...what is needed is enough food stamps to actually last out the month, and a more generous inclusive criteria for needing food assistance.

[William769]

12. With benefits about to be cut, good luck with that!

[Lars39]

13. I know....sad how far we've fallen as a nation.

[jwirr]

17. The church that supports the Angel mission here is one

of the most liberal churches around. My church hosts NAPS and the WIC food program which are both government programs for elderly/families. In our community we do it because they need the room in a building that has good parking and easy accessibility. Our members volunteer to help do the heavy lifting for those who need help. Some of us deliver to those who cannot come. We also have a regular food shelf collection and another one that collects dry good such as baby diapers, toilet paper, toothpaste, etc. Of course our community has only two rw churches and they do nothing. Well I can't say nothing - one of them had a free rummage sale this year. Everything was free.

[Lars39]

18. They're doing good, and I bet with the suspension, that church will try to do more.

I know of too many wealthy churches who only do the Angel Food....nothing else whatsoever.

[jwirr]

19. I hope so - I am not a member if their church but I would guess they

will find some other way to help. This town is doing good. We are lucky to live in one of America's caring communities today. So many are not. This is a strong union town and old traditional religions. As I said few rwers.

[jmowreader]

25. They have no money to feed the poor

They have to rebuild their burned-up 70-foot-tall Jesuses.

[jwirr]

14. One question: Is this just for Cobb County or is this a national suspension? nt

Have used their services and liked it.

[KatyaR]

21. Their website says it's nationwide.

We regret to inform you that Angel Food Ministries (AFM) will not be holding a food distribution for the month of September.

Full refunds are now being processed to those who have already placed orders for the September distribution.

Like the thousands of businesses in America that have endured one of the worst recessions in the past 100 years, we too have faced operational and financial challenges. We have every intention to continue offering great food at great prices in the coming months and are considering ways to reorganize or restructure our Ministry.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause to the hundreds of thousands of customers who have come to rely on us every month, to our Host Sites and to the thousands of volunteers who join us in serving God by helping those in need.

Please check this website often for the latest information. Thank you for your understanding and May God Bless.

Feel free to contact us at [e-mail].

If they're laying off all their employees, I doubt they'll ever be back as they were. Bloody sad--while I don't care for the religious part of it, it was a very good thing for many, many people. In fact, I had recently thought about signing up since cash is so tight right now, but I felt bad about taking food away from people who I know are so much worse off than I am.

Talk about a bad indicator for how the country is right now....

[jwirr]

22. Wow when our helping agencies start to fail we are in big trouble.

It would be nice if they could do it with more volunteers at the top. Most of the system works with volunteers on the bottom.

[Donnachaidh]

23. nationwide. n/t

[dtexdem]

20. A fall in Angel?

Well, our corporate masters probably figure that our hungry without bread should also not eat angel food cake.

Worse than Marie Antoinette.

[donheld]

24. In Colorado we have Project Angel Heart

http://www.projectangelheart.org/

Quite thankfully they are still going strong. It's the same kind of program I believe.

[jwirr]

26. That looks like what we call "Meals on Wheels". Good programs

that help to keep people out of the nursing homes. Also the persons who deliver the meals are a life link to make sure the people are okay.

[donheld]

28. We have Meals on Wheels too

[lpbk2713]

27. The famous BushCo legacy.

The effects are still snowballing. It will take years to get us back on track.
And that will require the rethuglicans to stop their obstructionist tactics.