Manassas site added to Angel Food Ministries food program

Evidence of the difficult economic times can be clearly seen in the dramatic growth of a new food relief program spreading across Northern Virginia.

With only 20 locations statewide at the beginning of 2008, Angel Food Ministries has now grown to more than 90 locations and has added nine new sites, including Manassas.

"The need for real help with food is obvious in all of our local Northern Virginia communities, and it is not just with those who have traditionally needed assistance. Now we find that it is growing with families and working people just trying to keep food on their table," said David Mills, state outreach director for Angel Food.

At the beginning of last year, Angel Food only had one or two trucks delivering food in Virginia. But now, a dozen trucks, each holding up to 1,500 boxes of food, roll across the state each month.

Total volume has grown 10 times since the beginning of 2008. Lots of this food is making its way to families, seniors and other individuals in this area.

Unlike traditional emergency food programs -- which are now under significant strain -- Angel Food does not re-quire an income qualification, but instead uses a cooperative food approach in which thousands of volunteers located in nonprofits and churches across the state join each month to organize and distribute boxes of high quality food.

All of this is made possible only by the massive scale of Angel Food purchasing and the local commitment of volun-teer host sites.

The new volunteer groups that join Angel Food each month all seem to reflect the attitude of Host Site Director Noah Zirk of Manassas, who started Angel Food recently.

"This food is really making a difference. It comes in when the two ends of the budget can't be stretched far enough to provide good nutrition, and what people get is really quality food with lots of meat," said Zirk.

A host site in Woodbridge is typical of other sites that are seeing a dramatic increase in interest in Angel Food. Participation there rose from 120 to 350 boxes between September and December 2008.

"This approach is built on dignity, because both those who receive the food and those who distribute it share in the cost and labor to get the food delivered and no one feels like they are getting charity," said Andy Cas-per, host site director from South County Cares in Lorton.

Angel Food purchases high quality groceries from national providers and delivers a box of 16 to18 items, including meat, frozen vegetables and staples for $30. They also provide senior meals, special fresh fruit and vegetable boxes that at least double their food dollar. Food stamps are accepted and people who participate select from a menu that changes every month.

"If you visit one of these sites, you will see the relief on people's faces as they see a box of quality food containing eight to 10 pounds of meat along with vegetables coming their way and find a great example of community members pulling together to help each other," said Mills. Food will be arriving at the sites this Saturday.

The regular food box will provide the main meals for a family of four for about a week, the senior's box contains 10 high quality meals.

Angel Food for Virginia and Washington is one of the many regions served by Angel Food Ministries. With more than 5,000 host sites in 39 states, the organization is making a difference in the budgets and nutrition of millions of Americans each month.

With food that is the highest quality, never surplus or dated, Angel Food can make the difference between a budget that just won't work and enough food for a family. Here's how it works.

Anyone can participate, no matter the income level.

Staff writer Bennie Scarton Jr. can be reached at 703-369-6707.