1. By LeighAnnKennedy
Special tothe EveningTimes
Throughthe national food-relief programAngel FoodMinistries,the membersof FirstAssemblyof God
inWest Memphisare reachingoutto theirCrittendenCountyneighbors.
Begunby a Georgiapastor andhiswife tohelpease the financial burdenof puttingfoodonthe table for
theircongregation,AngelFood now offerschurchesandtheircommunities in35 states the powerof
collective buyingtopurchase weeklygroceriesata discountedcost.
It was FirstAssemblyAssociate PastorClaytonAdamswhowasfirstapproachedabout takingpartin
Angel Food,whichwasalreadyofferingdeliveriestothe Memphisarea.Seeingthe food-buyingprogram
as an effectivemeansof reachingouttocountyresidents,Adamstookonthe project.The firstmonthof
operation,October2008, Adamssaid the church had75 ordersfrommembersandnon-members.For
the latestdistributioninApril,theyhad250 orders,withpatronsrangingfromfoodstamp recipientsto
wealthierareafamilies.
“Angel Foodisprobablythe easiestwayforpeople tostretchtheirdollarsforfood,”saidAdams.“And
it’sgoodfood,restaurantquality.”
The principal menu,calledthe signaturebox,featuresaweek’sworthof foodfora familyof four.Items
on the May menurange fromtwo andhalf poundsof leanchoppedbeef steaksandfive poundsof
chickenlegquarterstosweetcorn,frozenFrenchfriesandpearsto a dozeneggsand shelf stable milk.
For seniorcitizensorsingle adultsonthe go,Angel Foodoffersthe senior&convenience meals,which
are 10 pre-seasoned,pre-cookedmealswhichcanbe heatedinthe microwave andserved.Amongthe
pickson the May menuare chickenfettuccine alfredo,New Orleans-style chickenandsavoryrice and
pot roast withgravyand vegetables.
Adamsalsopointedoutnewmenusbeingoffered throughAngel Food,includinganallergen-freefood
box featuringchickenprocessedwithoutthe topeightfoodallergens - peanuts,soybeans,milk,eggs,
fish,crustacea,tree nutsand gluten.Anothernew menu itemisthe seafoodbox, whichincludes ocean
perch,tilapiaandhaddockfor May. All principle menuscostaround$30 for a week’ssupply.
Ordersfor anyof these mainmenusentitle buyerstothe special boxes,whichinMayinclude an
assortedmeatbox of steaksandchops,a supervalue fajitakitand,as always,a freshfruitandveggie
box,offeringalarge varietyof popularfruitsand vegetableseachmonthforaround$22.
However,thismoney-savingfoodprogramisnotan endwithinitself forFirstAssemblymembers,who
viewAngel Foodasone more waytheycan serve the communityinthe name of JesusChrist.Adams
saidthisis certainlythe heartof the newAngel Foodleadersatthe church,Nancy andWalterHardy.

2. “They’ve beeninvolvedwiththisministryfromthe verybeginning,andwe’vewatchedthemmove into
leadershipof it,”saidAdams.“Whatdiditfor themwas whentheytooka bag of foodto an olderperson
whowasn’texpectingit. She wassograteful tothem, and that solidifieditforNancyand Walter.”
Evenon the veryearlymorningof the April distribution atthe church’sfamilylife center,the Angel Food
volunteers’desiretoserve isevident. AsSeniorPastorRustyBlannandsongdirectorRustyBrown cart
boxesoff the movingvanfromthe 5:30 a.m.pick-upinMillington,the nearly40 volunteersgetrightto
work,carryingboxesof fruitsand frozenmeatsandvegetables todesignated stations.One setof
workersthenopensboxesandreadiesthe packagesof food forcollectionasothervolunteersretrieve
bags andwalkfrom stationtostation assemblingitemsforeachpatron’sorder.
“Thisgets hecticsometimes,”admitsNancy,withsomanypeople carryingboxesandfillingorders,“and
yousometimeshave tochange yourmethoduntil youfindperfection.”
Nancysaid she givesall the credittoGod for the balance theyare able to findeverymonth. “Ican’t tell
youhow much God blessesthis. Everyone justworkstogethertogetthisdone. Godis inthis.”
“Evenif an order iswrong,”saidAdams,“there’salwayssomeonewillingtogive up theirorderor an
extraorderjust happensto be shipped.”
Reachingthe communitywith aChristlike attitude isthe mostimportantpartof thisministry,as
volunteerConnie Bramucci stressesinheropeningprayerthatmorning,“We praythat we’dbe a
Christianexampletoeveryonewhocomesin.”
Around10 a.m.,customersbegintotrickle in as bagsare preparedandordersare filled.Accordingto
Adams, eachpatron’sorderreceives aquadruple checkfromthe initial unloading inMemphistothe
final pick-upatthe church. Withinminutesof arriving atthe familylife center,eachpatronsignsinand
isusheredacrossthe church gym to a runnerand a waitingwagonwithhisor hercompletedorder,
whichthe runnerthenloadsintothe patron’svehicle.
A non-memberAngel Foodcustomerforthe pastfour months,Mary Wheelessof WestMemphissaid
she heardabout the program throughhernephew,who foundthe ministryonthe internet.Herregular
orderincludesthe signature box andthe freshfruitandveggie specialbox.
“I am verypleasedwithit,”saidWheeless. “I’mamazedat the amountof food we get,andthe
conditionof the foodisawesome. I’mjusthappythisisavailable toeverybodyandnotjusta select
group.”
Firsttime Angel FoodpatronSharonPage of WestMemphissaidshe heardaboutthe programthrough
friends,andforherfirstmonth’sordershe wentall out,purchasingthe signature foodbox,the fruitand
veggie box,the seafoodbox andone of April’sspecial boxes,acrate of oranges.
“My friendssaidyougeta greatdeal and spendabouthalf,”saidPage.

3. In the comingmonths,Adamssaidthe church isplanningsome advertisingandaneighborhood
awarenesscampaignforthe Angel Foodministrytobuildupenoughregularpatronssodeliveriescanbe
shippeddirectlytothe church.
The online orderdeadline forthe May Angel FooddistributionisMay10, and the on-site orderdeadline
isMay 11. Distribution will be between11a.m. and noonMay 16. For more informationonAngel Food
MinistriesatFirstAssembly,call the churchoffice at735-1907.
PhotosbyLeighAnnKennedy
Cutline 5774 – VolunteerRustyBrownandSeniorPastorRustyBlanncart boxesoff the movingvanfrom
the 5:30 a.m.pick-upinMillington forthe Angel FoodMinistriesfooddistribution programatFirst
Assemblyof GodChurchin WestMemphis.
Cutline 5776 - Asfood is cartedintothe familylifecenter,the nearly40volunteersgettoworkcarrying
boxesof fruitsandfrozenmeatsandvegetablestodesignatedstationsforassemblingorders.
Cutline 5796 – Kyle Bartonand Angel FoodleaderNancyHardyworkthe assemblyline collectingfood
for patrons’orders.
Cutline 5797 – Angel FoodleaderNancyHardygreetspatronsat the door as theirordersare prepared.
Cutline 5798 – Mary Wheelessof WestMemphischecksinforherApril order.AfterbuyingAngel Food
boxesoverthe pastfour months,Wheelesssaidshe isverypleasedwiththe qualityof the foodandthe
quantityprovided.
Cutline 5803 – Church memberJoanne BoatmanworkswithteenvolunteerBaileyMcGuire toprepare
an order.
Cutline 5806 – Tim O’Bryantacts as a runner,loadingordersforAngel Foodpatronsintotheircars.