PLATO TOWNSHIP -- It's not a food pantry giveaway. People who aren't poor can take advantage of it, too -- no questions asked.
But the bargain-priced food boxes sold monthly by churches participating in Angel Food Ministries can help an older person stay independent for longer or help a parent laid off from a job keep nutritious food on the table.
(Andrew A. Nelles/For The Courier-News)
On Saturday, St. Peter's Lutheran Church of North Plato, on Plank Road just east of Route 47, became the 11th church in the northwest suburbs and exurbs to offer food baskets through the not-for-profit nondenominational ministry.
"I love that their slogan is 'a food ministry with a servant's heart,' " said Marilyn Maas, who is helping coordinate the project at St. Peter. "This is first and foremost a community outreach program, not just a food program. We are including evangelical materials in each box."
As she spoke, about 20 volunteers from the congregation went down a checklist and packed each "Signature Box" with three ribeye steaks, four pork chops, a chicken fried rice skillet meal, a lasagna with meat sauce package, breaded fish patties, lean ground beef, chicken breast filets, zucchini, cauliflower, broccoli, hash browns, breakfast cereal, onions, shelf-stable milk, onions and dessert -- all for $30. The ministry estimates that's enough to feed a family of four for a week or to feed one senior for about a month, and that it costs about two-thirds to half what it would cost in a grocery store.
"The best part is the chocolate chip cookies," laughed 66-year-old volunteer Betty Kurtz of rural St. Charles. "But at a time when there is so much attention on obesity in children, this provides an affordable, well-rounded, nutritious diet. Let's face it. Low-income people usually get WIC (Women-Infants-Children program) foods, so they end up with a lot of pasta and cheese."
St. Peter of North Plato plans to hand out the packages on the fourth Saturday of each month. The boxes must be ordered and paid for in advance, either online through www.stpetersnorthplato.org or www.angelfoodministries.com; in person at the church; or by mail. Payment can be made in cash, checks, LINK cards or SNAP food coupons. More information is available on the Web sites or by calling 847-464-5721.
This first Saturday in North Plato saw 38 orders picked up, some from members of the congregation, some from people from as far away as Sycamore and Gilberts. One went to Betty Kurtz herself.
Besides those "Signature" boxes, Angel Foods offers a Senior Convenience Meal Box; an Allergen-Free Food Box; and (for $36, with orders due by Oct. 28) everything needed to cook a Thanksgiving turkey meal for eight. Menus are changed each month.
The ministry was founded in 1994 by a Georgia couple worried about friends who had lost their jobs. Realizing they could distribute food for about half price by cutting out the store and the middle man, they started a project that they say now reaches 5,100 sites in 41 states. Other local churches participating include Life Changers International in Hoffman Estates (which serves as the distribution center for the others in our region); Community of Christ in Elgin; Church in the Word in Elgin; Faith World Outreach in Bartlett; St. John's Lutheran of Union; New Generation Christian Center in Aurora; and Congregational Church of Batavia.