I have a story for page 1A today’s print and e-editions of The Monroe Evening News about Angel Food Ministries. The headline “It helps stretch the budget.”

A snippet:

A national low-cost grocery program that has been available in Lambertville for almost two years now has a new pick-up site in Monroe.

Monroe Church of the Nazarene, 3401 S. Custer Rd., has become an affiliate of Angel Food Ministries and has started taking orders for July 26 pick-ups.

As the newspaper story reports, there are several locations in southeast Michigan and northwest Ohio where orders could be placed. But for those of us who live in Monroe, it was at least a half-hour drive to any of the available delivery sites. And that’s not an appealing situation when a key reason to participate in Angel Food Ministries is to save money.

Problem solved: Monroe Church of the Nazarene is now part of the network. Yes, you will see me getting food boxes at the monthly pickup appointments in Monroe. (I previously bought my orders from an Ohio church.)

Here are 10 reasons why I like Angel Food Ministries:

• 1. Price. $30 doesn’t go as far at the grocery store. If you have no other reason to participate, money is a very good incentive. Do a cost comparison for the same products at the grocery.
• 2. Product selection. These items complement very well the food you acquire through other frugal means such as coupon queen tactics and / or a backyard garden.
• 3. This is a ministry, not a charity. There’s no reason to be embarrassed about participating in a “handout” program, and no ripple effect on any financial assistance programs you might be receiving.
• 4. Everyone is welcome. There are no income requirements, application paperwork or church membership expectations. The program was designed to assist unemployed working families. Here’s the history. And consider this: as more people participate, the more it becomes available to the neediest families.
• 5. Food stamps are welcome. I’ve never been on food stamps, but I do know that allowance can’t go far with today’s grocery prices.
• 6. Variety. There’s a different mix of products every month. Do you need ideas of what to serve for dinner with Angel Food as the starting point? Check out Hillbilly Housewife’s Angel Food Menus.
• 7. Quality. You don’t have to shop from the day-old bread shelves, the “Manager’s special” meat rack or the off-season food that shows up on a clearance shelf.
• 8. Delicious. Favorite Angel Food products in my home have included cream pies, chicken strips and meatloaf.
• 9. Community impact. This program helps ease the demand on traditional food relief efforts such as God Works! family soup kitchens and the Monroe County Food Pantry network.
• 10. Monroe, Mich., now has a delivery site! Yay!

Here’s the picture from today’s paper (This picture was taken at the Bedford delivery site):