Wilson church honored for discount groceries

Wilson, N.C. — A national discount food-distribution group on Saturday honored the Wilson church that was the first in North Carolina to join it.

Pastor Tony Rivers and his wife Jewell brought Grace Baptist Missionary Church, 202 Kincaid Ave. N., into the Angel Food Ministries in May 2009. The church has become one of the nonprofit's largest distribution sites.

"It has been a steady and forceful member of Angel Food's ministry work ... (and) has a remarkable achievement of reaching a record distribution number, ministering to more people in a very short time," read a release from food ministry.

Angel Food's CEO Joe Wingo joined the Rivers and volunteers and gave a blessing at the church's 42nd monthly food distribution Saturday.

Wingo, a Georgia pastor, founded Angel Food Ministries, in 1994 to let families buy fresh, brand-name foods for about half the grocery-store cost. Families pay $30 for a 21-pound box that contains $60 worth of groceries.

The nonprofit passes on the savings by buying in bulk and having church volunteers handle the distributing. The program doesn't have any income qualifications, but boxes must be ordered online or during specific times at area churches and can be paid for in cash, credit or food stamps.

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Latest Comments

I have ordered from them and I have been very pleased.

arljsl
July 23, 2009 3:40 p.m.

There's something very WRONG with this story:Either this church was NOT the first in NC to join the Angel Food Ministry OR the "May, 2009" date is wrong.We've been getting Angel Food in Raleigh since either March or April and someone in line that first time told me she'd been getting it at a church in downtown Raleigh for a year and a half at that point!We've been able to get it at a church in Wake Forest since at least May, 2009. Who is the fact checker for these stories anyway? They sure don't seem to be checking facts the last few months. Anyway, my husband and I have NO COMPLAINTS about the food quality or quantity. In fact, the chicken fried steaks we got the first month were literally the BEST I've ever had in my life. Ooops, I take that back----one complaint only---1 month the salisbury steaks were a little on the salty side. And "store brand"--The only time they had frozen pizza it was our favorite brand!I guess the whiners/complainers here are used to gourmet restaurants.

haditup2here
July 21, 2009 1:19 p.m.

I got a box and it was pretty good, not exactly what I would have picked but the extra fruit and seafood box I bought were very good and worth the price. If we were hungry it would all be good. We're a country of whiners and complainers with many parts of the world starving to death. Take what you save and help someone in need.

celong
July 21, 2009 8:32 a.m.

I have had some food from them that a friend gave to me and it was not good. I don't know where it all comes from but it isn't even a store brand from around this area. I wouldn't take it if it were free.

devilblue
July 20, 2009 5:11 p.m.

Ridgecrest Baptist Church, 1104 Milton Road, Durham, NC, 27712, 919-477-5246, is a distributor, also.

Glock Ranger
July 20, 2009 12:52 p.m.