As food prices continue to rise, some people are taking advantage of “a partnership made in Heaven.”

Pastors Joe and Linda Wingo founded Angel Food Ministries in Monroe, Ga., in 1994 to help families there affected by industrial plant closings. Almost 15 years later, Angel Food Ministries provides low cost groceries to more than 500,000 people in 35 states.

There are no qualifications, minimums, income restrictions or applications.

Churches of all denominations, including five in Monroe County, accept food orders based on a monthly “menu” and then distribute the groceries out of the backs of delivery trucks in the church parking lot at the end of the month.

The menus include staple grocery items like meats, vegetables, eggs and even milk. The base package is just $30. After that you can buy other low cost specials.

Greer Heatherly oversees the program for First United Methodist Church in Sweetwater. She said she really wanted people to know that there are no income requirements and there are no limits on how much food you order. Food stamps are also accepted.

“This is grocery relief for everyone,” she said.

She said her church and the other four in Monroe County work well together and consider the program non-denominational. Her church alone delivered 77 boxes of food during the month of May but that number has been as high as 300 boxes in the past.

For $30, the June menu includes:

•four six-ounce ribeye steaks

•four six-ounce hamburger patties

•two pounds of pork riblets

•four pounds of chicken leg quarters

•two pounds of breaded chicken tenders

•a 20-ounce supreme pizza

•one pound of mild Italian sausage

•two pounds of French Fries

•16 ounces of sliced carrots

•16 ounces of mixed vegetables

•32 ounces of 2 percent reduced fat milk

•six ounces of pancake mix

•15 ounces of pork and beans

•14 ounces of ketchup

•seven and a half ounces of macaroni and cheese

•one dozen eggs

•one dessert item

There are three specials for June:

• #1 includes two 12-ounce T-bone steaks, two pounds of baby back ribs, four eight-ounce pork chops, and one-pound Bratwurst sausage for $20

• #2 includes four eight-ounce New York strip steaks, four eight-ounce sirloin strips, and two eight-ounce hamburger beef steaks for $20

• #3 includes 10 pounds of breaded chicken breast strips for $16

Orders must be received by Monday, June 16. Distribution day is June 28. Here’s who to contact to order food in your area:

•Madisonville

1. Ruth Ashford at Lighthouse, Ray of Light Ministries – 442-4915

2. Marlyn Griffin at Watson Chapel Baptist Church – 442-5459

•Sweetwater – Greer Heatherly at First United Methodist Church – 337-7903

•Tellico Plains – Laura Hyde at Harvest Fellowship Community Church – 253-3981

•Vonore – Jane Anderson at Walnut Grove Baptist Church – 442-5757

You may also order online or read more about Angel Food Ministries at www.angelfoodministries.com.melissa.kinton@advocateanddemocrat.com | 337-7101