Mary Cerreta Mousch is the host coordinator for Angel Food Ministries located at First Congregational Church of Derby. Angel Food Ministries is a low-cost grocery buying program available to all residents to provide affordable food.
Mousch described to Valley Independent Sentinel the benefits of the program and why now is the time to order an affordable box of food for the holidays.
Valley Indy: Who works with you on Angel Ministries?
Mousch: Pastor Donna Ives of First Congregation. I also have a great group of volunteers.
Valley Indy: Tell me what Angel Food Ministries is and how does it work?
Mousch: Angel Food Ministries is a low cost food buying program. Each box of food feeds a family of four, two adults and two children, for a week or a single person for a month.
Valley Indy: Can you give me an example of the boxes?
Mousch: There are three main types of boxes: B1, B2 and B3. Those are staple boxes that have meats, vegetables, and other foods. Then there are add-on boxes with seafood, just fruit and vegetables, vegetarians and boxes for seniors and after school snacks for children.
Valley Indy: How much are the boxes?
Mousch: They range between $21 to $41.
Valley Indy: You said you have a Thanksgiving box up for order. Tell me about it.
Mousch: It’s the holiday box. People who want a traditional dinner realize it can be costly — up to around $70 to $100. This box has almost all of the foods covered but the only difference is there is a chicken instead of a turkey. It also comes with a ham, cornbread stuffing, mini corn on the cob, green beans, diced sweet potatoes, whole wheat dinner rolls and dessert — usually a pie.
Valley Indy: How much and how many people does it feed? Also, when are the orders due in and when is pickup for November boxes including the holiday box?
Mousch: It is $36 and feeds two adults and two children but you can purchase more than one box for a larger family. The order for November boxes including the holiday box are due by Nov. 14 and are picked up on Nov. 20th at the church.
Valley Indy: How can people pay for the food?
Mousch: We take cash, money order, Visa or MasterCard check card or credit card and even SNAP which is formally the Food Stamp or EBT program.
Valley Indy: Is this a needs based income program, meaning do you have to a low income to get this food.
Mousch: There is no income level, no application and no restrictions. There are no criteria. You can be a millionaire and still buy from it.
Valley Indy: How did this program start?
Mousch: The actual first food ministry started in 1994 in Georgia by Pastor Joseph Wingo and his wife Linda. A big factory in their town closed and the majority of people didn’t have jobs and needed food. The church started trying to figure out how to get people food.
Valley Indy: When did your program start?
Mousch: We began in 2008.
Valley Indy: Why did you decide to start a program in the Valley?
Mousch: My husband and I moved to Shelton and bought an old home. We were shocked when we started getting $500 gas bills. We needed a way to cut our expenses and decided to help others.
Valley Indy: If you are a nonprofit, where do you get your funding?
Mousch: People purchase with their own money for every box sold. The church gets a donation of one dollar for each box to help with expenses such as heat and gas. But our church turns the money back into a donation to the Spooner House’s food pantry program.
Valley Indy: Do you take donations?
Mousch: Yes.
Valley Indy: Do you need them?
Mousch: We don’t need them because we are self sufficient. But if we take donations we can purchase food through the program and get more value for our dollars and then we can purchase food for people in our community such as in the food pantry.
Valley Indy: But you are not a food pantry, is that correct?
Mousch: Yes.
Valley Indy: Is there anything else?
Mousch: You don’t have to be religious to participate just because it is located at a church. We are not going to make you pray, but spiritual support is available if someone wants it. The simple thing is I want to put food on people’s tables. The biggest group I want to reach is people working but can’t afford to pay their bills. The struggling working class and their children.
Valley Indy: Anything else?
Mousch: I just want to say that if you are thinking about it to give it a try once. If you don’t like it then don’t come back but if you do like the program you will find it a consistent way to save each month. Just one month, one try and don’t be self conscience or shy.
Boxes and menus can be viewed at the Angel Food Ministries website. They can be reached at 203-735-6750 or 203-641-9657 or email MMC[email protected].
