Brookhaven’s Vision Community Church is experiencingever-increasing success with its new Angel Food Ministries program,a food-distribution service that began in Georgia more than 10years ago and has since spread into 35 states.

Program coordinator Darlene Morgan, wife of pastor RonnieMorgan, said the church has long assisted other churches in theministry, but decided to make the jump to becoming a host sitethree months ago.

“Before we became a host site, we only did about 35 to 50 foodboxes per month,” she said. “Since we became a host site andstarted advertising, it has gone up considerably.”

Morgan said the church took 72 orders in March, its first monthas a host site. In April, that number increased to 126 and the Mayorders, which will be picked up and distributed Saturday, total172.

Morgan said the program is enjoying such success because of thequality, and price, of the food ministry. A box of various fooditems – which Morgan claims is enough to supply one person forseveral weeks – can be purchased through the church for $30. Oncethe base box is purchased, food options can be added to theorder.

Within the food boxes are a variety of items, such asvegetables, meat, cereal and even dessert items that Morgandescribes as “quality.”

“This will save you money on your food bill, and you get goodfood to boot,” she said. “You’re not going and standing in line forcommodities, you’re actually getting good food that’s good toeat.”

Vision Community Church takes orders for three consecutive daysduring the first weekend of each month. The ordering times areThursday from 4 to 6 p.m., Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. and Saturdayfrom 1 to 5 p.m. The food is distributed at the church two weeksafter the ordering date on a Saturday from noon to 2 p.m.

Morgan said Angel Food Ministries requires no financialconditions for participation. The program is open to all.

“It’s a really good program for people on fixed income, peoplethat are really limited in their money supply,” Morgan said. “Butit’s also good for those who are working for a living, makingdecent money and really don’t have to worry as much. This ministryis for everybody.”

And, as the name implies, the program is not only about fooddistribution – it is a ministry.

“We have people on hand that are available to talk with people,minister to them and pray with them,” Morgan said. “We also havebrochures on the church, and we invite anyone to join us.”

Morgan said the church got the idea to host the ministry afterobserving it in action at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Pinola.

“We went and inspected it, walked through and we wereimpressed,” she said. “We decided, what the heck? Let’s give it ashot. We just thought it was a really good way to help people, andthat’s exactly why we did it.”

On ordering days, the church has menus for the food boxes, astheir contents change from month to month. Boxes can be purchasedwith cash, money orders or food stamps only.

The church will next be taking orders on June 5, 6 and 7. Ordersfor the next delivery will also be accepted at Saturday’spick-up.