Angel Food Ministries offers families and individuals an opportunity to get more food for their money, something especially helpful in these economic times. A variety of foods are available at extremely low prices and is offered monthly at locations all over the region.

Locally, there are several locations that offer the program: Riverview Community Center in Creston, Bald Mountain Baptist Church in West Jefferson, Laurel Springs Baptist Church in Deep Gap, the Cornerstone Christian Fellowship in Sparta, Rocky Springs United Methodist Church in Hiddenite, Oakwoods Baptist Church in Wilkesboro and 17 Harvest Time Ministries and Christian Academy in North Wilkesboro.

"Angel Food crosses all denominational lines and works with many different churches throughout the country," said a press release. "We also work with a wide variety of community groups such as the Salvation Army, the Boy Scouts of America, Veterans of Foreign Wars and many others. Our mission is to reach out to anyone in need."

There is no membership, no qualifying income limits, no applications and no limit to the number of boxes you can order. Orders may be paid for with cash, check, money order or EBT food stamps. Credit cards and debit cards are also accepted. Orders using credit or debit may be placed on-line at the Angel Food website as well. If you or your organization purchases food to donate to someone in need in your community, that gift may be tax-deductible as a charitable donation because the program is a non-profit organization.

A signature box includes balanced nutrition and a variety with enough food to feed a family of four for a week at a total cost of $30. It includes everything from 1.5 pounds of rib eye steaks, 22 ounces of lasagna with meat sauce and basics such as milk, eggs and desserts.

There are also senior and convenience meals.

"Ten perfectly seasoned, nutritionally balanced, fully cooked meals, just heat and serve," said to the press release. "Each meal has been developed with the dietary needs of senior citizens in mind and contains three ounces of protein, a starch and two vegetables or fruit." The total cost for this meal is $28. There is also a five pound allergen-free food box, processed to eliminate the eight top serious allergens, including peanuts, soybeans, milk, eggs, fish, crustacean, tree nuts and gluten (wheat, rye and barley). Included is one pound each of breaded chicken fillet patties, chicken tenders, chicken nuggets, steak fingers and chicken wings. The total cost is $23.

A Thanksgiving Holiday Box is available for $36 until Wednesday, Oct. 28. This box includes a seven pound Perdue roasting hen, 2.5 pounds of boneless netted ham, two pounds of frozen diced sweet potatoes, 3.5 pounds of frozen corn cobbett's (12), two pounds of frozen green beans, one pound of frozen cranberries, 17 ounces of ready to cook corn bread dressing, eight heat and serve large dinner rolls, 4.5 ounces of brown gravy mix, one dessert item (pie or cake) and one recipe sheet with a scripture.

November specials are also available. Special number one is $23 and is an assorted meat grill box, including one-and-a-half pound New York Strip steaks, two pounds of Boston Butt Chops, two pounds of lean hamburger steaks and one-and-a-half pounds of Italian sausage with cheese.

Special number two includes two pounds of sirloin steak strips, one-and-a-half pounds of bacon-wrapped beef fillets and one-and-a-half pounds of bacon wrapped chicken fillets. The cost is $22.

Special number three is 10 pounds of boneless, skinless chicken breasts for $21.

Special number four is $22 and is a premium fresh fruit and veggie box. It includes one stalk of California celery, three pounds of new crop North Carolina sweet potatoes, three pounds new crop Idaho potatoes, one head of fresh leafy green cabbage, one pound of California carrots, three pounds of tree-ripened juice oranges, three pounds of new crop Red Delicious apples, one eight-ounce bag of new crop Georgia grown shelled pecan halves, four Washington State Bosc pears, one pure honey bear and two ruby red grapefruits.

Orders are due by Sunday, Nov. 8, at noon and the distribution day is set for Saturday, Nov. 14, at the location you ordered from, at the designated times.

For more information about the Riverview Community Center site, located at 17719 NC Highway 88 West in Creston, contact Rev. Rickey Mitchell at (336) 385-6260.

Bald Mountain Baptist Church is located at 1460 Bald Mountain Road in West Jefferson. For more information, you can click to http://www.baldmountainchurch.org/\" style="">www.baldmountainchurch.org or call the coordinator, Sherrie Matthews, at (336) 977-2597.

Laurel Springs Baptist Church is located at 7504 US Hwy 421 South in Deep Gap. Coordinator Kathy Idol can be reached at (828) 262-1330. Office hours for the church are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. until noon.

For Alleghany County residents, the Cornerstone Christian Fellowship is located at 1276 Grandview Drive in Sparta. Coordinator Marcella Galyean can be contacted at (336) 372-3070.

Rocky Springs United Methodist Church is located at 4211 Rocky Springs Road in Hiddenite. The contact number is (828) 632-0674. Oakwoods Baptist Church in Wilkesboro, another location, is at 2385 Brushy Mountain Road. Their website is http://www.oakwoodsbaptistchurch.com/\" style="">www.oakwoodsbaptistchurch.com and the contact number is (336) 667-7838. Also, in North Wilkesboro, 17 Harvest Time Ministries and Christian Academy is part of the network. They are located at 501 C Street in North Wilkesboro. Their contact number is (336) 667-9105.

Angel Food Ministries is a non-profit, non-denominational organization dedicated to providing financial support in the form of food relief to communities throughout the United States. The ministry was began in 1994 by Pastor Joe Wingo and his family with the original intent of helping out their neighbors in a small rural community in Northeast Georgia where many textile mills had closed.

Today, Angel Food has expanded into 35 states and helps close to 500,000 families monthly with their food needs.

For more information about the Angel Food Ministries, contact one of the local coordinators or click to http://www.angelfoodministries.com/\" style="">www.angelfoodministries.com.