AUBURN - Feeding one's family can be hard with the current downturn of the economy, but local churches are making it easier. The Calvary Chapel of Auburn and the Auburn Assembly of God are running Angel Food Ministry drives once a month offering people quality food for discounted rates.

“Anybody can order; you don't have to join a service,” said Luis Bellerdine, a member of Calvary Chapel.

The Calvary Chapel became involved with Angel Food Ministry drives through local churches in the surrounding areas of Scipio and Waterloo as well as through word of mouth.

“Local churches in the area were getting involved and setting up the program in their communities,” explained Joe Ferrara, a member of Calvary Chapel. “We found out about it through local parishes that told our pastor. We talked about it and decided we wanted to be involved.”

Both churches thought it would be more convenient if there were places on both ends of Auburn for people to pick up food.

The Angel Food Ministry drive has been an ongoing event with churches on the East coast for a few years. With the troubled economy, there is an increase of churches throughout the country running food programs for community outreach to help those in need. The Calvary Church has had only two events so far but hopes to continue them once a month and spread the word throughout the community.

The church was planning on getting involved with the food drive before the economic downturn.

“People are always hurting and in need even if the economy picks up,” Ferrara said.

The Angel Food Ministry offers different boxes of food for different prices or custom orders can be placed. Each month there is a new menu. The menu is designed by the national Angel Food Ministry located in Georgia. A tangerine and orange fruit box consisting of two bushels of fruit or choice of fresh vegetables is offered for $15. For $16, a chicken box consisting of chicken nuggets, green beans, corn, mashed potatoes and a pie is available, and for $30 there is the typical box of food consisting of eggs, chicken breast, chicken nuggets, sirloin, rice, crinkle cut fries, carrots, boxes of macaroni and cheese, peanut butter, one package of hot dogs, 2 percent shelf stable milk, bacon and stir fry.

According to Bellerdine, the boxes of food are designed to feed a family of four for an entire week offering them enough food for complete meals. People can save up to $60 to $75 that they would otherwise be paying at a grocery store. Leftover food is donated to local soup kitchens and the Salvation Army.

Currently people who need a helping hand or those on fixed incomes can pick up food, but if enough people participate, the Calvary Church will qualify for a distributor allowing them to expand orders and take food stamps. Right now they can only take cash or money orders.

The Calvary Church picks up the food from the Living Hope Assembly of God in Waterloo. People can order food throughout the month until the cut off date, which is usually mid-month, allowing the church to place orders on time for delivery usually a week later.

The Calvary church runs its food drives at the end of each month. People who have previously ordered food can pick it up at a designated hour usually during midday between 12:30 and 1:30 p.m.

The Calvary Church so far has gotten orders between 30 and 40 boxes of food a month. According to Ferrara, some churches have received orders up to a few hundred a month.

“We have seen a steady increase in the number of boxes sold each month,” he said.

The next pick-up date for the Calvary Church is the weekend of March 21 and 22.