Posted at: 08/29/2009 9:51 PM
Updated at: 08/29/2009 10:46 PM
By: Dietrich Nissen

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Program Distributes $65 in Groceries for $30

(ABC 6 NEWS) -- The economy is hard on families everywhere and for many, saving a few dollars here and there can make all the difference.
    
That's why one church in Eyota is promoting the Angel Food Ministries food service.
        
Dennis Wohlferd loves to help people save money.

"With the economy the way it is, everybody is kind of looking for a way to cut expenses," said Wohlferd.
 
That's why he volunteers with the Eyota chapter of Angel Food Ministries.

"Angel Food Ministries is an excellent way to cut down on your food bill,” said Wohlferd.

It's a food distribution program that lets people buy $65 worth of groceries for only $30, and it's packed with enough food to feed a family of four for one week.

"It's open for everybody.  There's no qualifying or anything, you just come in and order,” said Lorrie Hidlebaugh.

But Wohlferd says there's a negative stigma attached to food distribution programs like this one, even though he insists people from all economic backgrounds come in for food.

"It's middle-income people.  It's low-income people," said Wohlferd.

Organizer Lorrie Hildebaugh says participants get the discount because the company is able to buy the food in bulk.
    
They just need to fill out an order form, and pay for their box of meat, veggies, fruit, milk and eggs on the pick-up date.
    
19 families bought food last month, but this month, only 15 placed orders.

"We go up every month, except we had a little decline this month. But, it's just been getting bigger and bigger,” said Hidlebaugh.

And since the program is not a food shelf, they haven't had to worry about running out of food.
    
"It's a really good program. The food is really good and it's low cost,” said Hidlebaugh.
    
"It's a very worthwhile project for the community. And it brings in good food at a reasonable price,” said Wohlferd.

A price they hope will help more people during this economy.
    
Two pastors founded the angel food ministries in 1994.
    
The group's website says more than 500 thousand families use the program across 35 states.