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Aktioin Club takes up cause |
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Thursday, 19 June 2008 |
By KAY LOUTH
Staff Writer
NEW BREMEN — A local service club recently began a new project to help families obtain food in times of hardship.
The Aktion Club at Auglaize Industries adopted a food ministry as a service project that makes high quality, inexpensive food available to local residents. The club calls its program the Big Box Program. Participants receive approximately $60 worth of food for $30.
The food items are frozen and include meat, fish, vegetables, fruits and desserts. The benevolent organization that supplies the food — Great Food for All — states on its Web site that the basic box has enough food for a family of four for a week.
“This is our defining service project right now,” Aktion Club Advisor and Auglaize Industries Director Greg Ferrall said. “There are no qualifications — they don’t have to be low income. This is an attempt to increase the fellowship needs of the churches and meet the needs of the families, particularly with the tough economic times right now.”
Originally the club was a sponsor site for the Angel Food Ministries, but have since switched programs.
“Some of Angel’s affiliates kind of decided to do their own thing in Ohio,” Ferrall said. “The group in Celina, in particular, decided to look at other options to improve quality and efficiency. We are now working with a pastor and his wife in Newton Falls, Ohio.”
Ferrall said that one improvement over Angel Ministries was that the food comes pre-packaged, noting volunteers used to have to package it themselves.
“It’s a lot easier for me when I have to go to Celina at 4:30 in the morning,” Ferrall said.
Menus are released in the middle of the month and orders must be placed for a specific deadline and they also must be paid for before delivery. People also can order and pay for the food boxes for the next month when they pick up their current delivery.
In addition to the standard box of groceries, Ferrall said Good Food for All also offers smaller boxes of specialty packs such as coffee samplers, kids meals and a package of seven meals for senior citizens.
The Big Box Program fulfills the Aktion Club’s mission of service to others. Ferrall said Great Food for All sends them back a check for $1 for each box they sell.
While it doesn’t cover much of the club’s expenses, such as the monthly trip to Celina, Ferrall said it is something that can go back to the club’s treasury.
This is the third month for the program at Auglaize Industries and Ferrall said they are getting between 40 and 50 orders a month. However when school resumes, Ferrall said he’s going to be hitting the publicity more aggressively.
“I really want to appeal to southern Auglaize County, New Bremen, Minster, New Knoxville, because we would be a convenient drive for all those families,” Ferrall said.
Boxes are available for pick up between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m., on the last Saturday of the month at Auglaize Industries.
“We also encourage if someone calls me from Waynesfield, for example, or Darke County, and is interested in buying a box I will direct them to the (food ministry) closest to them,” Ferrall said.
Those interested in participating in the Big Box Program they can call Ferrall at 419-629-3603. They accept cash, cashier’s check and food stamps.
The Aktion Club has 32 members, primarily adults with disabilities, who receive employment training at Auglaize Industries. It is sponsored by the Kiwanis Clubs of St. Marys, Minster and Wapakoneta.
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 24 June 2008 )
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