By Felicia A. Petro

Allied News Staff Writer



Those who wish to tighten their belts in food spending have a new option in Grove City.

Solid Rock Assembly of God on South Broad Street has launched a program similar to Angel Food Ministries.

“We’re starting our own version of Angel Food,” said Scott Benka, pastor.

Angel Food has a signature box for $30 that has mostly frozen meats and vegetables to feed a family of four for a week. Affordable specialty boxes are also offered in the program. There is no income requirement with Angel Food, which distributes monthly through churches nation-wide.

Solid Rock participates in Angel Food, as well as others in the area, like Harrisville United Methodist Church; Zion Baptist Church in Slippery Rock; Mercer United Methodist Church; Sandy Lake Presbyterian Church; and Emlenton Lighthouse Church of the Nazarene.

“Some people love Angel Food,” Benka said, but others don’t. Variety and freshness are two concerns participants have expressed to Benka, he noted.

The pastor approached Scott Knouse, co-owner of BiLo Foods on Mill Street in Grove City, about a solution.

The pastor and the grocer put together a shopping list of food items which BiLo clients from Solid Rock can order through the church each month.

The list involves a choice of five fresh meats out of 14 options, and a 10-pound bag of potatoes. The $29 box will also include a pick of nine items from a list of 29, including frozen, boxed and jarred foods, as well as milk, bread and eggs.

“There’s more choices,” Benka said. The savings is upwards of $25, he added.

The program will run alongside of the church’s Compassion Ministry, which distributes free clothing, shoes, some food and miscellaneous items every month.

Since June, the Compassion Ministry has helped between 40 and 80 individuals monthly, Benka said.

“A lot are in the Grove City area,” he noted. “It’s a blessing to help people right where they are. Hopefully more people will be blessed by (the food ministry).”

BiLo will assemble and label the food boxes for Solid Rock. “We’re able to do that,” Knouse said. BiLo delivers food weekly for its customers, mainly the elderly.

A pilot of the program was tried out this month with Solid Rock, which went very smoothly, he added.

The program is being fully launched in February.

People can sign up and pay for a Solid Rock food box – as well as Angel Food – from 6 to 7 p.m. Wednesdays at the church, as well as 9 to 11 a.m. Feb. 13. Dawn Corbin, who is the director of the Angel Food program at Solid Rock, will also facilitate the church’s new food program.

Boxes from both programs will be handed out the day of the church’s monthly Compassion Ministry, from 8 to 10 a.m. Feb. 20. The Compassion Ministry and Solid Rock food box days always run the same day as the Angel Food distribution each month.

“We’re offering it all,” Benka said. If it takes off, Solid Rock will add an additional day during the month for its food program, he noted.

The church’s collaboration with BiLo is not meant to take away from other charitable programs in the community, Knouse said.

“We’re not trying to cut in or replace Angel Food. Nobody is getting rich in this economy.”

BiLo has already been donating “scratch and dent” food items to Solid Rock for its Compassion Ministry days, he added.

The store has also given donations or discounts to the Grove City Community Food Pantry and the food bank at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Mercer.

As for BiLo’s regular customers, Knouse wondered “if someone would be upset if the church got a better deal than those off the street,” he said.

However, “If my contribution for those who need to use Angel Food can provide more choice and fresh foods, then we can help them out. It’s not a profit for us, it’s for the community.”

The grocer encourages his customers to take part in the Solid Rock food program to get the discounted items.

Although some may not need it, and could “abuse” the benefit, “I’m not in the business legislating morality,” Knouse said.

“My father (Sam Knouse, who co-owns BiLo) and I have a track record that if people need help, we’ll help.”

Benka is excited about the collaboration.

“(Knouse) has been wonderful. He’s given us a better price with the higher quantities at once,” he said.

“Through teaming up, people can save.”



For information about Solid Rock’s new food program, call 724-458-1520 or 724-992-0048. Story published January 30, 2010 in Allied News. Pick up a copy at 201A Erie St., Grove City.