The Monroe, Ga.-based nonprofit released a statement to news organizations and posted a message on its website, saying it has not found a solution that will allow it to continue operations.
The organization had announced Sept. 7 that it was suspending food distribution for September and had laid off its full-time staff of 90 workers in Monroe.
“With the help of our volunteer staff, 98 percent of the thousands of customers who placed an order for September have already received a full refund,” the Wednesday announcement said. “We will continue to work with the USDA to credit the remaining 59 customers who used their SNAP benefits to place a September order. Federal regulations prohibit us from simply sending them a check for a full refund.”
The announcement said a group of former employees and food vendors are “working to find a better way of serving those who have come to depend on Angel Food.”
Lowell United Methodist Church in south Carroll County offered the Angel Food program through its church, helping between 20 and 30 families each month.
Lowell UMC Pastor Tim Constien told The Times-Georgian last week that he is contacting people who used the Angel Food services and is referring them to Open Hands United Food Ministries, which has a food bank and offer financial assistance. It is being supported by a number of county churches. Open Hands’ headquarters is at 505 Newnan St. in Carrollton.
Eddie Adams, chairman of Open Hands, said Thursday it’s too early to gauge the impact of Angel Food closing down, but it means one less place to go for food.
Adams said Open Hands was first run by the First Baptist Church of Carrollton, but at least 10 other local churches have become involved in it. He said it is continuing to grow.
Robbie Smith, who chairs the Carroll County Soup Kitchen, said he expects his organization might see some increase from those needing food, although the soup kitchen provides only cooked food.
He said the soup kitchen began by offering hot lunches on the last full week of the month, but now is open on Monday and Thursday of the other weeks.
“We also deliver about 300 meals per day,” he said.
Smith said several food pantries have opened up, many run by churches, and he feels this will absorb the loss of services from Angel Food Ministries.
“We’re very fortunate in Carroll County, because we have people who will give their time and money,” he said.
Angel Food was started in 1994 by pastors Joe and Linda Wingo in Monroe, serving 34 families. At its height, the organization grew through a network of more than 5,000 churches, feeding 500,000 families per month in 45 states.
There were no income requirements, but the program was aimed at families in need. People placed orders for multi-meal boxes of meat, vegetables, fruit and other staples from a menu that varied monthly. The food cost between 30-50 percent less than what a customer would typically pay at a grocery.
The FBI launched an investigation into the ministry and a lawsuit was filed by board members and former employees, accusing the leadership of using the nonprofit as a moneymaking venture.
The lawsuit was settled in 2009, with an exchange of money and promises to make changes to protect the charity’s finances. Angel Food spokesman Steve Savage said no charges were filed in the FBI investigation.
Former Times-Georgian staff writer Amanda Thomas and The Associated Press contributed to this story.
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