HELPING NEIGHBORS—Simi Valley resident Mary McClow fills up a box of fresh food for local resident Shantea J. during a dual food distribution event on Saturday morning at Centerpoint Church. Angel Food Ministries, a nationwide food relief program, provided reduced-price food for sale and Albertsons-donated food for those unable to buy meals. Bill Jones, who works in sales and is self-employed, could relate to those in his church struggling in this sluggish economy.

So he decided to do something to help his fellow congregates and the community at large. He started a food distribution program at Centerpoint Church, where he’s attended services for the past three years.

Now there are two food programs at the church—one supported by Angel Food Ministries, the other by private businesses willing to donate.

“I had the idea because more and more people at our church were losing their jobs,” said the 59year-old Simi Valley resident. “I knew some people who had contacts with grocery stores giving away food that had reached the ‘sell by’ date.”

The food items Jones receives are fine for consumption but no longer sellable in the grocery store. The church’s pastor, Steve Pope, was in favor of using the church facility for a free food giveaway program.

“We’ve discovered the need is greater than what we had thought,” Pope said. “There’s been a great response to it. There are so many people that just can’t make ends meet. It’s a real mix of people that come.”

Jones loosely calls himself the director of the food ministry, but prefers to be known as “the guy doing it.” Since the food ministry started two months ago, volunteers from seven local churches have joined Jones in collecting the food.

The main contributors are Albertsons and Panera Bakery Café in Simi Valley and Whole Foods in Northridge.

Anyone in the community who needs food items can pick them up at no cost at the church at 2369 Royal Ave. Pickup times are Thursday, 9 to 11 a.m. and 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.; Friday, 10 to 11 a.m.; Saturday, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. and Sunday, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

As for the second food donation program, last month Centerpoint Church became a host site for Angel Food Ministries, a nationwide wholesale food distribution program.

To order from Angel Food via credit card, go to the website www.angelfoodministries.com. Orders may be picked up at the church once a month. The deadline for the next order is Sept. 14 and the pickup date is Sept. 26.

Pastor Pope gives Jones credit as the driving force behind the church’s effort to help feed the hungry and hopes to help more people in the future.

“We feel this is what God has asked of his church on this Earth, that we would help meet the needs of people who are struggling,” Pope said. “It’s a wonderful joy to be part of it.”

For more information, call the church at (805) 584-1200.