Saving money is on the minds of everyone these days, and StoneBridge Community Church in Simi Valley is doing something to help the hungry save on meals.

The church has collaborated with The Treasure Box, a nonprofit based in the Southwest, so that local residents can purchase groceries at discount prices. For $30 The Treasure Box will provide a box filled with nutritious food to anyone who puts in an order regardless of income.

Dorissa Mitchell, a member of StoneBridge’s community outreach ministry, heard about the organization on a news broadcast in March and brought the idea to congregation leaders.

“We try to find projects to reach out to the community, to help people and show God’s love in a practical way,” said the Simi resident. “Everyone I spoke to at the church was very excited about the program.”

Starting this month, the church will serve as the pickup site for the preordered food boxes.

“We have a great outreach team that’s been putting in an incredible amount of time to organize this,” said lead pastor Jeff Cheadle of the 30 volunteers. “We see ourselves as a church family here to serve the community.”

Boxes are available monthly, and each contains 21 to 25 pounds of frozen foods, including chicken, pork, beef and seafood, in addition to vegetables, fruit and dessert. The food will feed a family of four for a week or an individual for nearly a month.

Items include many national brands, such as Stouffers, Kraft and Sara Lee. If purchased in a grocery store, items comparable to those in the boxes would total $65 to $100.

Orders for this month’s boxes can be placed until June 13. The pickup is from 9 to 11 a.m. Sat., June 26 at the church at 4832 Cochran St.

There are no income qualifications to order the discounted food. Those interested can go to www.thetreasurebox.org to place an order with a credit card. Cash orders may be placed at the church office.

The buyer can choose between two packages: the Protein Box, which contains 10 to 12 pounds of protein as part of the frozen foods along with the vegetables and dessert, or the Quick and Healthy Box, which includes foods low in fat, cholesterol and sodium.

The Treasure Box operates in California and the Greater Phoenix area. Good Source Solutions, a food distribution company, founded the nonprofit two years ago. They deliver more than 20 truckloads of boxes every month through 300 organization partners in California.

The Treasure Box staff keeps track of the orders and packs the boxes for delivery to local sites. The nonprofit sent a representative to train StoneBridge church volunteers to run the operation each month.

“I have a feeling the number of orders is going to be really huge,” said Mitchell, citing the more than 900 boxes picked up in Moorpark in May, the first month that site was in operation.

“It’s a great way to meet the needs of the people in this area. Personally for myself, I just like to help people.”

For information, visit www .stonebridgesimi.com or call the church office at (805) 526-5475.

In a Nutshell

A box of 21 to 25 pounds of food can be ordered from The Treasure Box for $30. Boxes are available once a month.

To order a box this month, call (805) 526-5475 by June 13. Boxes can be picked up from 9 to 11 a.m. June 26 at StoneBridge Community Church, 4832 Cochran St.