MASON CITY, IA--
“Seeing the people’s faces, if I have a chance to see them while I'm still here, just knowing I'm bringing a smile to some families is good enough for me,” said Charles Parker, a truck driver/owner.Parker is the guy that delivers Angel Food's supplies from Texas to our area communities. “A lot of people need help nowadays, so it kind of feels like I'm helping in that aspect,” he said.
But 'helping' is nothing new for Parker. “Katrina was a madhouse...we brought water, we brought clothing, we brought different foods,” he said. He said delivering food and water to the storm-ravaged area was an experience unlike any other. “The T.V.s didn't do it justice,” he said. “I mean to actually see it face to face, the magnitude of the disaster was just, it was, I can't even say it in words.”
Despite the catastrophic circumstances, he said delivering supplies to that area was rewarding.
Now he's traveling about 3000 miles a week, sometimes delivering the lower cost food that aids families in our area. “I delivered in Cedar Falls earlier this morning and then delivered here,” he said.
This provides the communities with food, good food at a lower cost and it's healthy and nutritional,” said Nelson Kraschel, the director for the new distribution site in Mason City.
The new distribution site is located behind Saint John's Episcopal Church. Kraschel said they'll order and distribute food about once a month. Which means Parker could be back again soon. “I was in the area and I happened to be the lucky one to bring it up,” he said.
The program offers food from all of the food groups.
It also doesn't have any income level restrictions. That means anyone looking for cheaper food can participate. All you have to do is sign up at your nearest host church.
There were five churches present at Saturday’s Mason City distribution.
People can order items and then pick the food up at host churches. To find a list of those churches and more information about Angel Food Ministries just click on the provided link.
