AngelFood Ministries is now OUT of BUSINESS

[Donnachaidh]

No link yet -- just announced on WSBY tv in Atlanta.

[aquart]

1. ?

Context?

[timtom]

2. I'd never heard of it myself...

However, a quick glance at the web revealed the following:

http://www.angelfoodministries.com

and

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angel_Food_Ministries

I, for one, am saddened.

[DrunkenBoat]

5. read up on it, maybe you won't feel as bad: the director makes $700K & hires his family.

Plus the whole "charity" is under investigation.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=439&topic_id=1983663&mesg_id=1983755

[timtom]

6. Aha!

Thanks for the update and the link.

[ngant17]

3. another victim of Bush war economy

needy families will have one less option to put food on table. The churches will have to find another way to fill the void.

[DrunkenBoat]

4. Wonder if it's for fraud.

THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAILS: ANGEL FOOD MINISTRIES

DATELINE: March 10, 2009, Chicago

We had seen some earlier references to Angel Food Ministries and an FBI raid, but for some reason the story didn’t resonate with us. Yesterday, we noticed that the Chronicle of Philanthropy’s Elsewhere Online column referenced a settlement of a lawsuit brought by two directors against the nonprofit. We have not seen the pleadings, but the directors apparently alleged that the Wingo family was
financially abusing the charity. Pastors Joe and Linda Wingo founded the charity in 1994, according to the its Web site. Angel Food has denied the allegations in a press release. In that press release, it indicates one of the directors behind the suit is the newly appointed chief operating officer.

The charity claims to feed 500,000 families a month through its food program. As we understand the program, Angel Food is able to buy food in bulk from national suppliers. It then assembles boxes of food that sell for $30. The box's retail value is somewhere between $60 and $65, according the various reports. Participating churches take orders for the food from members of their communities and Angel Food fulfills the orders. The ordering churches either pick up the food boxes or Angel Food arranges to have the boxes shipped to churches in more distant communities. The participating churches apparently receive at least $1 per box of food for their efforts. Angel Food accepts food stamps, but the ability to order a food box is not means tested. Anyone can participate, which raises the basic question: Why is this a charity? Angel Food is acting much like for-profit grocery store, but without a retail storefront. Is this a fundraising activity, an unrelated trade or business, or just a business?

We took a look at Angel Food's 2007 Form 990. Virtually all of Angel Food's income is attributable to gross sales of inventory—presumably the food. After cost of goods sold, it nets $26.7 million in profit and a little over $1 million in other revenue.

http://www.charitygovernance.com/charity_governance/2009/03/the-devil-is-in-the-details-angel-food-ministries.html

The Angel Food Ministries nonprofit officers Wingos' 550% salary increase and GOP campaign contributions

http://trado.info/the-angel-food-ministries-nonprofit-officers-wingos-550-salary-increase-and-gop-campaign-contributio

Feed The Children? Who wouldn’t want to? But the charity of that name is under investigation, as is Angel Food right here in Monroe, where three of the controlling Wingo family members net over $1 million in salaries and have borrowed a further $1 million from their ministry.

http://waltontribune.com/opinion/columns/fred_wehner/article_d1ea7d56-de40-11e0-893b-001cc4c002e0.html


They BORROWED MONEY from their "charity" & the "bad economy" crashed their house of cards would be my guess.

Or else they just stole it & didn't want to pay it back.

Or else people just got wise to the scam.

The ministry ran into trouble in 2009 when the FBI searched its offices and questions were raised about Angel Food's finances. Board members and former employers also filed a lawsuit 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 ever filed in the FBI investigation.

The Wingos and one of their sons were on staff at Angel Food. According to tax records, Joe Wingo's reported salary in 2009 was more than $694,000.

The increased price of fuel and food, along with a growing number of customers who were unable to pay, contributed to a decline in sales, said Savage. In the span of four years, organizers said Angel Food's orders decreased from about 550,000 boxes a month to about 125,000 boxes a month.

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2011/09/21/apnewsbreak_angel_food_ministries_out_of_business/

550,000 boxes a month = $16.5 million dollars a month v. $3.75 million at 125,000 a month.

Edit: Yep, I bet it's for fraud:

Angel Food Ministries Lays off 90 Workers
Non-Profit Suspends Food Distribution for Sept.

Updated: Wednesday, 07 Sep 2011, 5:40 PM EDT
Published : Wednesday, 07 Sep 2011, 5:37 PM EDT

News of the massive layoffs comes amid an ongoing federal investigation into the Angel Food Ministries operations, alleging financial mismanagement at the non-profit.

Sources close to the investigation say a grand jury is meeting this week on the matter.

http://www.myfoxatlanta.com/dpp/news/local_news/Angel-Food-Ministries-Lays-off-90-Workers-20110907-pm-pk

Two of the charity's board members alleged the family misused the charity's money.

Angel Food Ministries is run by the Reverend Joseph Wingo, his wife and two sons.

[Donnachaidh]

7. It may well be -- but local news will spin it differently

We get NO real news from Atlanta stations. :shrug:

[DrunkenBoat]

8. i was surprised to see a fox affiliate mentioning the investigation in its report,

so you never know.

if the wingos are now poison they can report & just play "we're shocked, shocked!"

[w8liftinglady]

10. Thank you for sharing this... it royally irks me!

[WinkyDink]

9. ??

[RebelOne]

11. Here is the link to the story.

www.wsbtv.com/news/29263818/detail.html