MOUNT VERNON — We stopped by Friday morning to meet the folks at Angels on Assignment in Mt. Vernon and learn about the organization that began helping Jefferson County residents in 1991.

Phyllis Wilks, a volunteer with AoA, took us on a tour of their building at the corner of 12th and Broadway in Mt. Vernon, where today volunteers with the Food Pantry were preparing to load boxes with food for their visitors.

Phyllis says AoA spends about $5,000 a month on food to give out every Friday morning, but the rest of the food comes from donations.

So where does Angels come up with the money to purchase all that food? Around the corner in the same building volunteers also operate a thrift store where sales from lightly used donated items go directly toward the food pantry and financial assistance.

All three services – the food pantry, the thrift store, and financial services – are operated by volunteers.