Wisconsin, northern illinois, and the UP of Michigan (not sure what part you are in Carol..) thought I would let you know about a food buying group I joined called "Share". It's a food buying club that is run by volunteers where you can buy a monthly package of reduced price food. Everyone is expected to do some sort of volunteer work in their community, but they count anything and everything (it can be serving cookies at church on Sundays, volunteering at the food shelf, helping out with 4-H or girl scout troops, I do ambulance and they count that, or you can volunteer at the warehouse making up the packages or on distribution day).
You can find out more information at this website.
http://www.sharewi.org/