They say it takes 21 days to make or break a habit. I’m not sure if that’s true, but I know that in the past 15 months many of us have picked up a few new habits — along with a few new pounds — and I believe takeout is one that’s here to stay.

Ernie Mellor just opened Hog Wild East for takeout only. Alex Grisanti opened Elfo’s in Southaven with both a takeout side and a separate dining room. When Villa Castrioti opens in the Lake District in November, it will have both, too.

But for the past 15 years, Hope Church has quietly been running a food ministry, and if you know about it, you’ve probably used it. They made some changes during COVID and have now made a few more, and the good news is that you can go back inside the Hope Shoppe and you know, shop. (Wear a mask; the shop is small.)

Torchy’s is coming soon; here’s your update

You can get cookies. This time I thought I’d try butter cookies studded with chopped Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, frozen and $5 for a dozen. The cookies are so large that I halve them before I bake them, even though the instructions say don’t thaw (such a rebel).

You can also stock your freezer with prepared meat sauce that tastes like the kind you make at home; a quart is $7 and you don’t have to do anything except thaw, heat and put it on pasta. In years past, my freezer was never without this, nor was it without the carrot cake that I’m begging them to bring back (though not very often). Kitchen ministry director Jennifer Young uses the same recipe I bake at home — by far the best carrot cake around, don’t even try to challenge me on that; yours is not better, neither is your mother’s — and I don’t have to clean up.

There are bread and scones, casseroles galore, soups ($7 per quart) and dips ($6 per pint). The corn dip and lemon-artichoke are the best sellers; this time I picked up Caprese dip when Young and the two women in the shop said it was their current favorite.

New Eats: Greys Fine Cheese and Entertaining

The pimento cheese ($6 per pint), regular or green chile, is good stuff. It’s creamy, sharp and a little peppery, a worthy contender for any pimento cheese taste-off you might want to conduct of your favorites.

And here’s something: All the proceeds from kitchen sales go to fund the church’s missions, from local urban ministries to missions around the country and the world. In 15 years, they’ve raised $2.5 million. Dinner on Demand, where you go and assemble your own meals, started it all; Hope Shoppe opened eight years ago.

Having no overhead — the spacious commercial kitchen was already there for Wednesday night suppers — keeps prices low, too.

There are three specials every week and here are some examples: I left with a family-size container of frozen black bean enchiladas with salsa verde, a side of seasoned rice and fresh pico de gallo for $20; it feeds 4-6.

Last week the fresh special was four pieces of salmon, rice and a large spinach salad for $35. Next week, it’s two pork tenderloins and a big salad for $20; these are ready to eat, not frozen.

You can find a menu online at hopechurchmemphis.com/hope-shoppe, and it’s kept current (click “see curbside menu” to find it).

And curbside continues. If you want to go in, you can (the shop has clothes, handmade jewelry and other items). If you want your order delivered to your car, all good. Just follow the rules online and get your order in on time. The folks there would appreciate it, though they say people call when they’re on their way.

Home delivery has just begun, too. The order minimum is $50, there’s a $10 delivery fee and it’s in a 10-mile radius.

Rawk’n Grub returns to a gas station, this time in Olive Branch

“But I guess we’ll go wherever,” Young said. “We’re not doing much delivery at all. I don’t think anyone knows about it yet. People aren’t taking us up on it.”

The store is open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on Thursday, which is when curbside is available. No cash; credit card or check only. Delivery is on Wednesdays, and those orders must be in by 5 p.m. Monday.

Hope Church is at 8500 Walnut Grove Road. Enter entrance 1 to go to Hope Shoppe; curbside is at entrance 2. You can order online or call or text orders to 901-518-0134.