FYI-What Is SHARE?-Originally Posted 05-15-2009 on Blog.com

With the current economic climate, it has become more important to find ways to cut costs. Food is one of the items that Americans are cutting back on. It is great to see less junk food and more wholesome food being purchased. However, a growing number of Americans are struggling to provide even the most basic food for themselves and their families. I myself will be applying for food stamps in order to save money on the rising cost of food.

Besides food stamps, there is another program that almost anyone can take advantage of. It is called the SHARE program. What is SHARE? SHARE is a volunteer-run food buying club that sells food at a discount. SHARE is not like a Sam's or BJ's. There are no membership fees and food can be purchased on a month to month basis.

How much does it cost? There are two packages that are featured each month; the Big Value package which costs $25.00 and the Mini package which costs $15.00. The Big Value and the Mini packages both have 5 or 6 meat choices such as ground beef, pork chops, and boneless chicken breasts, also beans and/or rice, vegetables, fruit, and other food items. The Big Value comes with a bonus item and the Mini package does not.

Normally, the same amount of food at the grocery store will cost $60.00 and up depending on where you live in the nation. Take it from me, a Big Value package fills up my refrigerator. The food and fresh produce are good quality and great tasting. Most importantly the foods that SHARE has available are nutritious. And you can order extra items if you have a large family. The best part of all is if you have food stamps, SHARE allows you to use them to purchase food from them.

How do you get the food? Log onto http://www.sharewi.org/. If you are not a resident of Wisconsin, go to http://www.sharewi.org/, click on Locations, go to SHARE programs in other states, and click on your state. The SHARE website will give you a month to month calender of when you can order and when to pick up your food. You will pick up your food from either a church, community center, or another area designated by where you live.

Again, the SHARE program is a volunteer-run program. SHARE also encourages those who participate in the food program to volunteer at least two hours a month. This volunteering can be the public ministry, at a SHARE facility, the Humane Society, etc. Wow, $15.00 or $25.00 plus two hours of your time per month; and get enough food to fill up a refrigerator, what a bargin! Please let me know how you enjoy the savings and the food. Have a good weekend.