SHARE Food Ministry Serves Community
WHAT IS SHARE?
The SHARE Food Ministry of St. Paul works with the SHARE Food Network of Hyattsville, MD, to make available high quality, affordable, and nutritious food to the community. The program was established by Catholic Charities in 1990 as SHARE (Self Help and Resource Exchange) and now partners with over 325 churches and community organizations. St. Paul became a Host Site in 2001.
Participants are asked to perform two hours of volunteer service in their community and pay $20.50 for two bags of groceries worth approximately $40.00. That $.50 pays for transportation and miscellaneous costs, so there is no financial cost to the church.
The food is purchased from retailers in bulk so that all individual participants can enjoy the lower prices. It is like catching a great sale at your local grocery store-- every month!
WHO PARTICIPATES IN SHARE?
SHARE is open to everyone! Participants are not limited by income or the number of packages, and there is no advance sign-up requirement. Participants may order as many packages as desired per month and pay by cash, check, debit/charge or EBT card.
GROCERY PACKAGES
Each month participants are given options for what they are able to purchase. A Value Package is offered each month and priced at $20.50. It contains various meat, poultry or fish products; rice or other side dishes; fruits and vegetables. The price varies for the Special Package, which is offered about five times a year, usually near holidays. This package contains all meat or all chicken (no fruit or vegetables). At Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas, the specials may include ham or turkey.
Each month the new menus are posted on the bulletin board in the hallway at St. Paul, on the website, and in the Beacon.
VOLUNTEERS FOR SHARE
Volunteers for the SHARE Ministry include St. Paul church members as well as community members who gather each month to pick up the food in bulk from the warehouse and prepare individual grocery packages to fulfill the orders. Some of our volunteers are teens earning community service hours. Most of our community volunteers joined after coming to purchase a package.
WAYS YOU CAN PARTICIPATE
Have you purchased a package(s) for yourself or for someone else? St. Paul has been very faithful in donating food packages for needy families in the community and we appreciate all you have done. Through these donations, we have been able to help many families – both in the community and in our own church. Donated packages are delivered to the TCRC Food Pantry for distribution.
Won’t you make a commitment to share through SHARE by purchasing and donating a package to a needy family or individual.
WE WANT TO DO MORE.
The SHARE Ministry is working with the SHARE Food Network to see how we can refresh, rebrand, and try new innovative ways to carry this ministry even deeper into our changing community. We invite you to come out and join us as God leads us into this next phase to know, invite, and serve our brothers and sisters in this community.
¿Hablas Español? If so, SHARE needs your help. ALL are welcome to share in this ministry as purchasers and/or volunteers.
