Purpose

New River Community Action established SHARE Virginia to provide food at minimum cost to low-income families and to build and strengthen communities through volunteer service.

Description

 
New River Community Action (NRCA) sponsors SHARE Virginia that supplies food at a minimum cost to low-income families and all people who wish to stretch their food dollars.  SHARE (Self-Help and Resource Exchange) is a self-help program supported by church organizations, local businesses, civic clubs, human service agencies, and private donors.
 

Participants pay $20 in cash or food stamps plus two (2) hours of community service in exchange for a monthly food package containing at least $38 - $40 worth of food.  There is no limit on the number of food packages a participant may purchase.  Special food packages can also be purchased that typically include various meat items at savings of $8 - $10 per package.

Efforts are made to have payments made for the upcoming month at the time participants pick up their food packages.  Churches or agencies may occasionally cover a participant's first month payment, as well as provide payments to cover emergency food needs.

Volunteer service may involve direct involvement with SHARE (i.e. bagging and preparing the food for distribution) or any volunteer activity that benefits the community or an individual.  Verification of volunteer service is through self-declaration and might include helping seniors, church or school involvement, etc.  Maintaining the volunteer element of SHARE is essential in order to protect the sponsoring organization's non-profit status.

Some community groups assist as SHARE volunteers (i.e. high school and college students).  SHARE is also used as a site for alternative community service work, as well as occasionally for work release under the correctional system.

SHARE Virginia staff include the SHARE Director, Bookkeeper/Office Assistant, Host Manager II, Host Manager I, Warehouse Manager, and Warehouse Assistant.  AmeriCorps or VISTA placements are a potential source of staffing.

SHARE distributes food through local groups over a wide geographic area.  SHARE Virginia has over 130 Host Organizations distributing food to thousands of people in both the immediate NRCA service area and a broader territory as far away as portions of Tennessee, Kentucky and West Virginia – see WV 2008 holiday news coverage.  An annual recognition event is held to express appreciation for the efforts of Host Organizations.  This usually includes exchange of information, shared meal, door prizes donated by businesses, and appreciation awards.  SHARE participants often attend along with Host Organization representatives.

Developing a large network of Host Organizations creates the ability to order a large quantity of food that can be purchased in bulk at wholesale prices.  Procurement arrangements exist with both national and local vendors.  To the degree practicable, some coordination of purchasing occurs among the regional SHARE organizations (see list below).

Food distribution days are scheduled toward the end of each month, usually on a Friday and/or Saturday.  Having access to free or low-cost warehouse space is a vital consideration.  SHARE Virginia has one central warehouse location and two satellite warehouse locations (one in West Virginia and one in Tennessee).

To be able to cover freight charges, a minimum of between 300-500 food packages are necessary to be established as a new trucking site (i.e. pickup location for Host Organizations).  Another option would be for groups to use their own truck or contract with another group to pick up their food packages.  Only 25 orders are necessary to become a Host Distribution site within areas already covered.

Proper storage and handling of food is a necessity to ensure meeting standards for food inspections that are regularly conducted.  A special food sale is conducted after distribution to dispense of remaining perishable items (i.e. leftover produce is sold at cost).  Unsold items are also given to soup kitchens.  An inventory is maintained to track the quantity and expiration dates of all items.

It is possible to establish SHARE in communities that are not now involved with the program.  This can be accomplished by affiliating with an existing SHARE organization or by developing a regional SHARE operation - see AARP article:

• SERVE New England (CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT)
• SHARE - Philadelphia (DE, MD, NJ, NY, PA)
• SHARE - DC Metro (DC, MD, PA, VA, WV) 
• SHARE - Peninsula (Newport News, VA)
• SHARE - Florida
• SHARE - Iowa
• Food SHARE America (CO, KS, LA, MO, NE, NM, OK, SD, TX, WY)
  • Community Food Coop of Utah
• Golden Share Foods (Southern CA)

Outcomes

During 2007-2008, SHARE Virginia provided more than 52,200 food packages to participants in Southwest Virginia, Southern West Virginia, Northeast Tennessee, and Southeast Kentucky through its 130 host organizations.  Participants paid $20 each month for a food package worth approximately $40.  SHARE volunteer services to the community during 2007/2008 were valued at approximately $61,074.

SHARE Virginia distributed an average of nearly 100,000 food packages a year from 1997-2004.  This includes approximately 72,000 regular food packages and over 26,000 special food packages (steaks, etc.).  The collective annual savings to families is more than $1.15 million based on a minimum of $16 lower than retail costs for regular food packages alone.