Got a Happy Story is a community gathering every Monday night where we share stories large and small that have put a smile on our face. It is a time to acknowledge the joy and wonder we experience. The Happy Story diary exists as a way to anchor the community in hope and comfort while we do the hard work of taking back our country. Everyone and all sorts of stories and pictures are welcome. May we find joy and strength here.
Back in 1990 I was in graduate school and we were required to do a community service project. I'm not sure how I even discovered SHARE back then but I was a small part of rolling it out into Eastern Massachusetts.
SHARE stands for Self Help and Resource Exchange. It's a food distribution program where SHARE buys food in bulk, like supermarkets do, and then sells the food at cost with a 2 hour commitment of community service. People purchase the food early in the month. Their food box is delivered on the 3rd weekend of the month. That allows people to eat when they would have normally run out of food for that last week of the month.
SHARE was actually founded in California in 1983 by Peter Meisen. Mr. Meisen had a visit with Mother Theresa and she reminded him that there were plenty of people in need in this country. He came up with the SHARE program as a way to help families and communities.
The food box usually contains 4 different frozen meats, fruits and vegetables, pasta or rice, and then something like cake mix or cheese. Each box costs $16-25 and contains food worth 1 1//2 or double the price.
There are SHARE programs all across the country but unfortunately they don't seem to be collected at one website. Here are a few that I found:
NY, NJ, PA, MD, DE
Florida
Tulsa
Wisconsin
DC, MD, VA
Colorado
New England
Iowa h/t deweysmom
The New England organization separated itself from the national organization and changed the name. Our prices are higher because as much of the food as possible is local. Here is the March menu in my area:
For $25
Ground Beef (1 lb.)
Marinated Teriyaki Steak Tips
(1 lb)
Precooked Breaded Perch Filets
Boneless Chicken Breasts (1 lb)
Potatoes - 5 lb. bag
Onions - 2 lb. bag
Carrots - 1 lb. bag
Bananas (5)
Apples (4)
Plums (4)
Broccoli & Cauliflower (16 oz Bag)
Rice (1 lb)
Marinara Sauce
Every locality runs things with their own quirks. I helped to set up the program in poor urban neighborhoods and wealthy suburban neighborhoods. I think it is a wonderful program. People are usually concerned initially that it is charity but once they realize they're purchasing the food and paying with their volunteer hours they are happy to participate.
What's your happy story this week?