What is SHARE?

The goal of SHARE is to help families save about 50% on their groceries, while encouraging the building of relationships with their neighbors in the community. There are no qualifications...if you eat, you qualify.

Who can  participate?

Any one from the affluent to those with struggling budgets can participate in SHARE. You see, even those who can afford to spend  more for food are being good stewards with their money by simply being more frugal. What's more, the minimal profits in each share of food sold go to  support this program and sometimes those who can't even afford to buy a share.  And if you're really not interested in participating for whatever reason, we do take donations, and the donation for what we call a "sponsored share". That means your donation goes to buy food for a neighbor in your community that needs  help.

How do I participate?

Look in our website  or our SHARE newspaper and find your zip code, or one close to it. Find a host  site location in or around your zip code area. You can go to that host site during the listed registration/sign up times to place and pay for your order. If  you've missed the registration times listed, call the numbers for the host site and see if they have another time. If not, you can always call the Share main offices for help in signing up or just information. You can also place your  order over the phone at the SHARE main office and we can add your order to the  site where you want to pick up. Our number is (303) 428-0400, or 800-933-7427.  The host site locations accept Cash, Quest cards, and most take checks. If placing an order over the phone with the main office, you can use a credit card  (Visa, M/C), Quest card, or check by phone.

After you place your order,  go back to your selected host site to pick up your order during the designated distribution/pick up day and time. (These days and times are also listed in the newspaper and website).

How does SHARE achieve this?

We select about twenty items that you're most likely to buy at the grocery store, including fresh fruits, vegetables, and frozen meats. Then  through a national affiliate network, we purchase massive quantities of these  items at very low prices. At no time do we ever accept donated food for  distribution. Then through a network of volunteers at our warehouse and  distribution centers known as "host sites", we deliver the food to these host sites where you pick up your order.

As a non-profit organization, SHARE  relies heavily on volunteers and passes on the huge savings by our reduced  expense. Unlike a traditional grocery store, we don't maintain inventories,  expensive stores, large employee bases, etc. We rely primarily on word of mouth  advertising. Plus we're in it for you, not for the organizations profits.

You say build community? How?

Our host distribution sites are generally churches, senior centers, schools, community centers, etc. The experience of picking up your "Share" of food at the host site is almost like a community party. People begin to know each other and many meet new friends. Many love and support the program so much that they ask how they can help out next month! Actually we encourage 2 hours of volunteerism for every participant. We consider volunteering anything from working at the host site or  warehouse, to babysitting, to sharing a meal with a neighbor or friend.  Virtually anything that you do for anyone not in your immediate family for free  is volunteering. Most people find that they're already doing it without realizing it. With SHARE, we feed both the body and the Spirit.

We welcome you to the SHARE family and hope you enjoy the program.