Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, February 20, 1992 TAG: 9202200468
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: S4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: CHARLES STEBBINS CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
IF YOU EAT, SHARE WANTS TO HELP YOU SAVE MONEY
Dendra Edgell is so enthusiastic about the SHARE program that she wants to tell everybody."It's a terrific program," she said, "and it's open to everybody."
SHARE stands for Self-Help And Resource Exchange. It is a non-profit program to distribute food at low cost. But it is not just for low-income people.
"There is no eligibility," Edgell said. "It's open to anybody regardless of income."
The program has a slogan: "If you eat, you qualify."
The program also has a second slogan: "Food is our vehicle, community is our goal."
The cost is $13 plus 59 cents sales tax for 25 to 30 pounds of food, which is distributed once a month.
It is estimated that participants can save up to 60 percent on their food bills through SHARE.
The program has operated in the New River Valley for about eight years and recently expanded into the Roanoke Valley. So far the program has two distribution points in the Roanoke Valley, and Edgell said there is a need for more.
A distribution center at Evangelical Methodist Church in Salem began last February, and a second one at Pilgrim Baptist Church in Roanoke started in December. The program's office for this area is in Christiansburg, and the food warehouse is in Pulaski.
"We have a big need for more host organizations," Edgell said. "It does not have to be a church, but it's a good ministry for churches."
Any organization or business with a room large enough to handle the food can be a host, she said. The size of the room needed depends on how much food is handled.
One of the secrets of the low cost, Edgell said, is that participants are required to give two hours of community service for each unit of food. Because of that, nearly everyone in the program is a volunteer.
The cost also is kept low because SHARE buys in bulk directly from manufacturers. And it's all high-quality food, she said.
"It's based on the idea that `I help you, you help someone else' ", Edgell said.
The food consists of meats, vegetables, fruits and cereals. But Edgell said that with the type of food that's distributed participants "can't be picky eaters or on a strict diet."
Edgell was introduced to SHARE when a woman in her church heard about it. Several people from Evangelical Methodist bought one unit to see what it was like.
"I couldn't believe it," Edgell said of when she saw her first unit of food. "I thought, `All this food for $13?' I though there must be a catch to it."
Edgell said she soon came to realize that God had led her to this.
"I consider this my ministry," she said. Now she is the manager of the program for her church.
Edgell said anyone wishing to tie into the program, either as a participant or a host organization, should call Evangelical Methodist at 389-5503, Pilgrim Baptist at 342-5058 or the main office at Christiansburg at (703) 382-6186.
SHARE originated in California in the early 1980s. Edgell said at first it was intended to feed only the poor but soon expanded to include anyone.
"It just took off," she said.
Edgell said the program attempts to address the spiritual poverty experienced by many in society. By requiring each participant to give two hours of community service, she said, the participants are reminded that all people are interconnected. It shows that contributions of all, regardless of economic status, are vital to the full community.
SHARE Virginia serves 22 counties in Southwest Virginia. It is affiliated with SHARE-USA, which is a division of World SHARE.