Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, March 5, 1992                   TAG: 9203050419
SECTION: NEIGHBORS                    PAGE: E-4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: CHARLES STEBBINS
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

GROUP WANTS TO SHARE ITS LOW-COST FOOD PLAN

"It's a terrific program," she said, "and it's open to everybody."

SHARE stands for Self-Help And Resource Exchange, and it's non-profit program to distribute food at low cost.

"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 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.

The food consists of meats, vegetables, fruits and cereals. But Edgell said that with the type of food distributed, participants "can't be picky eaters or on a strict diet."

The program, which originated in California in the early 1980s, serves 22 counties in Southwest Virginia and is affiliated with SHARE-USA, a division of World SHARE.

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.

SHARE is seeking host organizations in the Vinton area. For more information on being a participant or a host organization, call Evangelical Methodist at 389-5503, Pilgrim Baptist at 342-5058 or the main office at Christiansburg at (703) 382-6186.