Discount Food Program Coming to York County
Participants Are Asked To Do Volunteer Work
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By Tom Joyce
York, PA- If you sign up for the Self Help and Resource Exchange (SHARE) program, you can get good food at a discount price.
There are no income requirements. And the cost of signing up is agreeing to do volunteer work.
The York County Food Bank is in the process of bringing the program here. The food bank's Executive Director Jonathan Fisher saied he's pretty excited about it.
"It actually engates our community to get involved, " he said. "If you eat, you qualify."
Fisher provided the following information about the program and its services.
What does the program provide?
Once a month, the food bank will bring packages of food from a regional center in Philadelphia to "host sites" in York County, where people can pick them up. The packages will consist of good quality meat and produce, valued at anywhere from $50-$70.
What does participation cost?
Each package will cost participants about $20. In addition, they must agree to do two hours of volunteer service per package.
What kind of volunteer service?
It's up to you. You can go to a charitable agency in the county. Or you can just spend two hours mowing an elderly neighbor's lawn. It's strictly on an honor system, and you decide what kind of volunteer service to do.
Who's behind this?
SHARE was formed in 1983 in California, and now has branches throughout the country. The program buyts food at a discount, and is funded throught participants payments.
Who's qualified to participate?
Anyone who wants to.
Why is the Food Bank bringing the program to the county?
To supplement its existing services. Although there are no income requirements, Food Bank officials are hoping the program will help people who could use a hand, but don't qualify for any other programs.
What's next?
A meeting of about 15 possible county host sites for the SHARE program is scheduled for Tuesday. Jonathan Fisher, executive director of the York County Food Bank, hopes it can start immediately after. For more information, visit www.yorkfoodbank.org/share-program/, call 846-6435, or email jeremys@yorkfoodbank.org.
