Holiday Bills Adding Up? Resolve To Save 30-50% On Food

Dec. 8, 2010 - PRLog -- The holidays are a delightful time of year. But it’s also when many family budgets are stretched to the max. Now the bills from holiday shopping are starting to pile up on the kitchen table, and the reality of paying those bills is setting in. With 25 years of experience helping families save on food—the number two household expense—SHARE Food Buying Club is an essential resource for families on a tight budget.

The program’s cost savings can make a big difference. For just $25, SHARE’s BIG Value Package typically includes an assortment of 7-8 frozen meats, canned and dry goods, and a Deluxe Produce Assortment with seven kinds of fresh fruits and vegetables. Similar items at the grocery store usually run in the range of $45 to $50. For SHARE member families who purchased this package consistently over the past six months, the savings added up to over $140.

Unlike many other nonprofit food programs, none of the food distributed through SHARE is donated or government commodity. SHARE purchases all of the food it distributes on the wholesale market, just like a supermarket. SHARE offers a monthly selection of quality frozen meats, fresh fruits and vegetables, canned and dry goods, convenience items, family-size packages, and even organic produce. Members can pick and choose the food they order every month, plus they can save even more by choosing one of the monthly product assortments.

A common misconception about SHARE is that families must meet some kind of income requirements or eligibility guidelines in order to participate. But because SHARE is a private nonprofit organization that achieves savings on food through an extensive volunteer workforce, there are no eligibility requirements whatsoever. Everyone is welcome to participate.

SHARE’s volunteer workforce is essential to the program. All members who purchase food through SHARE are invited to volunteer, but there are no volunteer requirements. Over 200 volunteer-run SHARE food pick-up sites are located throughout Wisconsin, northern Illinois, northeastern Minnesota and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

SHARE is now accepting orders for pick-up in January. Families can order online at http://www.sharewi.org through January 9 or they can call toll-free 800-548-2124 to order through January 7. Pick-up will be held on Saturday, January 22 at most SHARE sites.

SHARE’s online ordering system accepts debit and credit card payments only, but the local volunteer team and main office can also accept cash, check, money order and Quest/Link/Bridge (food stamp) cards.

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SHARE's nonprofit, volunteer-run food buying club helps families save 30-50% on supermarket quality food. Everyone is welcome. For nearly 25 years, SHARE volunteers have brought savings on food to hundreds of communities in the Upper Midwest.