The HISTORY of SHARE
In November 1984, a group of clergy and lay people in Carlisle convened by Rev. Roger Menzter at Allison United Methodist Church to discuss the problems related to duplication of help and local people going from door to door begging for food help. Many churches had their own little food closets and did not coordinate with each other. Many of those people were representatives of the Carlisle Council of Churches which came to comprise the umbrella organization for what would become Project S.H.A.R.E.
S.H.A.R.E. stood for survival help and recipient education. They needed someone who knew the people on the street. The need for a centralized food distribution center was agreed upon, and Elaine Livas offered to head up the new project. The first distribution was held at the Boy Scout Building behind the First United Methodist Church at 64 E. North St. This church had the largest food closet run by Margie George, who was very helpful in starting Project S.H.A.R.E.
Seventy-two families were served pre-packed bags in January 1985. After several months, the ministry outgrew that building and moved to the rear of 127 S. Hanover St. owned by Dick Hensler. This warehouse was much bigger, but had no heat, bathroom, and very little electricity. The ministry stayed there a few months, but the building was sold and S.H.A.R.E needed to move.
In 1992 the Carlisle Council of Churches became the Carlisle Area Religious Council when they accepted Congregation Beth Tikvah into membership. Pastor Richard Ruff of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church offered the Carlisle Religious Council space for Project S.H.A.R.E. at Stock Hall. This site allowed the offering of food choices to the recipient. The Food Bank remained there for over 15 years until September 2002.
In October 2002 Project S.H.A.R.E. moved into a 10,000 square foot warehouse owned by Dickinson College on N. Orange St. with a 10 year lease. Growth from 2005 to 2008 was exponential rising over 43% in need. A large walk-in freezer and cooler made donations of fresh product possible as well as widen the opportunities for our extensive gleaning programs. Today SHARE now occupies 23,000 square feet and continues to pay our generous benefactors, Dickinson College, $1.00 per year.
From S.H.A.R.E to SHARE Project SHARE exemplifies the word "share" in all that we do. The community, firms, congregations, families and individuals SHARE what they have with those who have less and little. We SHARE food, and hope as our vision statement states: "Nourishing Our Community . . . Awakening Hope!"
A teaching kitchen was added for cooking classes for children and adults, as well as food preservation and reclamation. Clothing was distributed and cardboard began to be baled for self-generation of income for programs.
As a result of the Covid epidemic we added a Drive-Thru Distribution which has proved to be of value for Clients who are infirm or for other reasons prefer to have their groceries loaded into their trunks or rear doors. SHARE also has moved into a Your Choice model of shopping by appointment and choice which appears to suit most Clients moving forward.
Our mission is to reduce food insecurity for neighbors in the greater Carlisle area by offering access to nutritious food, programs, and a support network that promotes self-sufficiency, fosters dignity, and instills hope.
Project SHARE of Carlisle is able to provide services to a family residing in Carlisle area if they fall in the guidelines the Department of Agriculture has set with an income falling below 185% of the federal poverty level.
Information about both our main HQ Distribution dates and times, as well as our Farmstand Distribution can be found here:
Main Building HQ Distribution 2024
Farmstand Distribution 2024
For Your Choice make appointments at timetosignup.com/projectSHAREpa . Clients have the opportunity of to choose based on their household / family size. We are thankful to our generous community support both through food drives as well as through financial donations, which allows us to purchase even more food at wholesale rates. Along with our regular monthly distributions, we are also able to reach our home-bound clients. We would not be able to successfully complete delivering food to those in their homes without the help of our dedicated home delivery teams. Interview volunteers are also available to our clients during distribution to provide additional resource information to those experiencing hardship. When needed, referrals are also made to appropriate collaborative agencies for additional support.
Our Gleaning program harvests donations of fresh produce from 36 local farms and growers. Volunteers, composed of individuals, groups and families work together in the fields to collect fresh produce not gathered at harvest times. Locally grown crops include lettuce, peppers, tomatoes, kale, green beans, corn, squash, watermelon, cantaloupe, apples, potatoes, broccoli, and pumpkins. The work is demanding, but the rewards are many; all food is free for our labor. The Partnership for Better Health, the Stuart Foundation, the United Way, Giant Foods, Wegmans, Walmart, Allen Distribution, as well as other local foundations and businesses, support our efforts to increase access to fresh fruits and vegetables in a community wide effort to provide nutritious food to those in need.
The official registration and financial information of Project SHARE may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling toll free, within Pennsylvania, 1 (800) 732-0999. Registration does not imply endorsement.