SHARE FUND INC

THE SHARE FUND PROVIDES VARIOUS TYPES OF MATERIAL AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO NEIGHBORS IN NEED TO ADDRESS BASIC NEEDS DURING EMERGENCIES/TIMES OF SEVERE HARDSHIP. SHARE FUND INC. ASSISTS WITH THE BASIC NEEDS OF FOOD, SHELTER, AND CLOTHING THROUGH THREE DISTINCT PROGRAMS. (1) (GERRY'S EMERGENCY) FOOD PANTRY PROVIDES FREE FOOD RESOURCES TO FAMILIES IN ROCHESTER, EAST ROCHESTER, BARRINGTON, GONIC, MILTON, FARMINGTON, AND SOMERSWORTH, NH TO PREVENT/ALLEVIATE HUNGER. IN 2024, NEARLY 20, 000 INDIVIDUALS BENEFITED FROM OUR FOOD PANTRY SERVICES WHICH DISTRIBUTED NEARLY 200,000 POUNDS OF RESCUED FOODS. OUR COMMUNITY DIAPER BANK DISTRIBUTED FREE DIAPERS TO LOW-INCOME FAMILIES THROUGH THE FOOD PANTRY AND PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL RESOURCES SUCH AS HEADSTART. NEARLY 37,000 DIAPERS WERE DISTRIBUTED TO CHILDREN AND ADULTS IN NEED. DUE TO INCREASES IN HOUSING AND GROCERY COSTS, AS WELL AS ENERGY PRICES, WE HAVE SEEN NEARLY A 10% YEAR OVER YEAR INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF FOOD REQUESTS. WE ALSO PARTNERED WITH SUPPORTING END 68 HOURS SCHOOL BACKPACK PROGRAMS AS WELL AS THE LOCAL HOMELESS SHELTER SHARING FOOD AND OTHER RESOURCES. ADDITIONALLY, THE WALK-IN FREEZER THAT WAS PROVIDED FOR MANY YEARS BY THE CITY OF ROCHESTER FINALLY HIT A POINT OF BEING NON-REPAIRABLE, AND THROUGHOUT THE YEAR WE PURCHASED SEVERAL NEW 2 DOOR COMMERCIAL FREEZER UNITS (6 UNITS AT AN APPROXIMATE EXPENSE OF $20, 370) AS WELL AS A NEW COMMERCIAL 2 DOOR REFRIGERATOR AT $2795.(2) EMERGENCY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROVIDES FINANCIAL HELP WITH SHELTER AND EXPENSES TO ENSURE HEALTHY HOMES FOR RESIDENTS OF ROCHESTER, EAST ROCHESTER, BARRINGTON, GONIC, FARMINGTON, MILTON, AND SOMERSWORTH NH. SPECIFIC SERVICES INCLUDE PAYMENTS TO LANDLORDS FOR BACK RENT TO AVOID EVICTION AND SECURITY DEPOSIT ASSISTANCE TO SECURE HOUSING. IN ADDITION, PAYMENTS TO UTILITY VENDORS ARE MADE FOR HELP WITH ELECTRICITY, GAS, AND WATER TO PREVENT DISCONNECTION AND PAYMENTS TO HEATING FUEL VENDORS TO PROVIDE HEAT AND/OR HOT WATER FOR HOUSEHOLDS WHO HAVE EXHAUSTED ALL OTHER BENEFITS AND RESOURCES FOR FUEL ASSISTANCE. URGENT MEDICAL NEEDS ARE ALSO ADDRESSED THROUGH THIS PROGRAM AND FAMILIES IN NEED ARE ASSISTED WITH EMERGENCY DENTAL/EYE CARE, MEDICATION, AND NEEDED MEDICAL SERVICES AND EQUIPMENT. IN 2024, WE PROVIDED OVER $93,000 IN EMERGENCY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. THIS PROGRAM ALSO PROVIDES SUPPORT SERVICES TO HELP HOUSEHOLDS IMPROVE THEIR FINANCIAL OUTLOOK WHICH INCLUDES STABILIZATION SERVICES, BUDGETING GUIDANCE, FINANCIAL COACHING, AND OTHER SUPPORT TO ENCOURAGE LONG-TERM CHANGES IN FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT HABITS. (3) THE SHARE FUND THRIFT STORE (AKA COMMUNITY CLOTHING SHOP) OFFERS FREE SHOPPING FOR FAMILIES IN NEED . FAMILIES WHO QUALIFY THROUGH A SIMPLE "VALIDATION REFERRAL SYSTEM" (WORKING WITH OTHER AREA RESOURCE PROVIDERS AS WELL AS THROUGH INTERNAL REFERRAL FROM OUR OTHER PROGRAMS) MAY OBTAIN NEEDED CLOTHING, SHOES, AND ACCESSORIES FOR ADULTS AND CHILDREN. ABOUT 65% OF ALL DONATIONS RECEIVED GO OUT THE DOOR AS PART OF OUR "FREE-SHOPPING" VISITS. THE THRIFT STORE IS ALSO OPEN TO THE PUBLIC SEEKING AN AFFORDABLE SHOPPING DESTINATION AND PROCEEDS FROM THOSE SALES GENERATE INCOME TO SUPPORT THE SHARE FUND'S SERVICES AND OVERALL OPERATIONS. 4) IN JUNE OF 2024, LONG-TIME STAFF MEMBER LISA FERNALD RETIRED FROM HER ROLE LEADING FOOD PANTRY OPERATIONS AND THE VOLUNTEER PROGRAM. IN SEPTEMBER, MARY CICCITELLI, ALSO A LONG-SERVING MEMBER OF OUR THRIFT STORE LEADERSHIP, RETIRED TO BE A FULL-TIME GRANDMA/CAREGIVER. THIS RESULTED IN A CHANGE IN OUR OPERATIONAL PLANS AND WE CREATED THE ROLE OF ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, WHICH HAS BEEN MORE THAN ADEQUATELY FILLED BY LONG-TIME VOLUNTEER LEEANN BRUNEAU!