TBO.com wanted to pass along this press release from a local “food-buying program.”  You might want to check it out to see if it is something that would suit your food purchase needs:

SHARE Florida Food Network is a non-profit food buying organization that offers high-quality, nutritious food at a reduced cost through a volunteer-run, community-based distribution system.  SHARE is a program of Cornerstone Family Ministries and is headquartered in Tampa with eight satellite sites throughout the state.  Anyone can be a member of SHARE, there are no membership fees or income requirements.  Participants can pay with cash or EBT cards. 

SHARE distributes food once a month on a Saturday and participants can purchase as much food as they like, with a minimum purchase of $6.00.  People who purchase SHARE packages save up to 30-55% off the retail price of frozen meats and fresh produce.  There is a network of 290 non-profit SHARE locations in Florida, and they are ALL run by volunteers.  SHARE has been helping people save money on groceries since 1990 and has served the needs of many, including single parent families, the elderly, disabled individuals, and anyone else who wants to save money while building a stronger community.

For more information about SHARE, please contact (813) 248-3379.  Our website, www.shareflorida.org, lists our menus, distribution calendars, and SHARE site locations directory.  We would love to get the word out about how SHARE can help the Tampa area during these tough economic times.