Share Fund

THE SHARE FUND IS A CHARITABLE OUTREACH PROGRAM WHICH PROVIDES VARIOUS TYPES OF MATERIAL AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS IN NEED DURING EMERGENCIES OR TIMES OF SEVERE HARDSHIP.

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, GONIC, & FARMINGTON, NH TO PREVENT OR ALLEVIATE HUNGER. IN 2021, 8389 INDIVIDUALS BENEFITED FROM OUR FOOD PANTRY SERVICES AND NEARLY 650 HOLIDAY MEAL BASKETS WERE DISTRIBUTED. WE PILOTED A PROGRAM IN MAY WITH THE ROCHESTER HOUSING AUTHORITY, "POP-UP PANTRIES" DISTRIBUTING FOOD TO FOLKS AT SEVERAL LOW-INCOME/SENIOR HOUSING PROPERTIES IN THE CITY. AS A RESULT, WE ARE SERVING OVER 120 MORE NEIGHBORS THAT DUE TO TRANSPORTATION, HEALTH, OR OTHER ISSUES HAD NOT BEEN ABLE TO ACCESS ASSISTANCE IN THE PAST. OUR COMMUNITY DIAPER BANK DISTRIBUTES FREE DIAPERS TO LOW-INCOME FAMILIES THROUGH GERRY'S EMERGENCY FOOD PANTRY. OVER 29,000 DIAPERS WERE DISTRIBUTED TO CHILDREN AND ADULTS IN NEED IN 2021. DUE TO LAYOFFS AND OTHER CHALLENGES ASSOCIATED WITH THE COVID-19 CRISIS, OUR FOOD PANTRY SAW A 53% INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF FOOD ASSISTANCE REQUESTS VS. 2020, AN INCREASE THAT HAS SEEN US NEARLY DOUBLE THE NEIGHBORS SERVED COMPARED TO 2019. ALSO DUE TO TRANSPORTATION AND HEALTH CONCERNS, MANY IN NEED OF FOOD ASSISTANCE WERE UNABLE TO COME TO OUR BUILDING AND OUR HOME DELIVERY SERVICE CONTINUES TO FEED OVER 60 HOUSEHOLDS MONTHLY. WE PARTNERED ONCE AGAIN WITH LOCAL FARMERS PROVIDING HUNDREDS OF FARM-FRESH PRODUCTS TO OUR FAMILIES RIGHT THROUGH THE FALL. WE ALSO ADJUSTED OUR POLICIES AND PROCEDURES, RESULTING IN MANY FORMER CLIENTS RETURNING FOR ASSISTANCE AS WELL AS PROVIDING EASY-CARE BAGS FOR THE CITY'S HOMELESS POPULATION.(2) EMERGENCY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROVIDES FINANCIAL HELP WITH SHELTER AND EXPENSES TO ENSURE HEALTHY HOMES FOR RESIDENTS OF ROCHESTER, EAST ROCHESTER, GONIC, FARMINGTON, 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. OUR AUTO-REPAIR ASSISTANCE CONTINUES TO FLOURISH, HELPING MANY WITH EMERGENCY REPAIRS WHOSE VEHICLES ARE OFTEN THERE "HOMES" AS WELL. IN 2021, 143 INDIVIDUALS BENEFITED FROM SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE EMERGENCY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. WE SAW A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN THE AMOUNTS REQUESTED DUE IN PART TO MORATORIUMS EXPIRING. OUR EXPECTATION IS WE WILL SEE AN INCREASE IN DEMAND FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IN 2022 AS WELL. 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 WITH NO GEOGRAPHIC RESTRICTIONS. FAMILIES WHO QUALIFY THROUGH A SIMPLE "VALIDATION REFERRAL SYSTEM" (WORKING WITH OTHER AREA RESOURCE PROVIDERS) MAY OBTAIN NEEDED CLOTHING, SHOES, & ACCESSORIES FOR ADULTS AND CHILDREN, AS WELL AS OTHER HOUSEHOLD GOODS. NEARLY "FREE-SHOPPING" VISITS RESULTED IN OVER $24,000 WORTH OF CLOTHING AND HOUSEHOLD ITEMS DISTRIBUTED TO FOLKS IN NEED. 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.