Craig Daily Press

SHARE Craig wants to share the wealth this holiday season.

Jack Anderson, SHARE Craig's registration coordinator, hopes to have 50 meals donated by local individuals and businesses to give to families for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

"We've given 10 to 15 baskets in the past but we decided to make a larger effort this year," Anderson said. "We've had a couple of large donations but we're a bit short of the goal."

SHARE, or Self Help And Resource Exchange, is a national food co-op that offers food packages at reduced prices for anyone who wishes to participate.

The program distributes food once a month and most of the food is offered in packages priced from $15 to $25.

The food basket giving program asks for a donation of $25 to fejavascript:body_doublesp()ed a family of four. Each package, which can also be purchased for yourself, is the "special thanksgiving dinner package," which includes a 12-pound whole turkey, 24-ounce pumpkin pie, a loaf of French bread, 10 ounces of frozen corn, 15 ounces of cranberry sauce, 24 ounces of stuffing mix, gravy mix packet, three to five pounds of potatoes, two yellow onions and additional fruits and vegetables.

"I think it's enough that there will be leftovers as well," Anderson said. "Leftovers are a big part of the holidays."

Donations for the Thanksgiving meals will be accepted through Sunday. Donations for the Christmas meal will be accepted until the next deadline at the beginning of December.

Anderson said he was accepting names of families who may need the free meal.

"It's an easy way to help out a family in the community," he said.

The monthly registration for a SHARE package is from 5 to 7 p.m. tonight at St. Michael's Catholic Church, 678 School St.

The Thanksgiving order is usually the largest of the year for SHARE Craig.

"We usually have to find a larger facility to distribute the meals because of how much food we had," Anderson said. "This year, we anticipate there will be even more if we reach our goal of donated meals."

To find out more about donating a meal or about SHARE Craig, call Anderson at 629-3122 or come to St. Michaels tonight during the registration.