Lake Superior SHARE, a community-based, nonprofit volunteer-run food buying club, announces the establishment of Barnum Area SHARE, the newest distribution site in the Lake Superior region. Monthly distributions of food club orders will take place in Barnum at the Carlton County Fairgrounds each month.

On Saturday September 26th, the public is invited to attend a kick-off reception at the Fairgrounds’ distribution site from Noon-1:00pm. The experienced volunteer leadership team, who has served at the Carlton SHARE site since March 2009, will introduce visitors to the October order form during the reception. All attendees will receive a door prize and are welcome to participate in a free drawing for two food packages and an assortment of gourmet pizzas.

Local information on both of the Carlton County sites in Barnum and Carlton is available from Volunteer Services’ Cloquet office or by calling them at 218-879-9238. Other communities hosting a SHARE distribution site in the Lake Superior region include Duluth, Grand Rapids, Virginia, Silver Bay, Two Harbors, Superior, Solon Springs, and Ashland. The regional office for SHARE located in Duluth can be contacted by calling 218-727-2088 9:00AM-9:00PM Monday through Sunday, or by emailing This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

General information about SHARE, monthly order forms and ordering calendar are available online at www.sharewi.org.  A searchable directory is available on the website to find SHARE sites in other locations throughout Wisconsin, northeastern Minnesota, the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and northern Illinois.

SHARE provides an easy way for every family to save on their groceries, the #2 expense in the household budget. Ever since 1983 when the first SHARE started in the United States, membership has been open to everyone; there are no eligibility requirements or membership fees.

The local SHARE site is part of SHARE of Southeastern Wisconsin, a nonprofit organization which purchases nutritious food for over 20,000 households each month. SHARE distributes food that is purchased locally when possible, or on the national wholesale market. None of the food is donated, commodity issued or out-of-date. SHARE was recently recognized by the State of Wisconsin’s “Golden Carrot Award” for its success in increasing the affordability and accessibility of fresh fruits and vegetables. October marks the beginning of SHARE’s 25th anniversary year.

SHARE works like a monthly food co-op. Shoppers can choose from two assorted packages, or they can choose items individually from a list of 20-21 items, primarily meat selections and fresh produce, including a 10-pound organic produce assortment. The savings of 30-50% passed on to club members is primarily due to the benefits of bulk purchasing power and an all-volunteer distribution system. SHARE is a valuable resource for any family seeking to stretch its food dollars; however it is only meant to be supplemental. SHARE members continue to shop at local grocery stores for items needed in between monthly shipments and for grocery items unavailable through SHARE. Members can volunteer to help take the orders, unload the truck each month, take inventory, and distribute the groceries during the local monthly pick-up. Child care centers, assisted living homes, group homes and other organizations are welcome to reduce their grocery expenses through SHARE.