Community Sharing is an outreach agency providing food (on-site food pantry), clothing, emergency financial assistance (for utility shutoffs, evictions, assistance with jobs and transportation, support for medical, dental, and pharmacy expenses, and gasoline vouchers.) Through the Zonta Organization we offer classes in self-esteem, budgeting and job skills along with a scholarship program for clients who qualify to cover GED expenses and college classes. We currently have four clients in the program.

Community Sharing serves clients living in Milford and Highland Townships and has recently expanded its service area to include part of Wixom. Community Sharing meets critical local needs. We focus on helping children and families that do not have adequate access to food, clothing and other necessities. Our organization is almost entirely run by volunteers. Community Sharing operates with little overhead and most of our focus is directed toward services. We offer assistance to families in our community through a food pantry to distribute canned goods, food stuffs and perishables to local residents. In early 2006, we began offering tutoring (K thru 12) to children of clients.

In 2007, we helped a total of 450 different families or 1,160 individuals. We have seen a 68% increase in the number of individuals we have helped from Oct 2006 to Oct 2008.

From Gleaner?s Food Bank -- $25 will buy 43 loaves of bread, $50 will buy 96 cans of green beans and $100 will feed a family of 6 for one week. FYI: For under $650 CS can purchase 3 pallets of food.

Community Sharing has no full-time employees, but operates with several contractual, part-time staff, and with the help of hundreds of community volunteers.

Our hours are Tuesdays from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., and the second and fourth Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and the second and fourth Tuesdays from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. There is someone in the office Monday through Thursday to take emergency calls.

The long term vision of Community Sharing is to continue to increase our services and geographic reach to ensure that all those in need will receive assistance. We are dedicated to the mission of providing temporary
support to those in need through motivation and encouragement while maintaining respect for the individual. Our goal is to help our clients achieve independence through their own initiative.

The agency emerged in 2004 from a group of individuals representing organizations and churches who decided to pool their resources and evolve from an existing food pantry, Community Resource Sharing. Community Sharing survives on donations (from churches, individuals, and local businesses), grants and the generosity of dedicated volunteers. To volunteer or donate, please call 248-889-0347.