Brotherly Love: Volunteers SHARE With the Hungry

By Ukee Washington

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A local non-profit that feeds the hungry is itself in need. It's getting by with the help of a lot of hands.

In a warehouse in North Philadelphia, volunteers from Philadelphia University are hard at work.

Pat Horvath, an athletics coordinator of community engagement at Philadelphia University, explained, "They're packing boxes of food to go out to elderly in the Philadelphia community."

For 25 years, SHARE (the Self-Help and Resource Exchange) has distributed food in Philadelphia and surrounding states, as far away as New York. They sell discounted food to families, priced 40 percent less than a grocery store. They supply no-cost food to 500 food cupboards. They even grow food on their own farm.

"Everything is grown without using pesticides, and it's all fresh. You can actually come help pick it," said Eloise McBride, operational manager of SHARE.

Tim Brodhag, one of the students volunteering, said, "I didn't even know there was places like this. It's awesome that they can have these facilities that can help these people."

It's all overseen by executive director Steveanna Wynn. She says growing up, her family didn't have much.

"We were ever hungry? Not that I remember, but we did eat a lot of pinto beans and corn bread," Steveanna said.

Her passion is ending hunger. Most months, money from the state helps fill this warehouse. But those funds are tied up in Pennsylvania's budget stalemate.

"We had no money in July. We had no money in August. We're looking at having no money in September," Steveanna said.

Steveanna says they depend on vendors to supply food and wait to be paid.

SHARE relies heavily on donations to keep the lights on and volunteers to keep food moving. Steveanna, a Catholic, never loses faith.

Volunteer Valez Jackson said, "She's just great. She's just like a little ball of energy."

Why does she do what she does?

"Probably because it's the right thing to do," Steveanna said.

The SHARE warehouse has slots open for volunteers. To find out when and where, go to http://sharefoodprogram.org/get-involved/sharevolunteer/volunteer-opportunities/

To donate funds, go to http://sharefoodprogram.org/get-involved/donate/