A Dignified Approach to Food Assistance
What Is the Member Share Grocery Program?
United Against Poverty’s Member Share Grocery Program (MSGP) is an innovative approach to food assistance that combines affordability with dignity. Unlike traditional food assistance models, the MSGP operates as a subsidized grocery program where members personally select the food and household items that best meet their needs.
The program works on a simple principle: members contribute a small handling fee for each item, allowing them to save up to two-thirds of their household food budget while maintaining the dignity of choice. This model creates a sustainable system that empowers individuals and families to manage their resources effectively while accessing essential items.
Inside our MSGP facilities, members find a wide variety of products including:
- Fresh produce and seasonal fruits and vegetables
- Refrigerated dairy products
- Frozen meats and prepared foods
- Pantry staples and canned goods
- Bread and baked items
- Personal care products
- Household essentials
Our program focuses on providing nutritious, quality food options that support healthy eating habits for families facing financial challenges. With our refrigeration and freezer capacity, we can offer fresh and frozen items that are often unavailable through other assistance programs.
Who Benefits from the Member Share Grocery Program?
The MSGP serves a diverse community of individuals and families experiencing financial challenges. Membership is FREE to anyone living at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level. In 2024, United Against Poverty served 38,794 families through the program.
Our members include:
Working Families Many of our members are employed but struggle with low wages, reduced hours, or high living costs. The MSGP helps these families stretch their paychecks further, allowing them to afford other necessities like housing, utilities, and healthcare.
Seniors on Fixed Incomes For older adults living on limited retirement funds or Social Security benefits, our program provides significant savings on food costs. We offer Senior Wednesdays with an additional 10% discount for members 55 and older.
Individuals Facing Temporary Hardship Life events like job loss, medical emergencies, or unexpected expenses can create temporary financial strain. The MSGP provides a buffer during these challenging times, helping people maintain stability until their situation improves.
Military Families and Veterans We recognize the service of military members with Military Mondays, offering a 10% discount to those with a valid Military ID. This additional support helps military families and veterans manage tight budgets.
Educators and Students With Educator Thursdays and College Student Fridays, we provide a 10% discount to teachers and college students who present their school IDs. This acknowledges the financial challenges often faced by those in education.
When Would Someone Need the Member Share Grocery Program?
Life circumstances can quickly change, creating situations where the MSGP becomes an essential resource:
During Employment Transitions When someone loses a job or experiences reduced work hours, the MSGP helps bridge the gap until new employment or increased hours are secured. This temporary support prevents families from depleting savings or accruing debt for basic necessities.
When Living on Limited Income For those with fixed or limited incomes—including seniors, individuals with disabilities, and minimum wage workers—the MSGP provides ongoing assistance that makes limited funds stretch further each month.
Following Unexpected Expenses Medical bills, car repairs, or home emergencies can strain even carefully planned budgets. The MSGP helps individuals recover from these financial setbacks without sacrificing nutrition.
When Facing Rising Costs As housing, healthcare, and childcare costs increase, many families find their food budgets squeezed. The MSGP ensures that nutritious food remains accessible despite these economic pressures.
During Life Transitions Major life changes like divorce, the birth of a child, or relocation can create temporary financial instability. The MSGP provides support during these transition periods.
The program serves as both a short-term safety net and a long-term resource, depending on each member’s unique circumstances. Some members visit us for a few months during a difficult period, while others rely on the program for extended support while working toward greater financial stability.
Why United Against Poverty Chose This Food Assistance Model
The Member Share Grocery Program represents a deliberate choice to move beyond traditional charity models. United Against Poverty developed this approach based on several core principles:
Dignity Through Choice We believe that everyone deserves the dignity of choosing what foods they bring home to their families. The ability to select items based on personal preferences, dietary needs, cultural traditions, and cooking capabilities preserves a sense of autonomy that is often lost in traditional food assistance programs.
Empowerment Over Dependency By asking members to contribute a small handling fee rather than providing items for free, the MSGP creates a partnership rather than a dependency relationship. This small investment helps members maintain a sense of self-sufficiency and responsibility while still receiving substantial assistance.
Sustainable Support The handling fees help offset operational costs, allowing the program to serve more people and maintain a consistent, high-quality selection of products. This creates a sustainable model that can provide long-term support to the community.
Pathway to Self-Sufficiency The MSGP is designed to be part of a broader approach to addressing poverty. The savings members experience free up resources for other necessities, education, or debt reduction. All these are steps toward greater financial stability. The program works alongside our other services, including the Success Training Employment Program (STEP), to create multiple pathways out of poverty.
Community Building The experience creates natural opportunities for social interaction, reducing the isolation often experienced during financial hardship. Members connect with each other and with our staff, building supportive relationships and expanding their support networks.
The Impact of Choosing Member Share for Food Assistance
The MSGP model has proven remarkably effective. In 2024 alone, United Against Poverty served 38,794 families through the program. The average member saves approximately 67% on their grocery costs. These savings translate into greater housing security, reduced stress, and improved overall well-being.
Beyond the numbers, we see the impact in the stories members share:
Graylin’s family walked a mile with their young children to access the program when they were on the edge of homelessness. They were amazed by “how much food we were actually getting, how much we could save.”
Sandi, a retired nurse, found that the MSGP not only helped stretch her fixed income but also provided “social interaction in the aisles.” The program even enabled her to share snacks with her church community each Sunday.
These stories reflect our fundamental belief that addressing poverty requires more than just meeting immediate needs. It requires preserving dignity, fostering community, and creating pathways to self-sufficiency. The Member Share Grocery Program embodies this comprehensive approach, offering not just food but hope and a hand up to those working toward a more stable future. To learn more about the Member Share Grocery Program or to apply for membership, visit our MSGP page at https://unitedagainstpoverty.org/member-share-grocery-program/ or contact your nearest United Against Poverty location.