House of Mercy unveils new food program; orders due by Feb. 8

House of Mercy, in Manassas, has united with SHARE (Self Help And Resource Exchange), a nonprofit food and community-building network sponsored by the Archdiocese of Washington, to bring high quality meats and produce to local families at a low cost.

SHARE food packages can be purchased each month at House of Mercy, located at 8170 Flannery Court, with monthly deadlines and pickup times.

February orders for SHARE food packages can be placed now through Feb. 8. They can also be made by phone at 603-659-1636 for credit or debit card orders. February orders must be picked up on Saturday, Feb. 23, between 9 a.m. and noon at House of Mercy.

For $22 including transportation costs, each SHARE package includes about $45 worth of frozen meats, fresh fruits, vegetables and other food staples. Anyone can purchase the packages, said Kellie Ross, House of Mercy Executive Director. “There is no income eligibility requirement. The network helps all families save money on their groceries by providing low-cost nutritious foods,” she said.

Individuals who buy the packages are asked to volunteer a minimum of two hours in their community during the month. Proof of hours must be provided at the time of package pickup. “This is the only requirement for the program. SHARE’s purpose is to build communities as well as strengthen families,” Ross said.

The menu for February orders includes the Value Package (one pound of Hillshire Farms smoked dinner sausage, two pounds of Tysons split chicken breasts, a little less than a pound – .85 – of ground turkey, one pound of all-beef meatballs, one pound of Quaker Quick Oats, three pounds of white potatoes and five to six other fresh produce items); the February Meat Special Package, which contains 4.5 pounds of meat (one pound of ground beef and four each of beef sirloin steaks, pork chops and chicken breasts) and the February Seafood Special, which includes 3.8 pounds of seafood (two pounds of jumbo coconut shrimp and six five-ounce sole fillets stuffed with scallops and crab).

February offerings also include a limited quantity of a new Cooking for Two Special for $18 including transportation costs. The package includes two pounds of split chicken breasts, one pound of Alaskan Pollock fillets, three-fourths of a pound of Butterball smoked turkey breast deli slices, one pound of Quaker Quick Oats, 10 hot chocolate packets, three pounds of white potatoes and three other fresh produce items.

House of Mercy buys the packages at cost from SHARE based on orders received and adds $2 per order for transportation costs to pick up the packages at SHARE’s site in Fredericksburg, Ross said.

Payments for food package orders can be made by credit and debit card (Visa, MasterCard or Discover), cash or food stamps. No checks are accepted.