Resource Spotlight: the Sharing Center

KENOSHA COUNTY — For the last 40 years, western Kenosha County has been home to the Sharing Center. Some call it a food pantry, others know it as the place they can pick up clothing, diapers and school supplies when they can’t afford to purchase much. Still, others call it the place they receive help finding a place to lay their heads at night.

The Sharing Center is all of these things and so much more.

Each year, the center sees a few hundred people come through their doors to volunteer, but a core group of around 40 volunteers keep the wheels turning and the shelves stocked.

Humble beginnings

It all started in 1982 when a friendly chat between friends revealed a shared endeavor: helping those in need. Kathy Fors and Marilyn Chalet, two of the three founders of the Sharing Center, were sharing conversation over a cup of coffee and discovered they both had been “exhausting” their pantry cupboards in order to give to those who were in need within the Wheatland Estates Mobile Home Park.

Together, the friends—including Kathy’s husband, Rick—started the Sharing Center, during a recession, in 1983.

The Sharing Center today

Stephanie Witkiewicz is the Pantry Manager at the Sharing Center. She explained that this invaluable community resource has a special goal:

“We are in the business to help you not come back,” said Witkiewicz.

A myriad of services

Witkiewicz understands that those who are in need of one thing are most likely in need of several others. Therefore, the goal of the Sharing Center is to provide a comprehensive approach to serving those in need.

Housing

From families who are in need of services that can help them pay rent or utility bills in emergency situations to those in need of housing, the Sharing Center has resources to serve the community.

Household and clothing closet

Children’s services

Raising a family is expensive. Diapers, wipes, formula and baby food is an ongoing, costly expense. Families can find these items at the center, along with other items like car seats and even holiday gifts.

Employment assistance

A more recent addition to the Sharing Center is its expanded employment assistance programming. As the center has grown, so have the number of connections and resources available to them. Complete with certain levels of job training and partners who work alongside the center, they have created something akin to a mini-employment agency.

Many people who are in need of employment may not have the tools they need to find—and keep—a job. Things like free financial coaching from UW-Extension, partnering with people to obtain their GEDs, resume writing, even trades training has been offered through the center.

Beyond

The staff and volunteers at the Sharing Center can offer confidential assistance with sensitive issues such as domestic violence, mental health advocacy, even dental and medical advocacy. Special programming for seniors and veterans is available as well.

“Our goal is to be the rural epicenter of services/connections in Kenosha County so that people (clients) are able to access what they need in the most efficient way possible,” said Witkiewicz.

The Covid-19 pandemic saw an increase in need, and also in programs to assist those in need. Now that the pandemic programming has largely ended, places like the Sharing Center have had to be vigilant to make sure their clients were cared for, post-Covid programming.

Sharon Pomaville has been the Executive Director for the last 12 years. She touched on just how much was being provided over the last few years in an email interview. There were three programs—WERA, Take Root WI, and emergency Foodshare— that provided extensive assistance to the participants at the Sharing Center. These programs all ended earlier this year. In Wisconsin alone, these programs provided more than $1 billion annually to residents.

Part of what has made the Sharing Center successful coming out of the pandemic was their attention to detail. They immersed themselves in “multiple ‘unwinding’ initiatives to help us be informed and respond constructively to what could be a literal crisis” after the programs had ended.

‘Road to the 40th’

Now in its 40th year, the Sharing Center is celebrating in a big way. On Sept. 14, everyone is invited to join the Sharing Center’s “Road to the 40th” Celebration at Wilmot Mountain Resort’s Snow Tubing Hill.

The celebration is a way to pay tribute to all of the people who have helped the center become what it is today and the achievements it has made over the last four decades.

Those who attend will enjoy a signature refreshment and gourmet food from local restaurateurs, live music, an extensive raffle with thousands of dollars in items and much more. Those who wish may enjoy the whiskey and cigar lounge as well.

Tickets are on sale now for $50 and can be purchased online. For more information about the anniversary celebration, visit the events page on their website.

Connect with the Sharing Center

The Sharing Center is located at 25700 Wilmot Road, Trevor, Wis., 53179. They can be reached by phone: 262-298-5535, through their website, or by visiting the center.