Share the Spirit is entering its 17th year, and Shari Daugherty has headed it up since the beginning.

Before Daugherty took over, a spaghetti feed was as far as Share the Spirit went. Proceeds helped what was known as the Homer Emergency Life Program. After the demise of that program, Share the Spirit became the umbrella organization for the annual Christmas food and gift program.

A little help during the holidays can make a lasting impression on the life of an individual and the happiness of a household, said Daugherty.

"We have people that volunteer every year or send money on an annual basis because they themselves or someone in their family have received help. Almost every day I'm involved with people that I know have been helped and because they got that help they are now giving back in other ways," she said.

For those who want to volunteer, the next big event is the annual spaghetti feed Dec. 8 at the Elks Lodge. The feed is the big fundraiser for Share the Spirit's food and gift program. Share the Spirit is looking for volunteers willing to make phone calls and help coordinate the feed as well as help out around the kitchen and clean up.

The Adopt-A-Family program is another part of Share the Spirit. It needs families, groups and individuals to help complete holiday baskets with both gifts and food for households in need.

Local schools will hold food drives throughout the season to bring in food for the baskets. Those donations are in addition to food purchased through funds raised by the spaghetti feed.

Share the Spirit gift trees will go up shortly after Thanksgiving. Individuals can follow the instructions on the back of the ornaments on the gift trees and help by donating a gift for a child in a household that needs a little help this holiday season.

The Share the Spirit food basket program has a major need for the big stuff the centerpieces of traditional holiday meals hams, turkeys and chickens, which can all be delivered to Homer High School on Dec. 19.

Gifts are donated unwrapped. The big day for wrapping is Dec. 18 before the baskets are assembled at Homer High School and ready to go on Dec. 19.

If those volunteer opportunities don't fit your schedule, Share the Spirit also is looking for monetary donations which can be mailed to: Share the Spirit, P. O. Box 3218, Homer or deposited directly into the Share the Spirit account at Wells Fargo.

Those who could use Share the Spirit's help this holiday season should visit a local human service agency like WIC, the Center, Job Services or Alaska Housing, or talk to a pastor, rabbi, elder or priest who can help with the details. Applications became available this week and must be turned in by Dec. 14.

Basket day is set for Dec. 21 and those who expect to receive support from Share the Spirit should keep an eye on their mail for a confirmation notice.

Share the Spirit's real gift isn't about food or presents or even about giving a needy family a leg up over the holiday season, said Daugherty. It's about showing that even when down on their luck, each individual is still a part of the community and has community support.

"It's important to give people hope that things will get better and to let them know that their neighbors care about them. They don't feel like they are a part of the community when they are struggling and can't get support," said Daugherty.

Share the Spirit

Share the Spirit Information Line 235-7466

When Formed

1992

Coordinators

Shari Daugherty

Kelly Glidden

Mission

To provide support for households and individuals in need during the holiday season.

Volunteer Opportunities

Spaghetti feed, Adopt-A-Family program, gift trees, local school food drives, wrapping gifts, putting together baskets, monetary donations

How Funded

Funded primarily through the spaghetti feed and donations of food, money and volunteer work.

Important dates

Spaghetti feed: Dec. 8

End of application for holiday baskets: Dec. 14

Gift wrapping: Dec. 18

Basket making: Dec. 19

Basket distribution: Dec. 21