The Founding of Shepherdstown Shares

Shepherdstown Shares, founded in February 2020, was based on a previous response to a crisis in our community during the 2018 government shutdown that impacted our federal employees who lived in the Shepherdstown area. Once the crisis ended, “Shepherdstown Cares,” as the short-term response was called, closed its doors. COVID-19 emerged in 2020, leading to a nationwide shutdown.  The Shepherdstown Visitors Center, Shepherdstown Centennial Lions Club, and the Shepherdstown Community Club, once again came together to respond to the crisis just as they did during the shutdown. Shepherdstown Shares began to develop a crisis response to immediate needs in our community.

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COVID Challenges our Creative Community

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In February of 2020, it was clear that COVID-19 was going to be more dangerous and less predictable than the shutdown, and that it would last much longer. As individuals, we reorganized and widened our circle to include more of the generous, creative, and hard-working people of our area. Shepherdstown Shares filed for and received status as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization.

As needs in the community were identified during that first year, Shares added programs that met those needs, which were a direct response to the impact of COVID-19 on our community.

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Our team executed The Bench Project, Work for Workers, WV Mask Project and Narcan Training to further our mission of Mutual Aid and Harm Reduction in the community.

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Shares provided paid work for Artists - commissioning painted benches celebrating the Spirit of Shepherdstown - creating public art while giving restaurant patrons a safe, outdoor space to enjoy their take-out while public health concerns made in-person dining unavailable.

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Shares helped organize local crafters and sewing enthusiasts in support of the WV Mask Project to create thousands of hand made masks for individuals and healthcare workers to address the national shortage of personal protective equipment.  

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The Work for Workers program matched out of work service and hospitality staff laid off due to COVID closures with area citizens in need of paid help in their homes and gardens.

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Shares continues to address the ongoing opioid crisis by organizing and hosting NARCAN training and distribution efforts around the county. ​

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Shepherdstown Shares Food Pantry Opens​

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Our priority was addressing hunger. Our first pantry was a shelf in Lellybelle restaurant on German Street, owned by Jay Thomas, which opened in April 2020. We also distributed Food Lion gift cards to those in need. Our entire community supported us-- service organizations, churches, and individuals all rallied round. As food insecurity expanded in our community, they donated their time, treasure, and talent to converting the Trinity Chapel space, donated by Trinity Episcopal Church, to expand our food pantry.  The shelves were stocked with substantial donations for Jefferson County Community Ministries (JCCM) in Charles Town and the caring folks in Shepherdstown and beyond. The Episcopal Diocese of West Virginia donated a large sum to help us partner with Shepherd University’s Tabler Farm to grow, harvest, and deliver organic fruits and vegetables for our friends and neighbors who come to the pantry. Our pantry at the chapel opened in November 2020 under the direction of Cari Simon, Shares board member. 

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Shares continues to assist in the development of new Food Pantry efforts across the county, financially and materially supporting food distribution efforts in Fox Glen, Middleway and on the mountain in Mannings.​