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Many Saturdays, you can find Don Bryant at the Senior Center unloading boxes, organizing forms and volunteers for the Webster City U-Share program.

As coordinator for the program, Bryant has put in his fair share of community service hours. "17 years ago, my wife and I were invited to Faith United Methodist Church for a discussion on starting up a U-Share program in our community," he said. "We thought we would try it."

A couple years later, the U-Share coordinator was unable to run the program, a couple of volunteers asked us to take over the program."

One Saturday a month, U-Share distributes packages that people have pre-ordered . Packages range from a fruits and veggies only package to a baking package, filled with sugars and other baking amenities.

"When we took over the program we made a few changes," Bryant said. "Every year we started sending out letters to different organizations in the community for donations."

The donations to U-Share have allowed the program to give free packages to those who cannot afford to buy the groceries distributed. "We distributed 95 Thanksgiving packages this past Saturday. 85 of those were given away to the needy due to donations. This is most we have had."

"A lot of people decide not to order from U-Share because they think it's from the government," he added. "The program is actually backed by the Catholic Diocese in Davenport."

Many customers are regulars that come every month. "You can buy as much as you want. There are no guidelines, except that we ask for our customers to do two hours of community service," he said.

Bryant also stays busy in the community as the Grand Knight for the Knights of Columbus and as an active member of St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church.

U-Share packages can save customers up to fifty percent of grocery store prices. People can pay with cash or EBT/food stamps.

A Christmas dinner package is available right now for $25. It includes a 6 lb. boneless honey ham, potatoes, green beans, brown and serve rolls, a fresh produce assortment and a pre-baked apple pie. The order deadline is Dec. 4.

Contact Carrie Olson at lifestyles@freemanjournal.net or call 832-4350.