CARE AND SHARE INCORPORATED OF ERIE COUNTY

What CARE AND SHARE INCORPORATED OF ERIE COUNTY does

Care and Share Incorporated of Erie County is an independent 501(c)(3) public, charitable nonprofit (EIN 34-1179281) founded in 1971 by The Church Women United and headquartered at 241 Jackson Street, Sandusky, Ohio. The organization operates a single "Choice Pantry" model that provides supplemental and emergency food, clothing, linens, and housewares free of charge to qualifying residents of Erie County, Ohio whose households meet ODJFS TEFAP income and household-size guidelines across specified zip codes (44870, 44839, 44814, 44846, 44847, 44811, 44824, 43438, 44889, and portions of 44089). Clients shop once per month with quantities scaled by family size, choosing items in a dignity-oriented, grocery-store-like format rather than receiving prepackaged boxes; limited delivery is available by phone request.

The organization has no proprietary technology platform. Its digital footprint is a WordPress website (careandshareerieco.org), social media presence (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn), Google Reviews and Yelp listings, and third-party donation integrations (GivSum, Venmo, and more recently Raise.pub). The underlying operating model is direct service delivery through a physical storefront; there is no ecommerce, mobile app, API, or AI/ML component. Revenue mechanics consist entirely of contributed support — individual monetary donations (check, cash, online, Venmo), grants from named foundations and trusts (Erie County Community Foundation, Frost-Parker, Wightman-Weiber, Dorn, Frohman, Mylander, Schlink, Cafaro, Boeckling, Clark, Subcasky, Keller, Ryan, among others), corporate and business donations (AkzoNobel, Meijer, Panera Bread, Gundlach Sheet Metal, City of Sandusky, Second Harvest Food Bank), and in-kind volunteer labor.

In FY 2024/2025 the organization served 22,805 people, provided 273,654 meals, and distributed 364,000+ pounds of food in Erie County. Strategic operations are supported by a Board of Directors (President Anita Stotz, Vice President Taylor Crum, Treasurer Joseph Ramey, Secretary Carol Albert, plus 10+ additional members), Executive Director Anita Kromer, Food Pantry Coordinator Jim Bertsch, and Intake Registrar Michael Anders. Core supply and community partners include Second Harvest Food Bank North Central Ohio (primary food supplier), United Way of Erie County, Erie County Community Foundation, First Presbyterian Church (facility origin), Trinity United Methodist Church, Calvary Temple, the Erie County Chamber of Commerce, and a network of more than 50 supporting faith-based organizations.

Name

CARE AND SHARE INCORPORATED OF ERIE COUNTY

Legal name

Care and Share Incorporated of Erie County

Website

https://careandshareerieco.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1971

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Care and Share Incorporated of Erie County is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1971 that provides supplemental and emergency food, clothing, linens, and housewares free of charge to qualifying low-income residents of Erie County, Ohio through a single Choice Pantry facility in Sandusky.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Emergency Food Assistance and Household Goods Distribution

NAICS

Community Food Services (62421)

SIC

Retail-Food Stores (5400)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYCRAHALAE

Buying Clubs & Community Bulk Purchasing Co-ops

Consumer Products & Retail/Grocery & Food Retail/Food Co-ops & Community Grocery

SECONDARYCRAHAMAM

Bulk Food Buying Clubs & Cooperative Bulk Programs

Consumer Products & Retail/Grocery & Food Retail/Wholesale-to-Consumer & Bulk Food Stores

Keywords

• Emergency food assistance
• Food pantry services
• Clothing assistance
• Nonprofit hunger relief
• Community food bank

Headquarters

HQ city

Sandusky, Ohio

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Monetary Donations: Individual donors contribute cash donations via check, cash, online (GivSum platform), or Venmo. Donations are tax-deductible as the organization is a 501(c)(3) public charitable organization.
2. Foundation and Trust Grants: Receives grant funding from foundations and trusts including David and Jacquelyn Clark Charitable Trust, Miller Family Revocable Trust, Schlink Foundation, Boeckling Charitable Trust, Erie County Community Foundation, Mylander Foundation, Sidney Frohman Foundation, Wightman-Wieber, Cafaro Foundation, Daniel Keller Family Fund, Edward and Susan Ryan Charitable Trust, and The Subcasky Family Trust.
3. Business and Corporate Donations: Receives donations from businesses including AkzoNobel, Meijer, City of Sandusky, Panera Bread, Gundlach Sheet Metal, and Second Harvest Food Bank. Also receives support from organizations, clubs, faith-based groups, and schools.
4. Volunteer Services: Volunteers provide essential labor for daily operations including direct client service, sorting/stocking shelves, hanging clothes, and receiving donations. This represents in-kind support enabling operations.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Care and Share Incorporated of Erie County operates a free "Choice Pantry" model providing supplemental and emergency food, clothing, linens, and housewares to qualifying low-income residents of Erie County, Ohio. Clients shop once per month at the Jackson Street facility in Sandusky, choosing their own items from shelves rather than receiving prepackaged boxes, allowing dignity of selection and reducing food waste. Eligibility is determined by Erie County residency in specific zip codes and ODJFS TEFAP household size and income guidelines.

Product overview

Care & Share of Erie County is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that operates as a 'Choice Pantry,' offering two main client-facing services: a Choice Food Pantry and a Choice Clothing/Linens/Housewares Pantry. Both pantries provide a grocery store-like shopping experience, allowing qualifying Erie County, Ohio residents to choose items they prefer rather than receiving prepackaged goods. The organization supplements these core services with monetary donation processing (via check, cash, GivSum online platform, and Venmo), volunteer services coordination, and community fundraising support. Clients can access services once monthly during specified hours, with eligibility based on Erie County residency and ODJFS TEFAP income guidelines.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Choice Food Pantry A free food pantry offering qualifying Erie County, Ohio residents a grocery-store-style shopping experience where they select food items they prefer once per month, with quantities based on family size. Operates as the core client-facing service of the organization.
• Choice Clothing/Linens/Housewares Pantry A free pantry providing clothing, linens, and housewares to qualifying Erie County, Ohio residents, allowing clients to choose items they need rather than receiving prepackaged goods. Operates at the same Jackson Street facility during the same hours as the food pantry.
• Monetary Donation Processing Accepts monetary donations via check, cash, online through the GivSum platform, and Venmo mobile payment. Donors can mail checks or drop off cash during specified donation hours. As a 501(c)(3), all donations are tax-deductible.
• Volunteer Services Coordination Coordinates volunteer opportunities for individuals, groups, students, and those needing community service hours. Volunteers support both direct client service and back-of-house operations including sorting, stocking shelves, and receiving donations.

Quantifiable outcome

• 22,805 people served from 07/2024 to 06/2025
• +3 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Second Harvest Food Bank North Central OhiocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary food supply partner that provides food inventory to Care & Share for distribution to Erie County residents. Second Harvest Food Bank is a major regional food bank supplying food banks and pantries throughout north central Ohio.
• United Way of Erie CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner providing support and resources to help Care & Share achieve its mission of providing food to neighbors in need.
• ECCOC (Erie County Chamber of Commerce)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal chamber of commerce partnership providing business networking and community visibility support.
• First Presbyterian ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvided the building at 241 Jackson Street for Care & Share operations starting in 1992. John Fenton negotiated the building use, and after one year of cleaning and reconstruction, all operations were consolidated under one roof.
• Church Women UnitedcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding organization that organized Care and Share in 1971. The faith-based organization established the cooperative charity model that continues to this day.
• Trinity United Methodist ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFaith-based partner that provided food distribution services during Care & Share's period of searching for permanent space (before 1992). Continues to partner with Care & Share as a supporting church.
• Calvary TemplecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoined Trinity United Methodist in pantry work starting in 1991. Continues as a supporting faith-based partner.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Others

• Goodwill Industries International: Nonprofit thrift retail network distributing donated clothing and household goods to those in need while funding job-training programs. Comparable nonprofit distribution of donated non-food goods, but monetized through resale rather than free provision.
• Habitat for Humanity International: Faith-rooted 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating through local affiliates with community volunteer networks and grant funding streams. Comparable nonprofit governance and faith-affiliated volunteer-driven operating model, though focused on housing rather than food assistance.
• United Way of Erie County: Local United Way affiliate and stated community partner of Care & Share. Operates as a funder and convener for local health and human services in the same geography, comparable as a peer nonprofit steward rather than direct food-distribution competitor.

Direct peers

• Meals on Wheels America: National network providing meal delivery to seniors and others in need. Comparable community food-services mission targeting low-income and elderly populations with food insecurity, though delivered via in-home delivery rather than pantry-based choice model.
• Second Harvest Food Bank of North Central Ohio: Regional food bank supplying pantries across north central Ohio and Care & Share's primary food inventory partner. Directly comparable as a hunger-relief organization distributing food to individuals and families facing food insecurity in overlapping Ohio geographies.

Broad incumbents

• The Salvation Army: Faith-based 501(c)(3) charity providing food, clothing, and household assistance through local corps/community centers. Comparable faith-affiliated nonprofit structure and bundled food-plus-non-food service model, though operating at much larger scale nationally.
• Catholic Charities USA: Faith-based social services network operating local agencies that distribute food, clothing, and household goods to low-income households. Comparable faith-rooted service mix targeting economically vulnerable populations, though with a broader service portfolio.
• Feeding America: National umbrella network of 200+ food banks serving all 50 states. Care & Share is effectively affiliated through Second Harvest, and Feeding America sets the strategic direction, funding flows, and best practices for community food distribution at scale.

Regional players

• Greater Cleveland Food Bank: Regional food bank serving northeast Ohio, distributing millions of pounds of food annually through partner pantries. Comparable mission and food-distribution model, but operates in a different and larger Ohio region.
• Mid-Ohio Food Collective: Central Ohio food bank and hunger-relief organization distributing food through partner pantries and direct programs. Similar food-bank-to-pantry supply model and comparable nonprofit structure serving Ohio communities.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/eriecountycareandshare
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/care-and-share-incorporated-of-erie-county
• Instagraminstagram.com/careshareoferiecounty

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CARE AND SHARE INCORPORATED OF ERIE COUNTY