When economic hard times hit the nation, people look for more and more ways to pinch their pennies.

People who never have before are turning to clipping coupons, cutting back on eating out and on entertainment expenses. One local program, Food Share America, boasts it can save people between 35 and 55 percent on their grocery bills.

“We are a food purchasing co-op program. We don’t have any requirements,” said Erla Haggard, local coordinator of Food Share America. “If you eat, you qualify. There is no membership fee. There is no purchase minimums or maximums.”

Food Share America buys in bulk to save money. Members are able to purchase different types of food packages or items a la carte. Some examples of available packages are: a produce package, fresh fruits and vegetables; a frozen package, frozen food; and a pantry package, dry and canned food.

“Our regular main package runs $25. It has a variety of meats, some type of frozen fruit or dessert item and fresh fruits and vegetables. Our main package is based on a family of four,” Haggard said. “We have a package we call the petite package aimed at couples, or a mom and a child.”

During the holiday months special packages are available for a holiday meal.

“This month we have a Thanksgiving package. There are four different options. The difference is the size of the turkey breast,” Haggard said. “All the packages come with a complete fixing for a Thanksgiving meal, including everything from apples, oranges, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie, potatoes, sweet potatoes.

“Next month, for Christ-mas, we will have a package with a spiral cut ham with all the fixings for a Christmas meal.”

Haggard testified to the quality of the food, as did other volunteers. Many volunteers put in orders with Haggard.

“It is all good, quality food,” she said. “Some is name-brand like you would buy in the grocery store, some is not. Some doesn’t even have a name on it but it is all good-quality food.”

The price of the food is checked periodically to local grocery store prices to ensure savings.

“If we take these packages and go to the grocery stores in town, depending on what is in the packages, I go every so often and do a check. It is usually around 45 percent savings with the stores here in town,” Haggard said. “We are a non-profit organization so there is no tax.”

The church the organization operates out of, Willow Road Christian Church, does not makes any profit on the food sales.

“With the rebate money we receive back from the organization, we purchase groceries for those in need in the community or we buy pantry boxes for Horn of Plenty,” Haggard said. “All the money we make off this program we put right back into the community. This is an outreach mission of our church and none of the money stays in the church.”

Around 30 volunteers distribute food from 8:15-9:15 a.m., usually on the third Sat-urday of the month at Willow Road Christian Church to around 60 or 65 families.

There are three ways to order: through the local host site, Willow Road Christian Church, 729 W. Willow, 10 a.m. to noon the first Friday of the month; by phone at 747-3575; or on the Internet at www.foodshareamerica.com.

There also are Food Share America sites in surrounding communities, including Perry, Billings, Cherokee and Fairview. There are more than 100 sites in Oklahoma.