Support Services We Provide

Spirit of Sharing is proud to announce that Spirit Academy has been awarded a $4,500 grant from the Jackson EMC Foundation to purchase technology that will strengthen educational programming and improve classroom experiences for children and families participating in the academy.

The grant will fund several important technology upgrades, including:

• An Interactive Whiteboard

• Two Tablets for Instructors

• One Laptop for Program Administration

These tools will provide new opportunities for interactive learning, improve instructional delivery, and help streamline program operations as Spirit Academy continues to grow.

"At Spirit Academy, we are committed to creating an environment where every child has the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive," said Kellie Brown, Executive Director of Spirit of Sharing. "This investment in technology will allow us to better engage students, support our instructors, and strengthen the educational experiences we provide each day."

The grant was made possible through the Jackson EMC Foundation, which is funded by the contributions of electric cooperative members. Through its support of community organizations across Northeast Georgia, the Foundation helps fund projects that improve quality of life and create meaningful opportunities for local residents.

Spirit Academy was established to provide children and families in Barrow County with access to high-quality educational support, mentorship, and community resources. The addition of new technology will help ensure students are equipped with engaging learning experiences that prepare them for future success.

A formal check presentation will take place in the coming weeks.

Help Us Continue Building Brighter Futures

While grants like this provide critical resources, the continued success of Spirit Academy depends on community support.

Whether through volunteering, sponsorships, or financial contributions, there are many ways to help us expand opportunities for local children and families.

To learn more about Spirit Academy or support our mission, visit our website and discover how you can help children in our community learn, grow, and thrive.

2001

On Christmas Day 2001, the first Share The Blessing event was held in Winder, GA at the White Oak Spring Missionary Baptist Church! James Albert Johnson and the White Oak Spring Missionary Baptist Church members served more than 200 individuals with a hot meal, clothing, and toiletries.  Due to a recent loss of his son, Anthony, Albert knew the emotional challenges that the holidays could bring for those not having sufficient resources or family. The purpose of the event was to show love and compassion to those who did not have family and would be alone on Christmas Day. When asked what the purpose and passion for this event was, Albert responded by stating, “We were only sharing the blessings from God with others.” The Christmas Day community outreach has henceforth been known as “Share The Blessing”.

2003-2012

With more community support and increased community needs, Share The Blessing outgrew the accommodations at the White Oak Spring Missionary Baptist Church and needed a larger host facility. Through the Barrow County Board of Education partnership, Share The Blessing was held at the Winder-Barrow Middle to accommodate the guests being served and volunteers. On average, more than 800 hot meals were provided with more than 150 volunteers serving on Christmas Day. Services provided expanded to include: clothes closet, food pantry, healthcare services, community resources, and toy shop.

2011

Eleven years after the first meal was shared, in June 2011, Share The Blessing become a 501©3 Non-profit organization called Spirit of Sharing, Inc. with the mission of “Transforming lives through sharing and caring.” Sharing involves providing the necessities of food, clothing, and shelter along with education of local community resources to empower those in need to live productive lives that contribute to the community.  Caring involves being a helping hand, instead of a hand out, by providing a support system to enable individuals to become self-sufficient.

2013

With the closure of the Winder-Barrow Middle School, the annual Share The Blessing event moved to the Winder-Barrow High School as the new host site. More community support and partnerships allowed Spirit of Sharing, Inc. to reach those in need from Barrow and surrounding counties at the annual Christmas Day Share The Blessing community outreach event.

2017

Through the collaboration and partnership with the Winder Housing Authority, Spirit of Sharing, Inc. was provided a Winder Housing Authority property for ongoing operations at 199 Wood Avenue, Winder, GA. The property included an office facility for day-to-day operations and a gymnasium to provide community outreach programs and activities. Spirit of Sharing, Inc. was able to expand programs and outreach opportunities to include but not limited to an affordable dance (ballet, jazz, tap, & hip-hop) program, an older active adult exercise program, and continue support for the annual Share The Blessing event.

2019

Melinda Shealey, who had been a Share The Blessing supporter and volunteer for nearly 19 years, joined Spirit of Sharing, Inc. as the Executive Director. Under Melinda’s leadership, Spirit of Sharing, Inc. has been able to expand programs to include a focus on Positive Youth Development and Food Security. Melinda has positioned Spirit of Sharing, Inc. to be a major community partner in Barrow County with other non-profit organizations and has established mutually beneficial partnerships.

2020

In February 2020, the State of Georgia House of Representatives provided a proclamation to James Albert Johnson, Spirit of Sharing, Inc., and Share The Blessing recognizing and honoring the years of community service and community impact in Barrow and surrounding counties.

Like other non-profit organizations who provided a service to those in need, Spirit of Sharing, Inc. had to find innovative ways to continue to serve the community during the pandemic. Through collaborations with Food to Barrow and Riverhills Church, Spirit of Sharing has served as the host site for two monthly food distributions in which nearly 28,000lbs of food is distributed monthly. Also, with the assistance of local grant funding for emergency food, Spirit of Sharing has been able to provide more than 10,000 hot meals to the community during the pandemic.