Spirit of Sharing is a community-driven nonprofit bringing hope and help to families across Barrow and surrounding counties.

From delivering hot meals and food boxes through our mobile pantry to hosting our annual Share the Blessing event on Christmas Day.

we meet practical needs with compassion.

We invest in youth through leadership programs and hands-on service projects that build confidence and purpose.

Every effort is rooted in one mission: to uplift lives and strengthen our community.

A Legacy of Service: The Remarkable Journey of Spirit of Sharing’s Executive Director, Mrs. Melinda Shealey

In every community, there are people who quietly, persistently, and wholeheartedly devote themselves to the betterment of others. 

In Barrow County, that person has long been  Melinda Shealey—Executive Director of Spirit of Sharing and the driving force behind one of the region’s most enduring traditions of compassion.

Her story begins not in a boardroom, but at a family breakfast table. In 2000, Shealey’s mother, the late Martha Blakley, announced that their Christmas morning would look a little different. After opening presents and enjoying breakfast, the family would head over to a local church—not to receive gifts, but to give. There, alongside Mr. Albert Johnson, they joined what would become the first-ever Share the Blessing event.

The concept sprouted from a simple but profound moment: Mr. Johnson found himself with more Christmas dinner than his grieving family could bear to eat, having recently suffered great personal loss. Instead of letting the abundance go to waste, he felt compelled to share it with those in need in the Winder community. A warm meal was offered, and the seeds of a movement were planted.

What began as one man’s act of generosity has since grown into something far greater than anyone could have imagined. Twenty-five years later, Share the Blessing has evolved into a full-scale day of service—no longer just a holiday meal, but a multidisciplinary network of giving. 

Families now receive not only nourishment, but coats, shoes, hygiene essentials, counseling resources, and more. The event, under Melinda’s leadership, has become a model of wraparound community support.

For more than two decades, Melinda has been the constant heartbeat behind the Spirit of Sharing organization.
Her vision transformed the nonprofit from a seasonal gesture into a year-round refuge, a place where kindness isn’t merely extended, but expected; where dignity is protected; where needs, no matter how great or small, are met without judgment.

Shealey’s roots in Barrow County run deep. She attended local schools, raised her children here, and now delights in watching her grandchildren grow in the same community. Her work has never been simply professional—it has been personal, threaded through and through with a sense of responsibility, loyalty, and profound love for the people who call this place home.

Her commitment extends beyond emergency response and charity. She is a proactive advocate for youth, armed with certifications and partnerships that enable her to help prevent crises before they occur. Through GUIDE, Inc. and Youth Action Teams, she has poured herself into mentoring, equipping, and empowering the next generation, work she views not as an obligation, but as a calling.

Her colleagues and fellow leaders know precisely what she has meant to Spirit of Sharing.

“Melinda is the embodiment of a public servant, and without her, the 25-year legacy of Spirit of Sharing and Share the Blessing would not exist,” said board member Towanna Johnson, who has witnessed the organization’s growth since its very first event.
Board Chair Kobi Kilgore echoes the sentiment, noting that Melinda’s influence extends far beyond logistics and administration.

“Melinda has shaped the brand, the tone, and the very identity of Spirit of Sharing. She has been its face and its heart. The board is committed to upholding the standard she set—the standard of compassion families deserve when they are facing some of their hardest moments.”
Though she is moving on from her role as Executive Director, she’s not slowing down. Her next chapter, appropriately, is rooted once again in community service. She will soon launch Youth in Bloom, a nonprofit initiative dedicated to helping young people avoid decisions that could damage their futures and instead blossom into confident, capable leaders.

If the Spirit of Sharing has thrived for twenty-five years, it is because someone believed that service should be more than seasonal—that goodness should not depend on circumstance—and that community is built one act of compassion at a time. For Barrow County, that someone has been Melinda Shealey.

And thanks to her legacy, countless others now believe it too.

Our Impact

Business Hours
Monday - 3p.m.-6 p.m.

Tuesday 9a.m.-1 p.m.

Friday 9 a.m.-12 p.m.

3rd Saturday 9a.m.-12 p.m.

Our Team

Our Journey

It all started when…

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.