Franklin Food Pantry

Tickets on Sale Now for the 1st Annual Empty Bowls Dinner!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 28 Mar 2016 12:57:00 +0000

The Franklin Food Pantry and the Franklin High School Empty Bowls Club have joined forces to co-host the 1^st Annual Empty Bowls Dinner on Wednesday, April 27 from 6 – 8 p.m. in the Franklin High School cafeteria. The event, which includes a simple meal of soup and bread, is meant to remind guests of the many “empty bowls” that exist in the lives of those who experience hunger.

Attendees will choose a hand-painted, ceramic bowl to take home as a reminder that “somewhere, someone’s bowl is empty.” A silent auction will feature select pieces that have been created and painted by members of the FHS Empty Bowls Club, and local youth, adult and corporate groups. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Franklin Food Pantry and will be used to fight hunger locally.

These ceramic bowls, made by students in the Empty Bowls Club at Franklin High School, will be given to guests at the 1^st Annual Empty Bowls Dinner on April 27.

“The Empty Bowls Dinner will bring together members of our community who are working together to fight hunger,” says Erin Lynch, executive director of the Franklin Food Pantry. “We hope it will be a powerful reminder of the many people who struggle to put enough food on the table. We are thrilled to partner with the Franklin High School Empty Bowls Club to address the vital issue of hunger. We look forward to attracting all ages at this family-friendly event.”

Students in the Empty Bowls Club have been making ceramic bowls throughout the year to be used at the dinner. “Our students are excited to be part of such a meaningful effort,” said Brenna Johnson, FHS art teacher and instructor for the Empty Bowls Club. “It is rewarding for them to use their creativity to contribute to such a worthy cause. The true impact of their hard work will be felt on the night of our big event.”

Tickets must be bought in advance and can be purchased at the Franklin Food Pantry. Seating is limited so tickets will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis. The cost is $20 for adults and $10 for children and students. Payment must be made in cash or checks payable to the Franklin Food Pantry. The Pantry will hold “Box Office Hours” to sell tickets at its 43 W. Central Street location (on Route 140 across from the Franklin Fire Station) during the following times:

March 31, 5-7 pm

April 4, 11 am – 1 pm
April 5, 4 – 6 pm
April 7, 5 – 7 pm
April 11, 11 am – 1 pm
April 12, 4 – 6 pm
April 14, 5 – 7 pm
April 19, 4 – 6 pm
April 21, 5 – 7 pm

Empty Bowls is an international grass roots effort to fight hunger and raise funds to support local pantries. The Franklin Food Pantry and the FHS Empty Bowls Club work together to support the cause locally. The ceramic bowls are created throughout the year by the Empty Bowls Club and various corporate and community groups organized by the Pantry through its Empty Bowls Project. For more information, or to arrange for your group to help make bowls for the dinner event, visit Empty Bowls Project or call 508-528-3115.

Local teenagers participated in the Pantry's Empty Bowls Project to paint bowls for the 1^st Annual Empty Bowls Dinner.

This ceramic bowl is just one example of the pieces that will be available through the silent auction.

Franklin Food Elves Bring in Record Donations – Again!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 29 Jan 2016 13:37:00 +0000

The Franklin Food Elves did it again! The final donation numbers are in, and the Elves are pleased to announce that the “12 Days of Donating” Campaign has collected more than four tons (or 8,001 pounds) of goods, and more than $11,000 for the Franklin Food Pantry.

These numbers beat last year’s record totals by more than 1,500 pounds of food, and nearly $3,000. The success was due to the hard work of more than 120 Food Elves, along with tremendous support from the community and local businesses. The Food Elves, increasing by 35 elves this year, has grown every year in popularity among local elementary, middle and high school students.

As the Food Elves canvassed local neighborhoods for food and monetary donations, Franklin businesses did their part by placing donation bins at their locations and pledging cash donations to support the cause. Those businesses included Chestnut Dental Associates, DCU, Dean Bank, Dean College, Emma’s Quilt Cupboard, Franklin Downtown Partnership Office, Jane’s Frames, Keefe Insurance Agency, Murphy Business, Pour Richard’s Wine & Spirits, SELF Aesthetics and Therapeutic Specialists, Medical Spa and The Adirondack Club.

“We are overwhelmed by the amount of support we received this year from the Franklin Food Elves, member businesses of the Franklin Downtown Partnership, and our community,” said Erin Lynch, executive director of the Franklin Food Pantry. “Thanks to the hard work of the Food Elves, we will be able to continue helping our families who are struggling to put food on their tables.”

For the first time, the Food Elves gave residents the option of making monetary donations in addition to, or in lieu of, food. Monetary gifts allow the Pantry to supplement food donations with more nutritious and fresh food, such as fruits, vegetables, dairy products and meats.

“The response was incredible,” said Lynch. “Not only did we break all records in the amount of food we received, we are able to supplement the nonperishable donations with fresh, protein-rich and nutritious foods. We could not be more grateful.”

For more information about the Food Elves and the "12 Days of Donating" Campaign, please contact the Food Elves at franklinfoodelves@yahoo.com.

Food Elves “12 Days of Donating” Marks 10 Years of Giving to Franklin Food Pantry

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 03 Dec 2015 17:44:00 +0000

Photo courtesy of the Franklin Downtown Partnership

The Franklin Food Elves and the Downtown Partnership launched the “12 Days of Donating” campaign to benefit the Franklin Food Pantry on December 1. This year’s collection drive marks 10 years that the Food Elves have helped neighbors in need during the holiday season.

The Food Elves were created in 2006 when Melissa and Cameron Piana began collecting donations in a wagon in their neighborhood. Last year more than 90 school-aged elves and 14 local businesses raised more than three tons (7,020 pounds) of goods and $8,500 for the Food Pantry. This year the Pantry acquired additional warehouse space to accommodate the expected donations.

“We are looking forward to building on the success the Food Elves have had, and this year we hope to raise more money. The Food Pantry can buy a lot with those funds, and we hope to surpass last year’s dollar totals,” says Ellie Teixeira, lead Food Elf.

The Franklin Food Elves is a charitable community service group comprised of more than 100 dedicated elementary, middle and high school students. This will be the fifth year the elves have partnered with local businesses to create one of the Franklin Food Pantry’s most successful collection drives. Each year the 12 Days campaign brings in food and cash to help sustain the pantry’s 600 client families through the winter.

The Food Elves notify their neighbors about collection dates, instructions and items needed. The elves make it easy to donate; residents simply place bags of goods at their mailboxes on designated dates, and the elves pick up and deliver the goods to the Pantry. If residents prefer to make a monetary donation, Food Elves captains will also give instructions on how funds will be handled in their neighborhood.

“The Pantry has some lean months after the holidays, when end-of-year giving subsides and food drives happen less frequently,” says Erin Lynch, executive director of the Franklin Food Pantry.

“We count on the Food Elves to bring in the donations that help carry us through the winter months, a time when families who are struggling to put food on their tables face even harder times because of higher energy costs. We are so grateful for the hard work of the Food Elves and the gifts they bring to us,” she adds.

According to Lynch, while nonperishable food donations are still needed and appreciated, she is hoping that more people make monetary donations. “It gives us greater flexibility to provide for our clients. We can purchase food from the Greater Boston Food Bank at a fraction of what it costs in the grocery store. We are able to supplement food donations with more nutritious and fresh food, such as fruits, vegetables, dairy products and meats.”

In case there’s no Food Elf in your neighborhood, it is still easy and convenient to donate. Participating Franklin Downtown Partnership member businesses all across town will have red collection bins at their locations. If the Food Elves meet their goal of collecting more than 1,200 pounds of goods, each business has pledged to donate at least $200 to the 12 Days of Donating drive.

Bins can be found at these participating locations:

Chestnut Dental Associates, 38 Pond St.
DCU, 500 West Central St.
Dean Bank, 21 Main St.
Dean College, Campus Center
Emma's Quilt Cupboard, 12 Main St.
Franklin Downtown Partnership Office, 9 East Central St.
Jane's Frames, 11 East Central St.
Keefe Insurance Agency, 51 West Central St.
Murphy Business, 15 East Central St.
Pour Richard's Wine & Spirits, 14 Grove St.
The Adirondack Club, 800 Chestnut St.

A red collection bin will also be set up at the Holiday Stroll tree lighting ceremony at Dean College on Thursday, December 3, at 4 p.m. Event goers can drop off donations there, or at the Food Pantry, 43 W. Central St. Please designate donations made at the Pantry as Food Elves.

The Food Pantry's greatest needs currently are coffee, canned fruit, jelly in plastic bottles, aluminum foil and shampoo. To make an online donation in honor of the Food Elves, click here. Please mention Food Elves in the donation form's acknowledgment box. For more information, call 508-528-3115.
Any student interested in becoming a Food Elf should contact Ellie Teixeira at franklinfoodelves@yahoo.com.

To learn more about the Franklin Food Elves and the “12 Days of Donating” campaign, please contact the Food Elves at franklinfoodelves@yahoo.com or visit their Facebook page. Information can also be found at www.franklindowntownpartnership.org and on the FDP’s Facebook page.

And the Winner Is...

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 15 Nov 2015 23:24:00 +0000

The winning ticket for the Patriots raffle is #096! The winner will be going to the Patriots vs. Bills game on November 23 at Gillette Stadium! Congratulations on winning the game package that includes 5 club level seats and a parking pass.

Special thanks goes to Bob and Tricia Flynn, owners of Team Fitness/CrossFit Franklin, for their generous donation of the game package, a $3,000 value. ALL of the more than $10,000 raised from raffle ticket sales goes directly to the Pantry.

“We are so grateful to the Flynns and Team Fitness for making this possible,” said Erin Lynch, executive director of the Franklin Food Pantry. “We would not have been this successful without the dedicated team of Pantry board members, volunteers and staff who worked hard at getting the word out and selling tickets.”

“And we are especially thankful to each and every person who purchased a raffle ticket. Every contribution goes a long way to help us serve our community.”

Turkey Trot Promises Great Fun for a Good Cause – Join Us!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 02 Nov 2015 19:17:00 +0000

It’s a worthwhile price to pay when you register for the annual Turkey Trot Family 5K Fun Run and Walk to be held Thanksgiving morning. The registration fee of $20, or 20 nonperishable food items, will go directly to the Franklin Food Pantry, keeping donations local to help those in need during this holiday season.

Sponsored by Feed the Need, the event begins and ends at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS Church) at 91 Jordan Road in Franklin. The race, open to runners and walkers of all ages, is a great opportunity for the entire family to get out and exercise together before their traditional Thanksgiving feast. And, there’s the added benefit of helping to relieve hunger in the community.

“We are inspired by the great turnout for the Franklin race,” said Erin Lynch, executive director for the Franklin Food Pantry. “Thanksgiving is a time for everyone to truly appreciate what they have, but also an occasion to think of others who are struggling to put food on their tables. The Turkey Trot rallies our community to give back and help protect others from the threat of hunger. We are grateful to Feed the Need for spearheading the race and raising awareness about our own need in Franklin.”

The November 26 race will begin at 8 a.m. To participate in the Turkey Trot, you can pre-register online at www.feedtheneed.org; or sign up the day of the race from 7 – 8 a.m., or 7 – 9 p.m. the night before, at the LDS Church. The first 100 race participants to register Wednesday night will receive race t-shirts. For those interested in making food donations instead of the $20 registration fee, the Pantry is in most need of tuna, canned fruit, and health and hygiene products such as deodorant.

For more information, call 508-520-9864.

The entire Kilburn family of Franklin was among the almost 400 individuals who participated in last year’s Turkey Trot. They will be trotting again this year in support of the Franklin Food Pantry. Pictured, left to right, are Molly (client service ace for the Pantry), Chris, Maddy, Bridget, Tom, Nate, and family friend Niamh O’Sullivan of Cumberland, RI.

# # #

Raffle for New England Patriots Tickets a Win-Win!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 26 Oct 2015 19:12:00 +0000

When Bob and Tricia Flynn, owners of Team Fitness/CrossFit Franklin, donated a New England Patriots game package for a raffle to benefit the Franklin Food Pantry, Bob called it a “win-win.”

“There’s no way to lose when you are giving back to the community,” he said. “One hundred percent of the proceeds raised through the raffle goes directly to the Franklin Food Pantry to serve our neighbors in need. If it means that more families will have food on their tables, and fewer kids will go to bed at night hungry, we have helped make a difference.”

There’s still time to take a shot at purchasing the winning ticket to catch the Patriots vs. Bills game at Gillette Stadium on Monday, November 23 at 8:30 p.m.! Here are the details for this amazing game package:

5 club level seats
Parking pass included
A total value of $3000!
Raffle tickets are $25 each, 5 for $100, or 12 for $200
Drawing is Sunday, November 15 at 6 p.m.

“This raffle has become one of our biggest fundraisers of the year,” says Erin Lynch, executive director of the Franklin Food Pantry. “We are grateful to the Flynns, and Team Fitness/CrossFit Franklin, for donating this valuable game package to benefit the Pantry. There is a greater need for our services this time of year, so the raffle benefit comes at an ideal time. The Flynns are truly paying it forward many times over through this donation, and we thank them.”

You can purchase raffle tickets in the following ways:

At Team Fitness/CrossFit Franklin, located in the Franklin Village Shopping Center, during normal business hours
At Team Fitness/Cross Fit on Monday, November 2, from 5 to 7 p.m. Pantry representatives will be available to sell tickets and share information about the Pantry
From Pantry board and staff members

Get your raffle tickets soon! For hours of operation and directions to Team Fitness/CrossFit, visit www.teamfitnessfranklin.com.

The Pantry is grateful to Bob and Tricia Flynn, owners of Team Fitness/CrossFit Franklin, for their generous donation of a New England Patriots game package for a raffle to benefit the Pantry.

Current Needs List

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 13 Oct 2015 13:30:00 +0000

For those of you interested in organizing a Food and Fund Drive for the Pantry, visit our "You can help Us" page for more information. In addition to monetary donations, our current needs include the following:

Meal Starters (Hamburger/Tuna Helper)
Laundry Detergent
Deodorant
Dry Pet Food

updated 4/1/16

You can drop off your nonperishable items any time at the Pantry’s donation bin at 43 West Central Street; or during the Pantry’s regular hours of operation, Tuesday through Thursday, 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., and Friday, from 9:30 a.m. to Noon.

Thank you for your support!

Financial contributions can be mailed to Franklin Food Pantry, PO Box 116, Franklin, MA 02038 or made securely through our webpage:

donate securely here

Pantry Announces Dean Bank as Official Bag Sponsor

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 01 Sep 2015 16:23:00 +0000

Dean Bank is now the Pantry’s official shopping bag sponsor, donating hundreds of re-usable shopping bags – a supply that we count on every day. As we approach our busiest time of year, the new supply of bags will be used in a number of ways as we serve our clients. They are used for emergency food packages for new visitors who come to our doors; to package our holiday meals for Thanksgiving; and to give to new clients who register with the Pantry for ongoing assistance. Clients bring in their re-usable bags each time they visit the Pantry. Thank you, Dean Bank, for caring about our community!

Kevin Goffe, Dean Bank president, presents Erin Lynch, Pantry executive director, with one of the re-usable shopping bags Dean Bank has donated to the Pantry.

Sue Kilcoyne (center), acquisitions coordinator, is thankful for the donated grocery bags and knows they will be much appreciated by clients. Photos courtesy of Laura Du

Greater Boston Food Bank Grant Helps Build Our Capacity to Offer Fresh Produce

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 19:42:00 +0000

The Franklin Food Pantry has received a $10,000 grant from the Greater Boston Food Bank enabling us to offer larger quantities of fresh and nutritious food to those we serve. The capacity-building grant will be used to fund equipment needs for the mobile pantry, food transportation, and Healthy Futures Market which offers fresh produce weekly from June to October.

"This grant makes a significant impact on our ability to offer fresh fruit and vegetables to our clients," said Erin Lynch, Pantry executive director. "Thanks to the generous support of the Greater Boston Food Bank, our clients will have greater access to nutritious food which many families are unable to afford on a regular basis. We are so thankful for our partnership with the Food Bank."

We owe additional thanks to the many local farms, groups and individuals who help supply our Healthy Futures Market with fresh produce for our clients.

Learn more about the grant in the Milford Daily News article.

The grant will help support our Healthy Futures Market which offers a variety of fresh produce that is locally grown.

Annual Fight Hunger Paintball Fundraiser this Sunday

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 10 Jul 2015 17:06:00 +0000

Come support the pantry and have a great time at our annual Fight Hunger paintball event.
8:30am rain or shine, Sunday July 12th at Fox 4 Paintball in Upton.

Read the Milford Daily News article here

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 23 Jun 2015 15:30:00 +0000

Pantry Recognized for Making an Impact on Community

The Franklin Food Pantry is getting noticed for its efforts to move beyond immediate hunger relief by addressing the root causes of hunger and promoting better nutritional health. The Pantry has received two recognition awards from area organizations: the Red Triangle Award from the Hockomock Area YMCA, and the Community Impact Award from the United Way of Tri-County.

Both organizations recently applauded the Franklin non-profit for going above and beyond in serving the Franklin community, and for its strong impact on the lives of the nearly 600 families it serves.

The Red Triangle Award recognizes the Pantry for its “steadfast dedication and partnership with the Hockomock Area YMCA to meet the changing needs of our community.” Through a partnership with the Hockomock Y, the Pantry created a Healthy Futures Shelf that offers clients access to nutritious food. Nutrition information is posted with food products so that clients can make informed choices to fit their special dietary needs, such as low fat, high protein or gluten-free. In addition, the Pantry works with the YMCA to offer Cooking Matters classes that educate families how to manage their food budgets and prepare healthy meals.

“Working with the Hockomock Area YMCA and Stop & Shop, we began to take preventative measures to help combat high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity,” said Erin Lynch, Franklin Food Pantry executive director. “As part of the Y’s Healthy Futures Initiative, we help our clients make healthier food choices and offer them access to more nutritious food, such as fresh produce and high protein items like chicken.”

The Community Impact Award is given to United Way of Tri-County (UWTC) Community Partners that have changed the lives of the people they serve. The award states that the Franklin Food Pantry, with resources from the UWTC, changed lives by “effectively and innovatively delivering a program that addresses root causes within the areas of Education, Health, Financial Stability or Basic Human Needs.”

Lynch said that thanks to the generous support from organizations such as the United Way of Tri-County and the Hockomock Area YMCA, the Pantry was able to offer programs to empower community members to become more self-sufficient through resources and education. Examples include Cooking Matters which teaches families how to shop smarter and cook delicious, affordable meals; and a Healthy Futures Market that offers fresh produce weekly from June to October. The high cost of fresh fruits and vegetables can be a barrier to wholesome nutrition for many families.

“The money we receive through grants, as well as individual and corporate donations, allows us to go beyond just getting food to people,” said Lynch. “We are able to offer the kind of support and education that can impact our clients for a lifetime.”

Erin Lynch, executive director of the Franklin Food Pantry, is presented with the Red Triangle Award from the Hockomock Area YMCA which recognized the Pantry for its efforts to meet the changing needs of the community. The award was presented by (left to right) Ed Hurley, president of the Hockomock Area YMCA; Bill Chouinard, Bernon Family Branch Board of Managers chairman; and Brian Earley, newly-elected chairman of the Board of Directors of the Hockomock Area YMCA. (Photo courtesy of the Hockomock Area YMCA)

Erin Lynch is shown here with the Pantry's Community Impact Award given by the United Way of Tri-County.

Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive a Record-breaking Success!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 15 May 2015 14:40:00 +0000

Postal workers delivered 4.5 tons of food to the Franklin Food Pantry on Saturday, May 9, as part of this year's Stamp Out Hunger food drive. The Franklin letter carriers collected more than 9,229 pounds of food! The amount is more than double last year’s record of 4,585 pounds of food that was donated by residents and picked up by postal workers during normal mail rounds.

Stamp Out Hunger is a nationwide effort organized by the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) that provides food to local food banks and pantries that would otherwise be faced with depleted stocks during the summer months. The food drive is the nation’s largest single-day drive, collecting almost 73 million pounds of food last year.

“We were completely overwhelmed by the amount of food and household necessities we received this year,” said Erin Lynch, executive director of the Pantry. “The generosity of this community and the outpouring of support are truly heartwarming. We are so thankful for the hard work of the postal carriers, the kindness of our neighbors, and the help of so many volunteers on that day. Many people in our community were engaged in making this effort such a success.”

Part of the success of this year’s drive was due to yellow Stamp Out Hunger bags that were placed in residents’ mailboxes as a reminder to put out their food donations. The postal workers were thrilled to see the impact that resulted – double the amount of donations over last year.

Postmaster Mike Catalano and wife Lauren came out to the event to show support and lend a hand in unloading the trucks. “We are really honored to be a part of such a worthwhile cause,” said Catalano. “I was so proud to see our trucks arrive overflowing with food donations. The letter carriers gladly worked twice as hard this year to help families in need in Franklin. What a great community to be a part of.” Catalano said that Franklin letter carrier and Stamp Out Hunger coordinator Rich Maloney was instrumental in organizing such a successful drive this year.

During Saturday’s food drive, the fleet of mail trucks was greeted by dozens of Pantry volunteers who unloaded the trucks, weighed the bags, sorted items and stacked them on shelves. The Stamp Out Hunger food drive helps replenish the Pantry’s inventory that has been depleted of its donations received during its busiest time of the year, the November/December holiday season.

Franklin letter carriers delivered more than 4 and a half tons of food collected from community
members to the Franklin Food Pantry on May 9 in the annual Stamp Out Hunger food drive. The record
9,229 pounds of food was more than double last year’s tally of 4,585 pounds.

Franklin letter carrier Rich Maloney organized this year’s record-breaking Stamp Out Hunger food drive,
part of a nationwide effort organized by the National Association of Letter Carriers.

Erin Lynch, Pantry executive director, and Mike Catalano, Franklin Postmaster, lend a hand in the Stamp
Out Hunger food drive for the Franklin Food Pantry.

3rd Annual Elks Care, Elks Share 5k Run and Walk - May 9

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 08 May 2015 10:00:00 +0000

The Franklin Elks, Lodge #2136, is proud to announce the Third Annual Elks Care, Elks Share 5k Run and Walk on May 09, 2015.

The Wounded Warriors Project and the Franklin Food Pantry are the beneficary organizations for this event.

Registration Information

Register by Apr 24th to receive a t-shirt on race day

http://franklinelks5k.com/?page_id=13

the finish line as set up for the 2014 race

Results and photos from the 2nd Annual Race can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/05/elks-care-elks-share-5k-results-photo.html

Mother’s Day Shopping Event Benefits Franklin Food Pantry

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 26 Apr 2015 10:00:00 +0000

esbe Designs will hold a Mother’s Day Jewelry Sale on Thursday, May 7, at the Franklin Food Pantry to raise money for hunger relief efforts at the Pantry. The community is invited to do their Mother’s Day shopping from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. and 6 to 9 p.m., and will have the opportunity to tour the Pantry and learn about volunteer opportunities.

Representatives from esbe Designs will have a variety of merchandise available for purchase. A portion of the proceeds from every sale will go directly to the Food Pantry. Items include designer jewelry, handcrafted in Bali, using quality metals and real gemstones. Traditional and on-trend designs will be featured. Complimentary gift wrapping and gift certificate purchases will be offered on site.

“With nearly 600 households counting on us for supplemental food assistance each year, this benefit will help other moms in Franklin provide enough food for their families,” says Erin Lynch, executive director of the Franklin Food Pantry. “Many parents in our community struggle with providing three meals a day for their children. Mother’s Day was the inspiration for esbe Designs to help others do something nice for their moms while also doing something meaningful for the families we serve. It is a way for people to pay it forward with their Mother’s Day shopping.”

For more information on the jewelry sale, please contact Sue Kilcoyne at skilcoyned1@hotmail.com.

The Franklin Food Pantry is located at 43 West Central Street, Franklin, near the Rockland Trust parking lot on Route 140 across from the Franklin fire station.

Franklin Letter Carriers Help Franklin Food Pantry Stamp Out Hunger in Community Food Drive on May 9

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 25 Apr 2015 10:00:00 +0000

On Saturday, May 9, Franklin letter carriers will help the Franklin Food Pantry Stamp Out Hunger when the carriers pick up food donations from town residents at their mailboxes and deliver them to the Franklin Food Pantry.

The Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive is a nationwide effort organized by the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) that provides food to local food banks and pantries that would otherwise be faced with depleted stocks during the summer months. The food drive is the nation’s largest single-day drive, collecting almost 73 million pounds of food last year.

Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive

The Franklin letter carriers collected and delivered more than 4,585 pounds of food to the Franklin Food Pantry in last year’s drive. The Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive comes at an ideal time for the Pantry.

“Stamp Out Hunger is truly a community-wide effort that gives us the inventory boost we need to help us through the summer,” says Erin Lynch, executive director for the Franklin Food Pantry. “Donations slow down after the first of the year, and by springtime, our inventory is depleted of the generous provisions we received over the holidays. We are so thankful to the letter carriers, and a supportive community, for helping us replenish our Pantry for the summer season.”

Nearly 600 households in Franklin count on the Franklin Food Pantry for supplemental food assistance.

Franklin residents can donate to the food drive by leaving a bag of non-perishable food where their letter carrier normally delivers their mail on Saturday, May 9. Some residents may receive the special yellow Stamp Out Hunger grocery bags to use, but any paper or plastic bag can be used. Letter carriers will pick up the bags during their normal mail rounds and will deliver the food to the Franklin Food Pantry.

Residents can also drop their donations off at the Franklin Food Pantry from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on May 9, or during the Pantry’s regular business hours, Tuesday - Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Pantry is located at 43 West Central Street, Route 140, adjacent to the Rockland Trust parking lot across from the Franklin fire station.

While all non-perishable food donations are welcome, items that are currently most needed at the Pantry include:

Tuna
Juice boxes
Granola bars
Pudding
Sugar-free Jell-O
Crackers
Cake/cookie/brownie mix
Coffee

The Pantry is also in need of the following non-food items:

Toilet paper
Deodorant
Dish soap
Hand soap

If residents prefer to give a monetary donation (please no cash), please write a check payable to the Franklin Food Pantry, seal it in an envelope (no postage required), write “Letter Carriers’ Food Drive” on the envelope, and leave it in your mailbox.

Donations can also be made online at www.franklinfoodpantry.org, or mailed to the Franklin Food Pantry, P.O. Box 116, Franklin, MA 02038.

For more information on the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive, visit www.helpstampouthunger.com or call the Franklin Food Pantry at 508-528-3115.

You're Invited: Beer Extravaganza - Apr 25

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 24 Apr 2015 10:00:00 +0000

Connecting good friends with great wine!

Never Drink Ordinary!

Beer Extravaganza

Saturday, April 25 4-7 PM

It's 'that' time again-time to check out everything new in brew!

Pour Richard's Spring Beer Extravaganza, featuring dozens of new seasonal beers and 2 fabulous (local!) cider producers, is THE place to find new spring and summer favorites.

Taste a few or taste them all, then vote for your top three. One ballot, drawn at random, will win their favorite beer.

This event is free, but we are taking voluntary donations for the Franklin Food Pantry.

Mark your calendars for 2 more great events!

Bottles & Bark-Sunday, May 3 1-4 PM

Drink Pink for the Cure-Sunday, May 31. 2-5 PM

Never Drink Ordinary! -Ann and John

Please share this email with friends who are enthusiastic about great wine, beer, and spirits. (Keeping all the good stuff for yourself is bad karma.)

Forward this email


Pour Richard's Wine and Spirits \| 14 Grove Street \| Franklin \| MA \| 02038

Greater Boston Food Bank Update: 26.2 Miles and 33,000 Meals!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 23 Apr 2015 10:00:00 +0000

Email not displaying correctly? View it here.

	April 22, 2015





Follow GBFB on

The Festival is The Greater Boston Food Bank's (GBFB's) signature annual fundraising event that raises awareness and funds to help End Hunger Here. This year's goal is to raise $1.5 million to provide 4.5 million nutritious meals to our neighbors in need!
Leading up to the Festival on April 29th, GBFB is holding an online auction featuring a variety of unique items and experiences, including a Celtics Playoff Package. For every $1 raised, GBFB can provide three healthy meals to those in need. Help us reach our goal by placing a bid today!

On Monday, Peter Bakkala and Mike Walsh ran the Boston Marathon wearing GBFB t-shirts to help to End Hunger Here. Finishing in 04:44:56 and 04:02:09 hours respectively, together they raised enough funds to provide more than 33,000 healthy meals to those in need! We are happy to have had the opportunity to share in their journey as first time Boston Marathon runners and grateful for their commitment to helping to End Hunger Here. Learn more about what inspired Peter and Mike to run, and, it's not too late to show your support.

On April 8 2015, GBFB hosted our annual legislative breakfast in support of the Massachusetts Emergency Food Assistance Program (MEFAP). State legislators and member agencies from all over Massachusetts came out to learn more about MEFAP and to support this year's increased ask. GBFB, along with other members of the Food Bank Coalition of Massachusetts (four food banks in the Commonwealth) are advocating for an increase in funding to $20M for FY2016 to be able to provide more high-nutrient food and fresh produce to the constituents we serve. Learn more about MEFAP and sign up for advocacy updates on our website.

Women of Influence
Carol Tienken, GBFB's COO, has been named as one of The Griffin Report's 2015 "Women of Influence in the Food Industry." This designation is given to women in the food industry who demonstrate superior achievement and innovation. Read more about Carol and this honor.

Three Square Meals
On April 2, 2015, Ocean State Job Lot delivered four truckloads of food donations as part of their Three Square Meals campaign. Check out some of the photos from their visit to our warehouse.

The Greater Boston Food Bank | 70 South Bay Ave. Boston, MA 02118-2700
Phone: (617) 427-5200 | Email: info@gbfb.org | Privacy Policy |

"Stamp Out Hunger" - May 9th

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 19 Apr 2015 10:00:00 +0000

The pantry announced this week that the letter carriers will pick up food donations from residents’ mailboxes on Saturday, May 9. Later the mail trucks will line up at the West Central Street pantry to unload their haul.

Residents can donate to the food drive by leaving a bag of non-perishable food where their letter carrier normally delivers their mail, or by visiting the pantry at 43 West Central St. from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The pantry has a special need for cans of tuna, juice boxes and granola bars, as well as pudding, sugar-free Jell-O, coffee and baking mix for cakes, cookies or brownies. The non-food items include toilet paper, deodorant, and hand and dish soap.

The national campaign occurs every second Saturday in May, involving letter carriers in more than 10,000 cities and towns across the country.

Continue reading the article in the Milford Daily News here
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20150418/NEWS/150416081/1994/NEWS

date checking the goods after weighing in

For other photos from 2014 check here
http://www.franklinfoodpantry.org/2014/05/225-tons-of-food-collected-to-stamp-out.html

Thank you - We couldn't do it without your help!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 18 Apr 2015 11:00:00 +0000

We kicked off National Volunteer Week with our Volunteer Appreciation Brunch.

Volunteer Appreciation Brunch

Last year volunteers gave more than 4,000 hours of their time here at the Food Pantry.

Pam Mann, Acquistions Coordinator and Maria Weiss, Volunteers Coordinator

Thank you, Thank you, THANK YOU!

Thank you!

Follow the Food Pantry on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/FranklinFoodPantry

To sign up to volunteer and help the Food Pantry you can use this form

or call the Food Pantry at 508-528-3115

"The Miracle Worker" - Sunday at 6:00 PM at the Historical Museum

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 14 Apr 2015 10:00:00 +0000

Film: The Miracle Worker (starring Anne Bancroft and Patty Duke)

Date: Sunday, April 19, 2015

Time: 6:00 PM

Where: Franklin Historical Museum, 80 West Central Street (across from the old municipal building)

Admission: one canned good, for the Franklin Food Pantry

image from Amzon.com

Come join us for a showing of this Oscar Award winning film!!!

Young Helen Keller, blind, deaf, and mute since infancy, is in danger of being sent to an institution. Her inability to communicate has left her frustrated and violent. In desperation, her parents seek help from the Perkins Institute, which sends them a "half-blind Yankee schoolgirl" named Annie Sullivan. – (from www.imdb.com)

(A few years after their meeting, Helen and Annie took up residence in nearby Wrentham.)

Free popcorn and bottled water will be served!

Boston Rocks!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 12 Apr 2015 11:00:00 +0000

26.2 Bead

Blue cable necklace- nearly weightless!

Boston Strong bead

The Boston Marathon Update

Show your support for the 26.2 Foundation,
and take your part in building the International Marathon Museum!

This April 20th is Marathon Monday and Patriots' Day, which commemorates the battles of Lexington and Concord that were fought near Boston in 1775.

We're going to be at the Boston Marathon start at the common in Hopkinton MA on the 18th, 19th and on Marathon Monday with limited editions of the Boston Strong and 26.2 beads, runner tech tees and other neat stuff for our Marathon runners and their supporters!

Proceeds will go to the 26.2 Foundation as they work to raise funds for the International Marathon Center.

Click on any of the pics to order yours now!

Boston Strong Chick tech tee

Made to honor the memory of Boston Mayor Tom Menino, the MY WAY Boston bead raises funds for the many important charities that The Boston Foundation supports. Sponsored by Technology for Autism Now

Boston Strong Chick tech tank

Facebook

Twitter

Website

Forward

Copyright © 2015 Confidence Beads/Back to Business/ Beads for a Cause, All rights reserved.
You are receiving this email because you subscribed to our newsletter list either through Back to Business or Confidence Beads. If you'd prefer to unsubscribe, no worries! Just click on the unsubscribe link, below. We don't like to bug people!

Our mailing address is:

Confidence Beads/Back to Business/ Beads for a Cause

43 Main St, Suite 246

Franklin, Ma 02038

Confidence Beads/Back to Business/ Beads for a Cause · 43 Main St, Suite 246 · Franklin, Ma 02038 · USA

In addition to the beads shown here, there is also a Franklin Pride bead. A portion of the sale price from the Franklin Pride bead goes to the Franklin Food Pantry. On behalf of the Food Pantry, I thank Linda for this wonderful collaboration!

Franklin Pride - view of a single bead, all angles

You can view these and additional items and place your order via this link

#shopFranklin

Busy day, what to do for dinner?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 10 Apr 2015 10:00:00 +0000

Busy day, what to do for dinner? You can avoid take out and eat healthy. Beth Ricci, Contributing Writer for Keeper of the Home has a solution:

"So, easy homemade (from scratch, not from a box) meal ideas are a must. We often do things like brinner (breakfast for dinner), grilled cheese, or a basic meat + starch + veggie meal of some kind. Maybe a hearty salad. But you can easily branch out further and get creative with a few of the ideas below.

Most of the meals below can be whipped up in 30 minutes or less. Most require little prep time. And all of these quick and easy weeknight meals are going to nourish your family a bajillion times more than the drive-through, and be cheaper, too."

30+ Quick & Easy Weeknight Meals (Keeper of the Home iamge)

Continue reading to find her listing of 30 quick and easy healthy recipes for dinner
http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2015/03/30-quick-easy-weeknight-meals.html

Do you have a family favorite recipe that should be on this list? If you do, please comment or email it to steve@franklinfoodpantry.org and we can update the listing to include Franklin favorites.

Food Revolution Petition Update

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 09 Apr 2015 10:00:00 +0000

This message contains graphics. If you do not see the graphics, click here to view.

Hello Food Revolutionary!

We have some exciting news to share with you.

As a signatory of Jamie Oliver's first Food Revolution petition, we wanted to reach out and update you on this petition and Food Revolution Day 2015.

AN INCREDIBLE 812,000 of you signed the 2010/11 petition to stand up for our united belief that kids need better food at school and better health prospects - THANK YOU! We're so grateful for your support, and delighted you all agree action needs to be taken.

YOU HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE. With your support, this uprising led to a truly global movement, with the launch of Food Revolution Day in 2012. The same year the Ambassador Programme was also launched - a growing group of thousands of passionate volunteers in over 100 countries. It has also grown an active, empowered and noisy community online and put pressure on leaders who can help us create positive change and begin to reverse the obesity epidemic through improved food education, food quality and security.

While the Food Revolution has continued to grow, we've still got work to do. With 42 million children across the world under the age of five either overweight or obese, the next generation will live shorter lives than their parents if nothing is done to rectify these alarming statistics. That's why for this Food Revolution Day Jamie has launched a global petition calling on leaders and governments of the G20 to make practical food education compulsory at school.

It's essential that we arm future generations with the life skills they urgently need in order to lead healthier, happier, more productive lives and we passionately believe that it is every child's human right. Food education will make a difference to the lives of the next generation. So please continue your support by signing this petition and sharing change.org/jamieoliver on facebook and twitter to help spread the word, we can't do it without you.

SIGN JAMIE'S FOOD REVOLUTION DAY PETITION

We've already gathered an amazing 600,000 signatures from over 160 countries, but to create a movement powerful enough to force all G20 governments to take action, we need to get to millions!

Thank you very much for your support.

@FoodRev | Facebook Food Revolution Community

Share your images and stories with us!
#FoodRevolutionDay

Need a fitness goal?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 04 Apr 2015 11:00:00 +0000

Struggling with a daily fitness routine? You’re not alone. One in four Massachusetts middle school and high school students, and more than half of all adults in the state, are obese or overweight. The good news is that engaging in physical activity and reaching a healthy weight can reduce your risk for certain types of cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. Working out can also help you feel less stressed and strengthen your muscles and bones, among other benefits.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recommends a minimum of 150 minutes of moderate physical activity or 75 minutes of high-intensity exercise a week for adults, according to the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. Children should participate in at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day. Adults can set a good example by moving more and encouraging kids and teens to exercise with tips from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH).

Continue reading to find additional info on exercising to get better health
http://blog.mass.gov/blog/living-in-massachusetts/spring-into-shape-fitness-tips-for-adults-and-children/

The start of the Elks race in 2014

If you want a goal to work for, there are a number of road races and walks coming up in Franklin in May.

May 2 - Franklin Bellingham Rail Trail Committee 5th Annual (5 mile run, 1.5 walk, 3.5 walk) register here

May 9 - Elks Care, Elks Share 5K register here

May 17 - 14th Annual HMEA Independence 5K Run and Walk, Roll and Stroll register here

Register for the 5th Annual Franklin & Bellingham SNETT Road Race

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 25 Mar 2015 10:00:00 +0000

Help support our effort to develop the Southern New England Trunkline Trail into a multi-use path for Franklin and Bellingham

Registration:	8:30 – 9:45am
Start Time:	Walk 9:45 AM / Run 10:00 AM
Start / Finish:	628 Washington St. Franklin, MA (Remington School)
Run:	5 mile loop of paved roads through residential neighborhoods
Walk:	1.5 mile & 3.5 mile walk through residential neighborhoods
Entry Fee:	$25 prior to race day $30 day of the race $15 Students

Participation Medals to All Registrants
Post race refreshments
Prizes awarded by category
Commemorative T-shirts
Participation Medals & Raffle Prizes
Race Timing by Spitler Race Systems

or download and register by mail

Join & Support | Contact Us | Forward this email

Franklin & Bellingham Rail Trail Committee

Franklin & Bellingham Rail Trail Committee · PO Box 68 · Franklin, Ma 02038 · USA