Thank you for your interest in the Franklin Food Pantry. Spring is here and we are looking forward to the beginning of our local, fresh produce season!
You are invited to join us for an Oxfam Hunger Banquet this Tuesday, March 29th, 7pm @ Dean College Campus Center (invitation attached). This event is a simulation of the reality of hunger in the world, with people eating a meal that corresponds to their randomly assigned income level. Suggested donation is non-perishable food items to be donated to the Franklin Food Pantry.
Many of you have been asking how to get more involved in the Giving Garden and/or the Franklin Community Gardens that will be located at the King Street Playground. Plans are progressing quickly and many volunteers are needed. Please email franklincommunitygardens@gmail.com to join this exciting community group.
Are you a backyard gardener (or do you know a backyard farmer)? Do you want to plant an extra row this year to help our neighbors in need? We are starting a Plant a Row program and are getting ready to open registration and distribute row markers and brochures. If you are interested in participating, please email PlantARow@franklinfoodpantry.org.
We are celebrating a recent grant received from the MetroWest Community Health Care Foundation to launch our Produce Points program at the Franklin Farmers Market in June 2011. Produce Points is modeled after the Double Value Coupon Program developed by Wholesome Wave. Stay tuned. We will be looking for a summer intern (college student) to assist with the development of this program (15-20 hours a week, May - Aug). Please email annemarie@franklinfoodpantry.org if interested in learning more.
Michelle Clay of Franklin has generously volunteered to create a food resource cookbook for the Franklin Food Pantry and is inviting you all to be recipe testers. You can find more information and many recipes here (Thank you Michelle!) http://pantrycookbook.blogspot.com/
Mark your calendars - Saturday, May 14th is Stamp Out Hunger day. More information will be in our April newsletter.
Good food nourishes the body and the spirit. With regular, nutritious meals, we are free to grow, to think, to smile, to live. In 2011, we will expand our capacity to provide our clients with a wide range of opportunities for gaining access to local, fresh, nutritious food. Our free Farmer's Market for clients was a great success in 2010 and thanks to generous Donors we look forward to working with Grateful Farm to continue this program beginning in June 2011.
Thanks to the generosity of our community, we distributed more than 14,000 bags to more than 800 neighbors in 2010. We received more than 50,000 lbs of food and non-food donations and also many monetary donations. Thanks to our relationship with the Greater Boston Food Bank a $20 donation can provide up to 100 meals and we are excited to now be able to accept donations online at our website www.franklinfoodpantry.org
Gratitude Hugs to all those who donated more than 500 canvas grocery bags. We are again humbled by the generosity and support of this wonderful community.
In 2011, we hope to continue to learn with you, our community, the many elements of nutrition, food systems, local resources and to explore the questions, "What is food?" and "Where does our food come from?". We believe everyone has the right to access healthy, affordable food choices.
Please contact annemarie@franklinfoodpantry.org if you are interested in working together on any of the programs mentioned or if you have a great idea that may align well with any of the above.
Current Needs
Donations accepted Tuesday thru Friday 9am - 1pm
or can be placed in collection bin on our front porch anytime
Cleaning Products – Laundry, Dish, All Purpose
Paper Products – Toilet Paper, Kleenex, Paper Towels, Feminine
Health & Beauty – Shampoo, Pump Soap, Body Wash, Deodorant
Canned Meat / Fish
Broth / Beef Soup / Dry Soup
Canned Pasta (chef boyardeeish)
Baked Beans
Potatoes
Cereal
Chili / Taco / Meal Helpers
Condiments / Dressings
Flavored Rice and/or Pasta Side Dishes
Baking Mixes and/or Spices
Fresh and Frozen Produce always welcome!
Thank you for making a difference!
(Please check expiration dates)
