Thursday, May 22, 2014

Mobile Food Pantry to visit the Senior Center

The mobile pantry announcement appears in the June 2014 issue of the Franklin Connection. The newsletter for the Senior Center and Council on Aging activities.

MOBILE FOOD PANTRY - You can get fresh healthy food here at the Senior Center through the Franklin Food Pantry’s new Mobile Food Pantry! Food will be distributed once a month from 2 to 4:00 p.m. on a Monday afternoon. To sign up for this new program, call our Social Service Coordinator, Erin Rogers.


The full newsletter can be found here
http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_Senior/June14connection.pdf


Franklin Senior Center
Franklin Senior Center


If you'd like to volunteer to help provide this service, contact the Food Pantry. If you'd like to contribute financially to help this effort, you can use the "donate here" button on the front page of the Food Pantry website.  http://www.franklinfoodpantry.org/

Monday, May 19, 2014

Special movie night at the Franklin Historical Museum - June 29th


If you ever wondered what it was like to live in colonial revolutionary times, '1776' is the movie for you.
History Buffs, students, teachers and movie lovers will enjoy viewing '1776' at the Franklin Historical Museum.
1776
1776

The fun family night will benefit the Franklin Food Pantry. The price of admission is a canned good or non perishable food item.

In the days leading up to July 4, 1776, continental Congressmen John Adams and Benjamin Franklin coerce Thomas Jefferson into writing the Declaration of Independence as a delaying tactic as they try to persuade the American colonies to support a resolution on independence. As George Washington sends depressing messages describing one military disaster after another, the businessmen, landowners and farmers in Congress all stand in the way of the Declaration, and a single 'nay' vote will forever end the questions of independence. Large portions of spoken and sung dialog are taken directly from the letters and memoirs of the actual participants.

Come enjoy this informative film right before we start our annual 4th of July celebration week. The showing is at 5:00PM on Sunday June 29th and is appropriate for the whole family. Popcorn will be served.

Remember to bring a canned good for the Franklin Food Pantry.

Franklin Historical Museum - 80 West Central St
Franklin Historical Museum - 80 West Central St


Additional info on the movie
IMDb listing = http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0068156/
Wikipedia entry = http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1776_(film)


Saturday, May 17, 2014

Director Linda Sottile recognized with Community Service Award


The Franklin Food Pantry will launch a mobile food service next month, extending aid to the needy who, for whatever reason, cannot make it to the downtown pantry. 
Director Linda Sottile announced the new mobile pantry Friday during an event at the senior center, where she received a community service award from the Council on Aging. 
Linda Sottile and Ken Norman
Linda Sottile and Ken Norman
Once a month, a truck will set out from the 43 West Central St. pantry loaded with supplies to a different location in town, including the senior center and the Central Park Terrace and Winter Street housing projects.
You can read the full article at the Milford Daily News: (subscription maybe required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20140517/NEWS/140516695/1994/NEWS

The new truck the Franklin Food Pantry will use to become 'mobile'
The new truck the Franklin Food Pantry will use to become 'mobile'

For additional information about the Franklin Food Pantry, you can visit the webpage here

or follow them on Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/FranklinFoodPantry

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

2.25 tons of food collected to 'Stamp out Hunger' Thank you!

The Franklin postal carriers drove their trucks by the Food Pantry before completing their rounds on Saturday.

Each truck as it arrived was greeted by volunteers who unloaded the truck, weighed the bags, sorted the items for date and damage, and then either filled the appropriate shelves or stacked the items for future use.

When the last truck had pulled away and the last item sorted the tally came out to net more than 4500 pounds or 2 1/4 tons of food and non-food items.

Thank you 
  • Franklin neighbors for taking the time to leave a donation
  • postal carriers for making the rounds to gather the donations
  • volunteers for handling the goods and for helping to stock the shelves!

Photos from the 'Stamp Out Hunger' food drive processing on Saturday

truck before unloading
truck before unloading

volunteers unloading the truck
volunteers unloading the truck
staging prior to weighing in
staging prior to weighing in
weighing in the bags and containers
weighing in the bags and containers

date checking the goods after weighing in
date checking the goods after weighing in


why do we check for dates? to sort out items like this
why do we check for dates? to sort out items like this
stocking the shelves
stocking the shelves

thank you notes and candy for the postal carriers
thank you notes and candy for the postal carriers
  

Sunday, May 11, 2014

Elks Care Elks Share 5K - race results (photo essay)

Cort Francis and Kerry Walsh were first male and first female finishers of the Elks Care Elks Share 5K road race and walk on Saturday, May 10.



The finish line
The finish line

The National Anthem before the race/walk
The National Anthem before the race/walk

Race Director Steve Nyland with last minute instructions before the race
Race Director Steve Niland with last minute instructions before the race

And they're off!
And they're off!

1st male - Cort Francis
1st male - Cort Francis

1st female - Kerry Walsh
1st female - Kerry Walsh

The full listing of results from the race can be found here
http://racewire.com/live_results.php?id=3650

The funds raised by the Elks from this race will benefit the Food Pantry and the Wounded Warriors Project

Friday, May 9, 2014

Friendly reminder - Stamp Out Hunger - May 10


Don’t forget to leave your food donation bags by your mailbox Saturday morning! The Franklin letter carriers will pick them up on their normal mail rounds and deliver them to the Franklin Food Pantry in celebration of national Stamp Out Hunger day.

Stamp Out Hunger - May 10
Stamp Out Hunger - May 10

Did you get your post card reminder in the mail?

Stamp Out Hunger - post card

The Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive will be held rain or shine! If it is raining on Saturday, the Franklin letter carriers suggest placing your food donation bags in a plastic trash bag for protection.

You may also drop your donations off at the Franklin Food Pantry (located at 43 West Central Street) on May 10 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., or during regular Pantry hours, Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Nonperishables may also be dropped off anytime in the bin that is located outside of the Pantry's main entrance.

Thank you for helping us Stamp Out Hunger!

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Consider the Franklin Pride bead for Mother's Day


What do you get for your mother?

All hearts and flowers?

Maybe some something that sparkles and shines?

Maybe a Franklin Pride bead?

Franklin Pride
Franklin Pride

Aside from wearing it proudly, the best part about the Franklin Pride bead is that each purchase contributes to the Franklin Food Pantry. You make someone happy with the Franklin Pride bead and you help a neighbor. That sounds like a win - win!

Franklin Pride
Franklin Pride with bracelet

This Mother’s Day wouldn’t that be a nice touch to add to the gift?

Franklin Pride
Franklin Pride with necklace

The Franklin Pride bead can be purchased through this link. Franklin Pride can be purchased (as shown) with a choice of necklace, or bracelet, or the bead alone.

The Franklin Food Pantry is pleased to collaborate with Confidence Beads and Beads for a Cause to make the Franklin Pride Bead available to you. Confidence Beads operates the store, handles the transaction and delivery of the item(s) you order. They will periodically make the donation to the Food Pantry based upon your purchases.

Monday, May 5, 2014

Healthy Kids Day - Stuff the Truck

The Franklin Food Pantry participated in the Healthy Kids Day at Patriot Place on Saturday, May 3

Healthy Kids Day
Healthy Kids Day

Coordinated by the Hockomock YMCA as part of Healthy Futures, the event had activities for kids of all ages. Displays from multiple companies and organizations shared information and more about health.

Panorama of the Healthy Kids Day
Panorama of the Healthy Kids Day
The Franklin Food Pantry was visible in a prime location.

Panorama 2 of Healthy Kids Day
Panorama 2 of Healthy Kids Day
 The folks with Stop and Shop helped to fill the truck by donating about 40 cases of water and several cases of snack bars.

Left to right: Marissa Garofano, Bob Hamilton, Patty Hartnett, Kristy Brousseau, Stephanie Joyce,
Mark Lavallee, David and Susan Strittmatter
Healthy Futures Coordinator Marissa Garofano posed with Food Pantry Board Members Bob Hamilton and Mark Lavallee, Stop and Shop volunteers Kristy Brousseau and Stephanie Joyce, along with Food Pantry volunteers Patty Hartnett, David and Susan Strittmatter with the almost stuffed Food Pantry truck.

Thursday, May 1, 2014

Join the team to run/walk on May 10


Join the Franklin Food Pantry team on Saturday, May 10 in the Elks Care Elks Share 5K Road Race and Walk!

The Race benefits the Franklin Food Pantry and Wounded Warrior Project. Contact Jenn Parrella, Franklin Food Pantry team coordinator, at jennifer@parrella.us for details on joining the team.

Franklin Elks
Franklin Elks

Visit http://franklinelks5k.com/ for race and registration details. The event features a 5K loop of paved roads for runners and walkers, post-race refreshments, giveaways, raffles, DJ, music and free prizes.


Wounded Warrior Project
Wounded Warrior Project


Current needs - May 2014


Due to the very generous donations from Whole Foods, Shaw’s, Franklin Federated Church, and many more of our neighbors, we have enough of the following items to last us a couple months; Peanut Butter, Macaroni and Cheese, Applesauce, Boxed Pasta, Corn, and Green Beans.

The following is a list of suggested items that we are in need of at this time.
Healthy FuturesOlive and/or Canola Oil
Dry Spices and Herbs
(Parsley, Garlic Powder, Basil, Cinnamon)
Vinegar
Gluten Free 
Nonfood ShelvesDeodorant
Dish Soap
All Purpose Cleaners 
Food ShelvesCanned Ravioli
Rice/Pasta Side Dishes
Canned Tuna or Chicken
Healthy Futures shelf at the Franklin Food Pantry
Healthy Futures shelf at the Franklin Food Pantry