Harvest Festival

Franklin has a Food Pantry?
Yes, it does. Located in the Rockland Trust parking lot in downtown Franklin (across from the Fire Station).

Members of the Board of Directors will be available to talk about what the Pantry does, who it serves, and how you may be able to help. Board members will be at the Food Pantry during the Harvest Festival on Sunday, Sep 30 from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

If you have food or non-food donations, we will graciously accept them during this time.

The map of the Harvest Festival showing what vendors, businesses and entertainment options you'll have to visit



Stop by the Food Pantry!

Garden fresh from Tri-County

Tri-County students Emily Scannell of Franklin and Jimmy McCarthy of Walpole proudly presented the Franklin Food Pantry with a donation of freshly picked produce on Tuesday, August 7, courtesy of the school’s very own heirloom vegetable garden.

Scannell, a junior, and McCarthy, a sophomore, delivered freshly picked green, purple, banana, and jalapeño peppers, tomatoes, zucchini, cucumbers, and eggplant to Franklin Food Pantry Manager and Director of Operations, Linda Sottile.

“It’s with the support of organizations like Tri-County and local farmers, who offer us fresh produce, that we are able to offer healthy options to our clients. It’s neighbors helping neighbors,” said Sottile of the donation.

Tuesday’s donation marks the third delivery Tri-County students have made to the Franklin Food Pantry as a result of the bounty of the Tri-County heirloom vegetable garden. “It makes me feel good to know that the produce is going to help people,” noted Jimmy McCarthy, who has helped to water and maintain the garden over the summer in partnership with a group of other students, teachers, and faculty members.

The Tri-County vegetable garden was made possible by a school wide fundraiser organized by members of the Student Council and inspired by a meeting with a representative from National Grid about the benefits of energy conservation. Students raised $2,000 selling Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs (CLF’s) and advanced powerstrips, which funded the garden set up.

Tri-County Environmental Science Teacher and TC Green Club Advisor Nancy Sibilia and Culinary Arts Instructor and Student Council Advisor Nancy Haney volunteered as the Garden Coordinators. English Teacher Peter Hefele stepped forward to donate the heirloom vegetables for planting, and herbs for planting were donated by Special Education Teacher Jane Baldi and Adult Cosmetology Instructor Barbara Perron.

The garden was planted in earth boxes around the back of the school building in May and June by students in the Facilities Management Career Program, Culinary Arts Career Program, Grade 12 Environmental Science classes, and members of the Student Council and TC Green Club.

During the summer months, Sibilia, Haney, and Lynn Wencus took turns tending and watering the garden daily with Tri-County students Scannell and McCarthy, as well as sophomore Sean Duren, juniors Katherine Cornell, Joseph Galligan of Medway and Jack Greene of Walpole, and senior Bridget McHugh of Medway.

“It’s been great to see the students doing a project like this. They are able to learn from planting and growing the vegetables, and then they see the final result and how those vegetables are going to help to feed people,” explained Nancy Sibilia. “We have many more visits to make to the Food Pantry this summer. Our tomatoes are starting to ripen and we have other types of peppers that are nearly ready as well,” she added.

Tri-County RVTHS was honored with a 2012 Secretary’s Award for Excellence in Energy and Environmental Education at the Massachusetts State House in May, which recognizes schools, teachers, and students involved in school-based programs that promote environmental and energy education.

Tri-County received a First Honors Certificate of Excellence for their “Clean Energy Initiatives,” which include the heirloom vegetable garden, the installation of a photovoltaic training structure on school grounds, and the formation of the TC Green Club.

For more information about the Franklin Food Pantry, visit www.franklinfoodpantry.org or call (508) 528-3115.

Tri-County RVTHS, located at 147 Pond Street, Franklin, is a recipient of the High Schools That Work Gold Achievement Award and serves the communities of Franklin, Medfield, Medway, Millis, Norfolk, North Attleboro, Plainville, Seekonk, Sherborn, Walpole, and Wrentham.


This article did appear in the Milford Daily News
http://www.milforddailynews.com/features/x2118932470/Tri-County-students-aid-the-Franklin-Food-Pantry


Note: The Food Pantry was having problems with our website at that time in August.

D’Amato: The changing face of hunger

Catherine D'Amato is the President and CEO of the Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB). She writes this column succinctly addressing the problem of hunger in MA. The Franklin Food Pantry sources a lot of the food we distribute from the GBFB.

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

D’Amato: The changing face of hunger

via Wicked Local Franklin Opinions RSS by Catherine D'Amato/Guest columnist on 9/12/12

Could you survive on $4 a day? For many, that barely covers their morning cup of coffee.  But living on $4 a day is the reality for millions of low income Americans who receive support through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the federal program formerly known as Food Stamps.

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• Subscribe to Wicked Local Franklin Opinions RSS using Google Reader
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“Lose For Good Open House” to help the Food Pantry

Weight Watchers will be hosting a “Lose For Good Open House” event on Saturday, September 15th, at their location in Franklin. Join us for this very special one-day-only offer, prizes, refreshments, recipes and more! The Open House will host a “Lose For Good” food drive to benefit The Franklin Food Pantry. So remember to bring a non-perishable item to donate. If you have ever wanted to find out more about Weight Watchers there has never been a better time to come in.

Saturday, September 15th from 7am to 3pm

Franklin Weight Watchers

Horace Mann Plaza, 255 East Central Street

Franklin, MA 02038

Food Pantry is looking for a Director of Development

Updated 10/7/12 - We have selected a fine candidate and will be notifying all the other candidates that have applied. Thank you for your interest!

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Do you know someone that has a talent for building relationships with local business and community groups for a non-profit?

Do you know someone looking for part-time work in a non-profit environment doing good by helping the Franklin community?

If the answer to either of these questions is yes, then please send them this info so they can follow through with the Franklin Food Pantry!






How to Apply
To apply for this position, send a cover letter and resume highlighting your qualifications to FFP.Hiring@franklinfoodpantry.org

2013 Ford Escape Hunger Drive

The Franklin Ford dealership is looking to help the Franklin Food Pantry as well as Feeding America with a program they are calling "2013 Ford Escape Hunger Drive".

For every test drive of a new 2013 Ford Escape on Saturday, Sep 8th from 11:00 AM until 3:00 PM, Franklin Ford will make a contribution to Feeding America that will provide 40 meals. Donations to the Franklin Food Pantry will be accepted at Franklin Ford.

2013 Ford Escape Hunger Drive

A test drive will

• gain a donation from Ford to provide 40 meals
• get an entry to win a 2013 Ford Escape

When you go for a test drive, you can drop off a donation for the Franklin Food Pantry!

Update on website

Our domain name issue has been resolved. We are back in service!

You can find us at franklinfoodpantry.org!

If you happen to forget and try franklinfoodpantry.com or franklinfoodpantry.net, no problem, you'll still get here!

Thanks for your patience during this time. We have been continuing to serve our clients during this time. Good food and fresh produce has been provided through the efforts of our volunteers coordinated by our Operations Director, Linda Sottile!


Updated 9/2/12 Noon - email to any of the "@FranklinFoodPantry.org" email addresses were not delivered for approx. a 24 hour period over Sep 1 and ending noontime Sep 2. If you did send something to one of these email addresses, you can resend it now and it will be delivered. Hopefully, given that it was Labor Day weekend, it was very quiet and did not affect too many folks.