Governor Patrick visited the Food Pantry (photo recap)

Before taking the trip to the White House, Erin Lynch welcomed Governor Patrick and others to the Food Pantry when they visited Franklin in an event coordinated by Representative Jeffrey Roy.

Erin explaining the Healthy Futures room at the Franklin Food Pantry

Board of Directors Chairman, Chris Feeley makes a point for Governor Patrick
and GBFB Executive Director Catherine D'Amato

Dan Robert, FHS Youth Community Involvement Club with the Governor and Erin

The opportunities to share the work the Food Pantry does with local and national government officials is priceless.


Additional photos from the visit to Franklin can be found on Representative Roy's Facebook page here https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.333448080113071.1073741928.197484223709458&type=1

#gbfb  #healthyfutures #letsmove

Local Residents and Community Leaders Take White House Tour

The Hockomock Area YMCA's Healthy Futures Initiative was selected to visit the White House Kitchen Gardens in recognition of its positive impact on local communities, through its Healthy Futures Initiative. The visit, part of Let’s Move on Thursday, October 30th, included a private tour of the White House.

Hockomock YMCA Healthy Futures group outside the White House

The goals of the First Lady Michelle Obama's Let’s Move Initiative are aligned with, and supportive of, the Hockomock Area YMCA’s Healthy Futures Initiative, which focuses on community-based initiatives to reduce inactivity and poor nutrition in the fifteen communities served by the Y, through programs, projects, and policies. Healthy Futures incorporates prevention and intervention-based strategies that support families, especially those most at risk due to food insecurities.

The Hockomock Area YMCA’s Healthy Futures Initiative is active in 15 communities, serving more than 10,000 children annually, totaling over 184,382 hours of physical activity and nutrition education.

The 30 attendees included local volunteers, community leaders, families, and Hockomock Area YMCA staff. This special White House visit allowed the Y’s Healthy Futures volunteers and participants an opportunity to learn more about the importance of growing fresh food, and making healthy nutrition and dietary decisions.

In addition to Hockomock Area YMCA staff, attendees included residents and community members connected with the Y’s Healthy Futures Initiative from the towns of Bellingham, Foxboro, Franklin, Holliston, Mendon, Milford, and Plainville:

• Bellingham: Jeanne Sheridan of Bellingham Public Schools, Food Services; Kimberly and Aiden Cohen
• Foxboro: Deb Spinelli, Foxboro Public Schools Superintendent; Carrie, Ryan and Meghan Kelley
• Franklin: Erin Lynch of the Franklin Food Pantry and her children Sierra and Kai; Healthy Futures volunteer Ansh Tarafder and her mom Rakhi Tarafder; Erin Earley and her children Sean and Brigid
• Mendon: Hockomock Area YMCA Chairman of the Board of Directors Jeff Dufficy
• Milford: Ellen Freedman of Milford Regional Medical Center and her daughter Mae
• Plainville: Julie Kinney and her children Grant and William; Bethany Lotfi and her children Sawal, Mohamad, and Yousef
• Hockomock Area YMCA Staff included Marykate Bergen, Kimberly Cohen, Caitlin Gibbs, Ed Hurley, and Kelly O’Neill

“As the Franklin Food Pantry continues to advocate that access to nutritious food is a critical component of emotional and physical health, we need champions like the Hockomock Area YMCA. This visit to the White House and the collaborative work we are doing on the Healthy Futures Initiatives brings much needed attention to the serious impact of hunger in our communities,“ exclaimed Erin Lynch, Executive Director of the Franklin Food Panty.

Hockomock YMCA Healthy Futures group visiting the White House garden

Located in the White House South Lawn, the Kitchen Garden is home to different fruits, vegetables, and herbs each growing season. The First Lady planted the White House Kitchen Garden in 2009 to initiate a national conversation around the health and well-being of our nation and to serve as an inspiration for schools and community groups across the country to plant gardens of their own.

The Let’s Move! Program was launched by First Lady Michelle Obama in 2010 and is a comprehensive initiative dedicated to solving the challenge of childhood obesity within a generation, so that children born today will grow up healthier and able to pursue their dreams. Combining comprehensive strategies with common sense, Let's Move! is about putting children on the path to a healthy future during their earliest months and years.

The Hockomock Area YMCA, working with community partners, is creating innovative initiatives to ensuring everyone has access to healthy food and a healthy lifestyle to combat the increase in chronic disease and healthcare costs related to obesity. The Y’s partnerships with school superintendents, principals, teachers, food service directors, and parent groups, have been the centerpiece of Healthy Futures’ sustained impact. Keeping kids moving and well-nourished are core goals of the Y’s Healthy Futures program. For more information, contact Caitlin Gibbs, Director of Health Innovation at the Hockomock Area YMCA at 508-772-1351 or caitling@hockymca.org.

Hockomock YMCA

About Hockomock Area YMCA:

The Hockomock Area YMCA is an organization of men, women, and children sharing a commitment to nurture the potential of kids, promote healthy living, and foster a sense of social responsibility. With over 31,000 members, half under the age of 18, the YMCA is committed to partnering and collaborating with others to create and deliver lasting personal and social change in the 15 communities they are privileged to serve.

The Y is for Youth Development, Healthy Living and Social Responsibility.

Preparing for school lunches - lunch lady heroes and more

It is time to get back to school so that means it is back to either making lunches or getting lunch in the cafeteria. In this TED Talk, Jarrett Krosoczka talks about his lunch lady and lunch lady heroes!





You can find more about Jarrett with his TED bio page  http://www.ted.com/speakers/jarrett_j_krosoczka

or on his own website   http://www.studiojjk.com/



And while we are on the topic of school lunches, Lisa Leake has some good ideas and recipes to help create healthy lunches.

Lisa Leake's 100 Days of Real Food website

Follow this link to read her post on tips to making school lunches:
http://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2013/08/14/real-food-tips-10-recipes-to-freeze-for-school-lunches-which-makes-packing-a-breeze/

Franklin Food Pantry Announces Summer Initiatives and Mobilizes for a Healthy Season

The Franklin Food Pantry (FFP) has announced new initiatives to expand its services to existing and new clients. Firstly, The Food Pantry is in a position to test drive the mobile food pantry program this year. Beginning this month the FFP truck will become a mobile pantry, providing assistance to neighbors in the community who are unable to visit The Food Pantry’s downtown location due to obstacles such as transportation, childcare and medical reasons. Eligible members of the community will have the opportunity to pick up staples such as canned vegetables, fruits, beans, and soups; peanut butter, tuna fish, pasta, cereal, and beverages. Some non-food items may be offered as well including toiletries, household cleaning supplies and occasional pet products. Meat, dairy, fresh fruits, vegetables, breads and bakery items will be on the truck whenever available.

The FFP Mobile Pantry will visit three locations as part of its pilot program on the following schedule:

• Franklin Housing Authority, 1000 Central Park Terrace on the 2nd Monday of every month from 2:30-3:30 p.m. serving residents of the Franklin Housing Authority at Central Park Terrace, North Park, East Park, or West Park Streets. 
• Franklin Housing Authority, 45 Winter Street on the 3rd Monday of every month from 2:30-3:30 p.m. serving residents 45 Winter Street; and 
• Franklin Senior Center, 10 Daniel McCahill Street on the 4th Monday of every month from 2:30-3:30 p.m. serving those affiliated with the Franklin Senior Center. 

Linda Sottile, Director of Operations for Franklin Food Pantry stated, “We expect to serve
an additional 40+ households in the next six months and hope to have additional locations on the
schedule by the end of the year.”

The Pantry also welcomes back the Healthy Futures Fresh Produce Market this summer. Running June

Healthy Futures Franklin

through October, the market will be open every Tuesday from 4:00-5:00pm. Clients can visit the downtown Franklin Food Pantry location at 43 West Central Street to pick up quality fruits and vegetables from our local farms and community garden partners. And, every 2nd Tuesday of the month, the Healthy Futures Market will present cooking demonstrations and food samplings from culinary experts of Share Our Strength’s Cooking Matters® program.

Cooking Matters is a series of educational workshops offered in a fun, casual setting. The Cooking Matters staff will prepare simple, delicious dishes using seasonal produce and on-hand pantry staples. Guests will receive nutritional tips and recipe cards to help make these farm to table meals at home. The summer workshops are made possible by a grant from the MetroWest Health Foundation and fresh produce received from Akin Bak Farm, Hoffmann Farm, Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical High School community gardens and Franklin Community Gardens.

Michelle Camiel, Eastern Massachusetts Manager for Share Our Strength’s Cooking Matters commented, “Cooking Matters is thrilled to be partnering with local farms, New England Chapel and the Food Pantry. It’s wonderful to collaborate with partners who are just as committed to bringing food skills education to families who need it as we are. We are looking forward to the Tuesday workshops at the pantry this summer!” Erin Lynch, Director of Development for Franklin Food Pantry shared, “The Cooking Matters educational classes are presented in a casual, cooperative and fun setting and have been very successful here. We have seen waiting lists of twenty or more families for these classes so we are excited to offer a summer series under the tent to accommodate larger numbers.”

Increased availability of nutritious food comes at a critical time for those who are reliant on The Food Pantry. For many families, when school closes for the summer, food insecurity rises. While at school, children in need receive lunch daily through state funded programs, but when the bell rings for the summer months, a steady diet can become compromised. Added Lynch, “It is important to serve our clients consistently throughout the year. The Greater Boston Food Bank recognizes the need for creative solutions to these challenges, and recently awarded our pantry a $2,500 grant for capacity building initiatives. The Mobile Pantry and Healthy Futures programs engage a collaboration of resources to provide additional reach to our community. Thank you to our sponsors, partner organizations, and our incredible core of volunteers who make these programs happen. “

To this end, volunteers are still needed for a variety of duties for both programs. Adults and students are welcome for several assignments. Some of the jobs include adult licensed drivers, loading and unloading the truck, set-up, inventory, assisting clients with shopping, and more. To get involved, please contact our Volunteer Coordinators at volunteers@franklinfoodpantry.org.

About Healthy Futures Franklin 

Mass in Motion

Healthy Futures Franklin is part of Mass in Motion (MIM). MIM is a statewide movement that promotes opportunities for healthy eating and active living in the places people live, learn, work and play. Marissa Garofano, Director of Community Wellness and the Healthy Futures Initiative for The Y, commented: “The Healthy Futures Initiative is committed to reduce inactivity and poor nutrition in the fifteen communities the Hockomock Area YMCA serves through programs, projects, and policies. The Healthy Futures Fresh Produce Market at The Pantry is an extension of our efforts to provide nutritional advocacy and access to fresh fruits and produce.” About Cooking Matters® Cooking Matters® is key to Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry campaign, which connects kids in need with nutritious food and teaches their families how to cook healthy, affordable meals. Learn more at NoKidHungry.org. For nutritious recipes and more information about Cooking Matters®, please check out the website at ma.cookingmatters.org.

About The Franklin Food Pantry
Established in 1987, the mission of the Franklin Food Pantry is to provide immediate hunger relief and healthy sustainable solutions, by empowering the community through resources, education and collaboration. It is part of the Greater Boston Food Bank network and depends entirely on support and donations from volunteers, corporate partners and the community at large. The Franklin Food Pantry is located at 43 West Central Street, Route 140 and can accept donations during business hours, Tuesday - Friday, 9am -1pm. Non-perishables may also be dropped off after hours in the bin by the front door, or monetary donations may be mailed to Franklin Food Pantry, PO Box 116, Franklin MA 02038. For more information, visit franklinfoodpantry.org, like the pantry’s page on Facebook, or call 508-528-3115. The Franklin Food Pantry is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization FEIN # 04-3272663.

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

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

The Franklin Food Pantry was visible in a prime location.

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.

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

Stuff A Truck Challenge At Healthy Kids Day

The Franklin Food Pantry will be bringing their new Mobile Pantry Truck to Healthy Kids Day and we challenge you to help us fill it with healthier items!

The Stuff a Truck Challenge will close out the Hockomock Area YMCA 2014 Healthy Futures Food Drive.

When: Saturday, May 3rd

Where: Patriot Place NRG Plaza, Foxborough MA

Time: 10:00 am - 2:00 pm

Hockomock YMCA

 Suggested donation items include: high fiber cereal, low sodium canned vegetables, toiletries, paper goods, whole grain pasta, pasta sauce, olive oil, spices, 100% fruit juice, multi-vitamins, white tuna, cans of beans, oatmeal, nuts or seeds

Mass in Motion

SNETT trail Healthy Heart Kick-off - Apr 25

Please join us as we celebrate the unveiling of the DCR Healthy Heart Trail, with an informative and fun introduction to a local trail gem, The Southern New England Trunkline Trail (SNETT). We will begin with a formal presentation at the Y and then move to the SNETT for a walk on the trail and picnic luncheon with our Y families.

Opening remarks provided by Representative Jeffrey Roy, Town Administrator Jeff Nutting, Franklin resident and YMCA Board member Brian Kelly, and a DCR representative.

There will be opportunities for networking prior to the start of the program and while on the trail.

Friday, Apr 25, 2014

9:00 AM to 11:30 AM

Bernon Family YMCA

45 Forge Hill Road

DCR Healthy Heart Trail Kick-off

Please RSVP to Marissa L. Garofano MPH, CHES by Apr 22

Director of  Community Wellness

Hockomock Area YMCA

P:  508-772-1322
E:  marissag@hockymca.org

For more information about the SNETT visit the Franklin Bellingham Rail Trail Committee webpage

http://www.franklinbellinghamrailtrail.org/

Save the Date: Heart Healthy Franklin - Apr 25

Explore the SNETT Rail Trail here in Franklin.

Heart Healthy Franklin

Hope you can join us there.  Formal invite to follow.

Healthy eating out? There is an app for that!

Eating healthy with home cooked meals is one thing. Trying to eat healthy when eating out can be something quite challenging. Fortunately, there is an app for that. If you have a smart phone, you can use this new app to help make healthy choices.

Launched in the early 1990s, Healthy Dining began as a book publisher of healthful menu options offered at restaurants in the Southern California region. Today, the company operates a website, Health Dining Finder, that allows users to search for nearby restaurants and view a list of dietitian-approved menu options with nutrition information and a selection of kid-friendly items backed by the National Restaurant Association's Kids LiveWell program. And as of late November, the "Healthy Dining Finder" app is available in a GPS-enabled mobile format, delivering access to better-for-you food at 60,000 full-serve and quick-serve restaurant locations. Users can filter results by price and distance, as well as alphabetically.

Read more: http://www.wickedlocal.com/franklin/archive/x1275651259/Nutrition-News-Healthy-eating-app#ixzz2pKw0RWjr

The app webpage can be found here  http://www.healthydiningfinder.com/

They provide assistance to restaurants in menu preparation to provide healthy choices
http://www.healthydiningfinder.com/restaurant-partners/our-expertise

Their "Road to Health' blog offers good articles in this space
http://www.healthydiningfinder.com/blogs-recipes-more/Road-to-Health

#GivingTuesday to help the Food Pantry provide everyday

Thanksgiving and the other end of year holidays bring many folks around a dinner table to enjoy a good meal with the family and friends. While the awareness of hunger is heightened during this time of year, the reality is such that hunger is a year round problem.

The Franklin Food Pantry looks for ways to enable a sustaining volume of donations so that those they serve can be provided for throughout the year.

For #givingTuesday, there are several ways you can help the Food Pantry.

You can help in the following ‘traditional’ ways

• Donate food or non-food items. Why non-food items? For those on WIC or SNAP benefits, purchases of personal health care products are restricted. A person needs those just as much as healthy food to live a good life. Review the listing of non-food items for the Healthy Futures shelf.

• Donate money through the Food Pantry website with a one time payment, or set up a recurring payment. The website allows for payments from bank accounts or credit cards.

For the holiday season you might consider

• Getting your vehicle serviced by Nice Car Care at the corner of Grove and Beaver St. For the entire month of December they are donating 5% of their profits from all car services to the Franklin Food Pantry. A complete list of services can be found at www.nicecarecare.com

• The Franklin Food Elves will be collecting for the Food Pantry in their annual "12 Days of Giving" campaign.  "More than 60 Food Elves will be collecting goods in neighborhoods around Franklin. If you don't have an Elf in your neighborhood, you can still participate in the food drive! Look for the red collection bins at participating Franklin Downtown Partnership member businesses. For additional information, check here.

• Buying a ticket or two, or more for “A Christmas Carol, Times Two!” A dramatic reading of the classic story  Charles Dickens with musical accompaniment. Thursday, Dec 12th at the Franklin United Methodist Church. Tickets $10 per person. Tickets are on sale and can be purchased in advance through BrownPaperTickets.com/, either on-line or by calling their 24/7 toll-free number 1-800-838-3006  For additional details on this performance check here.

You can also help by

• Purchasing a “Franklin Pride” bead or necklace or bracelet. These items are carefully crafted in the Franklin blue and buff colors and make great gifts throughout the year. Birthdays, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day to mention just a few. A percent of the purchase price comes to the Food Pantry thanks to the collaboration with Beads for a Cause

• Consider “Sponsoring a Shelf”. Contact Erin Lynch, Development Director to discuss how this would work for your budget. She can provide examples of items (peanut butter or toilet paper for example) that the Food Pantry uses on a regular basis. Your donation could provide the funds to keep a shelf stocked with that item for a set period of time. Your name (business or family) would be placed on the shelf to help provide recognition for your contribution.

• Last but not least, you can find the Franklin Food Pantry on Facebook. “Like” the page and enable notifications to your timeline as the Food Pantry makes updates so you will always be “in the know”. Share items you find are worthy with your friends and neighbors so the Food Pantry can reach all of the Franklin user on Facebook!

• If you have a Twitter account, you can also find and follow the Food Pantry

• If you use LinkedIn, you can find updates from the Food Pantry

When you sit for your next meal, please give thanks for what you have. Please consider giving when you can to help the Food Pantry provide for others in Franklin throughout the year.

An exercise in giving!

About 400 runners and walkers were up bright and early Thanksgiving morning to take part in the Turkey Trot 5K. Held at the LDS Church on Jordan Rd and put on by Feed The Need, the event was quite successful! Raising money and food for the Franklin Food Pantry, the donations filled the truck.

Erin Lynch, Director of Development for the Franklin Food Pantry posed by the full truckload of donations

More photos of the event can be found here
http://www.flickr.com/photos/steve_sherlock/sets/72157638175273655/with/11116316576/

The official race results will be posted to http://feedtheneed.org/


When the final tally on runners/walkers and donations is ready, it will be shared. In the meantime, thank you! thank you! thank you! This is wonderful support for our community!

Healthy Futures Shelf - Wish List

The Healthy Futures Shelf is made possible by a grant from the MetroWest Health Foundation. It provides access to nutritious choices in partnership with Stop and Shop, the Hockomock Area YMCA and through generous donations from the community.





Why does the wish list have non-food items?
SNAP benefits restricts the purchase to food and these items you still need for a healthy life.

• Print out this flyer to take with you when you go shopping.
• Share this copy with a neighbor or friend.
• Follow the Food Pantry on Facebook 
• Subscribe to receive updates via email as new posts are created here (subscribe via email on the home page)

Franklin Food Pantry Receives Grant from Darden Restaurants

Funds Earmarked to Support the Healthy Futures Initiative - Grant is one of more than 850 awarded through Darden’s 2nd annual Restaurant Community Grants program

The Franklin Food Pantry was selected as a recipient of a $1,000 grant as part of the Restaurant Community Grants program from the Darden Foundation, the charitable arm of Darden Restaurants Inc. The grants program, now in its second year, empowers each restaurant in the Darden family of brands to help award a $1,000 grant to support local community programs.

Chosen by the LongHorn Steakhouse restaurant in Franklin, The Franklin Food Pantry has earmarked Darden’s funds to supply fresh fruit to its clients through its recently launched Healthy Futures Shelf. 

In Photo from left to right:  Linda Sottile, Director of Operations at the
Franklin Food Pantry; Jodi Morgan, Kitchen Manager, Jessica Studley,
Culinary Professional, and Jason McHenry, Managing Partner from LongHorn
Steakhouse in Franklin;  Tony Kucich, Volunteer at the Franklin Food Pantry,
and Jon Morse of The Big Apple in Wrentham.

“With this grant from Darden and support from The Big Apple in Wrentham, The Pantry can supply approximately 240 apples each week for 4 months, a welcome item on the shelves at The Pantry this Fall”, stated Linda Sottile, Director of Operations for The Pantry.

Healthy Futures Franklin is part of Mass in Motion (MIM), a statewide movement that promotes opportunities for healthy eating and active living. MIM programs work with communities, schools, childcare centers, and businesses to create changes that make it easy for people to eat better and move more. “Together, we can create healthier communities, and a healthier Commonwealth. We have received funding through the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to continue the work in Franklin, and the Franklin Food Pantry has been an instrumental partner in these efforts”, said Marissa Garofano, Director of Community Wellness for the Hockomock Area YMCA.

According to Erin Lynch, Director of Development at the Franklin Food Pantry, “Providing nutritional advocacy and access to fresh fruits and produce is a priority for The Pantry in its role as a Healthy Futures partner. The high cost of perishable items is a barrier to wholesome nutrition for many families. We try to supply these items to our clients whenever affordable and available. We are very grateful to Darden Restaurants for their contribution to this community effort.” The Pantry has also received support from MetroWest Health Foundation, Stop & Shop, and the community to enhance the variety and quality of healthy items and nutrition resources that they can offer.

Darden’s Red Lobster, Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, Bahama Breeze, Seasons 52, The Capital Grille and Eddie V’s brands participated in the grant program. Many restaurants and brands worked together to award one nonprofit organization with a larger grant and make a greater impact in their community. The restaurants will award more than $1.9 million to more than 850 exceptional nonprofit organizations in the U.S. and Canada. Nonprofits receiving grants support one of Darden’s three key focus areas: access to postsecondary education, preservation of natural resources and hunger. 

“Our employees are incredibly passionate about the communities where they live, and our restaurant teams are in a position to understand and help address the needs of their communities,” said Drew Madsen, Darden Restaurants’ president and chief operating officer. “We’re all proud to build on that passion through the grants program and bring real, local citizenship to life by enabling each restaurant to make a difference in their backyard.” 

For more information about the Darden Foundation, please visit www.dardenfoundation.com. For additional information on The Franklin Food Pantry, please visit www.franklinfoodpantry.org. For more information on Mass in Motion, please contact Marissa Garofano at marissag@HOCKYMCA.ORG or visit www.healthyfuturesfranklin.org for information on the Healthy Futures Initiative. 

About Darden Restaurants
Darden Restaurants, Inc., (NYSE: DRI), the world’s largest full-service restaurant company, owns and operates more than 2,000 restaurants that generate over $8.0 billion in annual sales. Headquartered in Orlando, Fla., and employing more than 190,000 people, Darden is recognized for a culture that rewards caring for and responding to people. In 2013, Darden was named to the FORTUNE “100 Best Companies to Work For” list for the third year in a row and is the only full-service restaurant company to ever appear on the list. Our restaurant brands – Red Lobster, Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, Bahama Breeze, Seasons 52, The Capital Grille, Eddie V’s and Yard House – reflect the rich diversity of those who dine with us. Our brands are built on deep insights into what our guests want. For more information, please visit, www.darden.com.

The Darden Foundation
The Darden Restaurants, Inc. Foundation is the charitable arm of Darden Restaurants, Inc. The Foundation’s mission is to maintain a spirit of volunteerism and philanthropy as defining characteristics of Darden Restaurants. Since 1995, the Darden Foundation has awarded more than $60 million in grants, with $7.2 million given in fiscal year 2012. The Darden Foundation carries out its mission by focusing philanthropic efforts and resources on the following program areas: Access to Postsecondary Education, Preservation of Natural Resources and Good Neighbor Grants. For more information, please visit, www.dardenfoundation.com. 

About The Franklin Food Pantry
Established in 1987, the mission of the Franklin Food Pantry is to provide immediate hunger relief and healthy sustainable solutions, by empowering the community through resources, education and collaboration. It is part of the Greater Boston Food Bank network and depends entirely on support and donations from volunteers, corporate partners and the community at large. The Franklin Food Pantry is located at 43 West Central Street, Route 140 and can accept donations during business hours, Tuesday - Friday, 9am -1pm. Non-perishables may also be dropped off after hours in the bin by the front door, or monetary donations may be mailed to Franklin Food Pantry, PO Box 116, Franklin MA 02038. For more information, visit us at franklinfoodpantry.org, like our page on Facebook, or call us at 508-528-3115. The Franklin Food Pantry is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization FEIN # 04-3272663.