"just $31.50 a week, $4.50 a day, or $1.50 a meal"

Secretary John Polanowicz kicked off the SNAP Challenge this week with a shopping trip at Save-A-Lot in Springfield to highlight the importance of this benefit as a front line defense against hunger. The Secretary is joining his family, Congressman James McGovern, Department of Transitional Assistance Commissioner Stacey Monahan, Senator Jamie Eldridge and participants across the country in taking the challenge from June 13-19. Participants must live on a total food budget of $31.50 for the week, or the average, per-person federal SNAP benefit. 

“While living on a food stamp budget for just a week cannot come close to the struggles encountered by low income families week after week, and month after month, it does provide those who take the challenge with a new perspective and greater understanding,” said Secretary Polanowicz.

Read more about the SNAP Challenge here
http://hhs.blog.state.ma.us/blog/2013/06/hhs-secretary-polanowicz-and-commissioner-monahan-kick-off-the-snap-challenge-.html

The Franklin Food Pantry is able to help those in our community receiving SNAP by supplementing with other food and non-food items. Your contributions help make this happen. Whether you contribute time (by volunteering), goods (food and non-food items) or money, it goes to help your neighbors.

Current needs - June 2012

The current needs for the Food Pantry can be found in this listing:




Health & Beauty – Shampoo, Soap, Deodorant, Razors, etc.
Paper Products – Toilet Paper, Paper Towels, Feminine, etc.
Cleaning Products – All Purpose Cleaners, Laundry, Dish, etc.
Condiments – Ketchup, Mustard, Mayo, Salad Dressing, etc.
Canned Meat / Fish / Tuna
Coffee / Tea
Flavored Rice / Pasta Side Dishes
Spices / Seasonings / Marinades
Fresh and Frozen Produce Always Welcome

How to Make Homemade Fabric Softener

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

How to Make Homemade Fabric Softener

via My Earth Garden by Michael Nolan on 3/28/12

I never expected my post on homemade laundry detergent to become one of the most visited pages on this site, but even a year and a half after I wrote it I am still getting feedback and questions.  That confirmed once and for all that I am not the only one looking for more natural solutions to things like laundry and household cleaners.

While we know how to clean laundry with a homemade and natural solution, and line drying our clothes is obviously more natural and less wasteful than using a clothes dryer, I had yet to tackle the realm of homemade fabric softeners.

That changes today when we take a look at homemade fabric softener options.

There are two ways in which we use fabric softeners these days: in the washer and in the dryer. We're going to take a look at homemade solutions for both.

Homemade Fabric Softener

Hair Conditioner

One of the frugal options I've seen for homemade fabric softener isn't exactly homemade, but it will save you some money. Hair conditioner. Not the salon stuff, either. The big bottles are cheap and they work just as well as the more expensive fabric softeners.

Vinegar

Of course if you're wanting to go more natural (like I do), you might try good ol' white vinegar. A 1/4 cup in the rinse cycle will help to remove detergent residue and soften clothes at the same time.

Mix it Up

If you're looking for something a bit more hands-on, give this a try:

• 6 cups Water
• 1/2 cup Baking Soda
• 3 cups White Vinegar
• Essential Oil (optional)

1. Add water and baking soda to a large container and stir to mix.
2. Slowly add the vinegar and allow the chemical reaction to do its thing.
3. If you like, add a few drops of a favorite essential oil, but this isn't necessary.

use 1/2 cup per wash load

Homemade Fabric Softener Sheets

My main complaints about dryer sheets are:

1. They are made of polyester fibers or polyurethane foam, and that's bad for the environment.
2. They are wasteful and though considered to be disposable, will remain unchanged in a landfill. And that's bad for the environment.
3. The ones that work aren't cheap, and that's bad for the wallet.

There are several options for homemade dryer sheets, including these:

Aluminum Foil

A ball of aluminum foil will eliminate static in the dryer as well as (and sometimes better than) commercial dryer sheets. What's more, they are the ultimate thrifty, environmentally-friendly choice because not only do they last forever, when you do get rid of them, they can be recycled unlike dryer sheets.

Make Your Own Dryer Sheets

Instead of those plastic-infused dryer sheets, why not make your own? All you need is a washcloth or similar piece of soft cotton fabric and you're on your way. Fill a spray bottle halfway with fabric softener or hair conditioner and then fill the rest of the way with water.  Spray this on your clean dryer cloth and toss it in the dryer with your next load.

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Current needs

The current needs list of food and non-food items




You can also view the doc online here
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B0wjbnXDBhczWHRQNUo1YzRZTmM

Food and non-food collection ideas

1 - You can collect food and non-food items from your neighborhood or as suggested gifts for a party.

2 - One youth birthday party idea had a scavenger hunt theme. Each participant bought an item of food or non-food that began with the same letter of the alphabet as the birthday person's name. They made a stop at the Food Pantry to bring their donation and take a tour before going on to other stops along the scavenger hunt.

Food and non-food needs

The current food and non-food needs of the Franklin Food Pantry can be viewed in the document below:

Franklin Food Pantry - JanFeb 2011 Needs

These items can be left at the Food Pantry during their open hours (Tue - Fri, 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM). If the items won't freeze in the cold, they can also be left in the large wooden box on the porch.