Volunteer Opportunities

Heavy Lifting/Driving Volunteers Needed

The Franklin Food Pantry is looking for a few volunteers for some very heavy lifting/van driving tasks.  One of the regular opportunities is twice a month we drive our van down to Taunton to pick up our Greater Boston Food Bank orders.  These orders can range between 2,000-3,000 pounds and have to be manually loaded from the dock into the back of the van, case by case.  We have to be in Taunton on the 1st Wednesday of each month at 12:30 and the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 10:30.  We usually leave Franklin about 1 hour before the scheduled pickup time to arrive  in Taunton a little early.  We do usually have volunteers back at the Pantry to help unload the van.  We do have a van that we use, but if you have, or know someone who has, a truck with a lift for the dock so they can drive the forklift straight in that is much easier.  We are looking for someone who is willing to commit to either one of the pickups or both on a regular basis.  Some other opportunities that we are looking for volunteers for would be on a less consistent basis.  Sometimes we get calls from local businesses with donations that we need to go pick up that day.  One of these businesses is Garelick Farms.  They will email us in the morning to let us know that they have product available and we would need to get there that day.  Fresh dairy products are not easily obtained at the Franklin Food Pantry, so when we are offered milk, yogurt, cream, etc., it is greatly appreciated by our Clients.  We use our van to pick up the items, and usually each crate weighs up to 40 pounds so it is heavy lifting into the van and then unloading at the Pantry and stocking the refrigerators with the product. 

Thank you for considering the Franklin Food Pantry for your volunteering opportunities.  These opportunities are normally performed Tuesday-Friday between 9:00am-1:00pm.  We ask that no one under the age of 18 respond as there will often be Clients in the Pantry and we don't have student volunteers when the Clients are here.  Also we ask that you be prepared to sign a confidentiality agreement as a volunteer and also have a safe driving record and a valid driving license as we may have to included you as a driver on our van's insurance policy.

Again, there is a lot of heavy lifting, stairs, etc. involved with this opportunity and if you know of anyone or a company that may be willing to help out, especially if they have a small truck that the forklift can load directly onto at the Greater Boston Food Bank, then please forward them this request or have them contact me directly.

Farmer's Market Volunteers Needed

The Franklin Food Pantry has received a grant that offers any SNAP (food stamp) recipient to double their money at the Franklin Farmer's Market every Friday from June 8, 2012 through November 2, 2012.  We are looking to fill slots from 11:30am-6:00pm every Friday at the Franklin Town Common.  The volunteers would help the clients process their transaction on the handheld EBT terminal (easy training), and also we will provide other documentation if anyone is looking for information on the Food Pantry, SNAP, WIC, etc.  There are times when it is very slow and I will try to have 2 volunteers at all times so there is someone to talk to and if someone needs to leave for a moment there is someone else there at the table.  The table will be next to Grateful Farms and one of our Board members will be at their table so any questions or concerns can be handled immediately by a Franklin Food Pantry Board member.  Also the volunteers may have to stop at the Pantry prior to arriving at the common to pick up the tables, chairs, canopy, documentation, vouchers, terminal, cooler with waters, etc., and and then help set up and later break down the table, chairs and canopy.  The volunteers would have to be adults, we ask that no one under the age of 18 be at the table at any time and they will be asked to sign a confidentiality agreement.  This is a very private situation for a lot of families and confidentiality is very important.  Also it is very important for the volunteers to know that the market opens rain or shine, hot or cold weather, and should always plan accordingly.  Volunteers should be willing to work 1-2 Fridays per month for a minimum of 3-6 hours.

Thank you again. 

Regards,

Linda Sottile
Franklin Food Pantry
(508) 528-3115
www.franklinfoodpantry.org

Double good deal: Library Book Sale this weekend

Bring a donation for the Food Pantry and the Friends of Franklin Library will give you a coupon reducing the price of a book. This is a double good deal. You help the Food Pantry and the Franklin Library at the same time!

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It is time for the Friends of Franklin Library (FoFL) to hold another Book Sale. This fun and fund raising event occurs twice each year, in May and October.

Friday - members of the FoFL get to participate in the pre-sale from 4:00 to 7:00 PM 

Saturday - open to all from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The DPW will also be open for their "Touch a Truck" event that kids love from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM. The DPW will sell some refreshments. 

Sunday - the "Bag Sale" is held on Sunday from 9:00 AM to Noon. Put books into a bag and you can buy the books at a "bag" price.

If you are not yet a member of the Friends of the Franklin Library, a membership table is set up and you can join right  there.





Where is the Book Sale?
At the DPW garage off Hayward St.

What happens with the money raised by the FoFL from this event?
Money raised supports many library programs; summer reading, children's and adult programs, One Book, One Community and associated programs, museum passes, e-books and new books,CD's and DVD's for the library to name a few.

Stamp Out Hunger, May 12

The Franklin Food Pantry was on the receiving end of a parade of mail carrier trucks on Saturday. The annual Stamp Out Hunger drive was held. Letter carriers picked up donations from Franklin residents on their mail delivery rounds on Saturday and then dropped off the donations at the Food Pantry The trucks arrived

The trucks got emptied

The bags/boxes were weighed and then date checked

The items were sorted and then put onto shelving

Thanks to Linda Sottile, the Food Pantry Operations Manager, for organizing the many volunteers.

Thanks to all the volunteers for their help!

Thanks to the letter carriers for their help!

Thanks to the Franklin residents who contributed!

Your Franklin neighbors will appreciate the results.


Thanks to Barbara Evans for the photos!

Stamp Out Hunger - Food Drive - May 12

The carriers of the Franklin Post Office will pick up your contribution this Saturday as they make their rounds with the mail.



Food and non-food items are welcome. You can check out our current needs listing for suggestions

Note: At this time we have more than enough volunteers lined up to help us. Thank you!

Local Author To Discuss Making “Little Changes” for More Healthy Living At Franklin YMCA

Easton resident and author Kristi Marsh will discuss her book "Little Changes: Tales of a Reluctant Home Eco-momics Pioneer" on May 23rd at 7:30 pm in the Community Room at the Franklin YMCA. This free author meet and greet event is organized by the Franklin Newcomers and Friends Club.

Marsh, a breast cancer survivor, started trying to make better choices as she was recovering from treatment in 2007. Now a proponent for environmental health, Kristi is passionate about sharing her knowledge and journey with others. Her book discusses how to reduce the chemicals and toxins that we are exposed to on a daily basis, from the foods we eat, the products we use on our bodies and the products we use to clean our homes. Marsh has a website, www.choosewiser.com, where she posts a weekly blog, and a Facebook page with relevant news links and highlights of natural and locally produced products.

On May 23rd, Marsh will speak about herself, her book and how she came about writing it. There will be time for questions, answers and discussion. She will also sell copies of her book and sign them for anyone interested. Admission is free. Complimentary snacks and beverages will be available. This is expected to be a popular program and space is limited. To reserve your spot, please register by sending an email to franklinnewcomers@hotmail.com.

The Franklin Newcomers and Friends Club is a social and charitable club for new and long-time Franklin residents. The Club’s Annual Craft Fair held every November is a town tradition, and the club annually donates thousands of dollars to local charitable organizations. For more information about Franklin Newcomers and Friends, visit www.franklinnewcomers.com.


The video trailer for Kristi's book: