Rockland Trust generosity helps the Food Pantry

For the third year Rockland Trust has donated the use of its building located at 43 West Central Street in Franklin, Mass. to the Franklin Food Pantry. The two-story building, located adjacent to Rockland Trust’s Main Street branch serves as a valuable resource to the Franklin community and provides between 2,600 and 3,200 pounds of food to area citizens each week.

Accepting the $43,200 donation check, Linda Sottile, Pantry Manager of the Food Pantry stated, “This generous donation from Rockland Trust ensures that we can continue to serve the people of the Franklin area. Local residents need our help now more than ever. The space offers plenty of storage space for food and allows us to provide private meeting space for support services.”

“At Rockland Trust, we believe in strengthening the communities in which we work and live,” stated Laurel Katsaros, Vice President and manager of the Rockland Trust Main Street branch. “Rockland Trust is proud to support the Franklin Food Pantry and its efforts to help individuals and families in need.”

About Rockland Trust
Rockland Trust Company is a full-service community bank headquartered in Massachusetts, with approximately $5 billion in assets. Rockland Trust provides a wide range of consumer, business, investment, and insurance products and services. Rockland Trust’s network consists of 67 retail branches, nine commercial lending centers, three Investment Management Group offices, and four residential lending centers located throughout Eastern Massachusetts, and one commercial lending center and investment management office in Rhode Island. To find out why Rockland Trust is the bank “Where Each Relationship Matters®,” please visit www.RocklandTrust.com.

Photo: Ann-Marie Corriveau, Rockland Trust Universal Representative; Linda Sottile, Pantry Manager of the Franklin Food Pantry; and Laurel Katsaros, Vice President and manager of the Rockland Trust Main Street branch stand in front of the Franklin Food Pantry.

Now hiring: 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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The Franklin Food Pantry is seeking a Director of Development. This is a part time position (approx. 20 hours) reporting to Board of Directors and interacting closely with the Director of Operations. The successful candidate will assume responsibility for building community relationships, fostering corporate partnerships, achieving fund raising goals, and strengthening the image and role of the Food Pantry.

Responsibilities

The Director of Development plays a key role in the success of the Food Pantry’s ability to maintain a high level of service for the expanding needs in our community. The Director will work with the Board, staff, and volunteers to establish corporate and organizational affiliations, implement budgetary planning and fund development goals, meet fund raising objectives, plan and execute public relations and media strategies.

The Director is expected to be flexible with the approx. 20 hours of work anticipated each week. The times will vary depending upon the fund development and relationship building opportunities.

The Director is expected to develop an understanding of the daily Food Pantry operations and to assist as needed.


Skills/Capabilities

● At least 5 years of experience in non-profit program management with at least 3 of those years in a director level role
● Significant experience in nonprofit fund development and relationship development
● Ability to represent Franklin Food Pantry in the community
● Strong client service orientation
● Creative approach to problem solving and idea generation
● Highly organized with attention to detail; administratively self-sufficient
● Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills
● Bachelor’s Degree and/or equivalent experience required, master’s degree in a related field preferred
● Experience with database systems and Microsoft Office

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

June = MA Dairy Month

Governor Patrick visits the Hornstra Dairy Farm to proclaim June as MA Dairy Month.



The Food Pantry is fortunate to be able to provide fresh dairy products from Garelick Farms to our neighbors. Thank you Garelick Farms!

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

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