Look What The Franklin Food Pantry Accomplished in Fiscal Year 2024

Because of You!

The Pantry Newsletter November 2024 Hello, I am excited to share our FY24 Annual Report, a snapshot of the incredible impact we've made together this past year. With the support of our dedicated staff, Board, volunteers, donors, businesses, and the amazing Franklin community, we served over 1,800 individuals in 850 families. Your generosity and commitment made this possible, and this report illustrates the power of your support. Please click here to read the Annual Report.   This year's Annual Report highlights some exciting initiatives, including a grant-funded strategic planning process that's shaping our path forward. We're also proud of our growing commitment to sustainability as we strive to ensure our programs and resources can meet the needs of our community for years to come.   And what a year it has been! We saw a 38% growth in the number of people we served, a 48% increase in weekend backpacks for Franklin students, and a 61% jump in mobile pantry visits - all clear signs of the rising need and the collective effort it takes to meet it.   I hope you'll take a moment to explore the Annual Report and celebrate what we've accomplished together. Thank you for being such an important part of this journey—you are the heart of everything we do!   With sincere gratitude for your ongoing support and excitement for the future,      Tina Powderly   Executive Director Franklin Food Pantry  Support The Pantry Calling all runners, walkers and wobblers! It's time for the annual Franklin Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning! Since 2012, the Franklin Turkey Trot has been a Thanksgiving tradition for families from Franklin and beyond. Last year, a record-breaking $45,000 was raised by more than 1,000 runners and 60 sponsors at the annual Thanksgiving morning race. Organized in partnership with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Franklin, our family-friendly 13th Annual 5K Turkey Trot will be held on Thursday, November 28, 2024. We welcome and encourage participants of all levels and abilities to join us.  Proceeds from the Turkey Trot directly benefit The Pantry. We wish all of our runners, walkers, and stroller-pushers the best of luck! To register for the Turkey Trot, please click below. Register for the Turkey Trot  You may have heard about the Franklin Food Elves and the annual Twelve Days of Caring campaign. Did you know that the Franklin Food Elves began 19 years ago by two local schoolkids wearing elf hats and collecting food for The Pantry in their little red wagon? Over the years, with your support, that small gesture of caring for our neighbors at the holidays has evolved into one of The Pantry's biggest fundraising events. Hundreds of middle and high school students have collected funds from their families, friends, and neighbors for The Pantry by leaving bright purple envelopes hanging on doors – and if you responded with a donation, thank you! Your support has ensured that we can help our neighbors not only at the holidays but throughout the year.  We know that our Elves have not been able to reach every household in Franklin with purple envelopes and their heartfelt pleas for donations. So this year, Pantry Elves will be fundraising electronically from their friends and family members during December, but will not be canvassing their neighborhoods door-to-door. If you hear from one of our Pantry Elves, please support their efforts! If you live in Franklin, you have also received a letter in the mail asking you to support the Pantry Elves Campaign - we hope you will! Our thanks to Allegra Franklin for their graphic design and production support for this mailing. Pantry Elves Donation Giving Tuesday - an international movement to reimagine a world built upon shared humanity and generosity - is December 2 this year. Please consider supporting The Pantry on Giving Tuesday by making a Pantry Elves Campaign donation here.  We are so deeply grateful for our community - at the holidays and always!  Giving Tuesday Donation As you will see from reading our FY24 Annual Report, The Pantry has experienced a 38% overall increase in demand for our programs and services over last year and that demand continues as the year-end holidays approach. During our fiscal year 2024, ended June 30, we estimate that we reached 24,958 people with your help. With your generous support, we can meet increased demand and demonstrate our community's love and respect for our neighbors who need a little bit of extra help at this time of year. Thank you! Support The Pantry

Franklin Food Pantry | 341 W. Central St. | Franklin, MA 02038 US