Franklin Food Pantry shared "The Cost of Hunger in MA" report from the Greater Boston Food Bank

Via Franklin Food Pantry:

We're proud to share the Fifth Annual Food Access Report from our partner, The Greater Boston Food Bank.

Here are the findings:

• 

  "The Cost of Hunger in MA" report
  from the Greater Boston Food Bank

  Hunger on the Rise: 37 percent of Massachusetts households faced food insecurity in 2024, rising from 34 percent in 2023
• Nutrition and Health Disparities: 67 percent of food-insecure households reported having at least one chronic health condition
• Health Care Costs: 40 percent of food-insecure households reported forgoing necessary medical, dental, or prescription care
• Social Costs: For the first time, the 2024 study examined how hunger impacts social well-being and connectedness—finding, for example, that only 58 percent of food-insecure households voted in the 2024 election, compared to 82 percent of food-secure households.

Read the full report here:

https://www.gbfb.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/GBFB_Food-Access-Report_2025_final.pdf

Shared from -> https://www.facebook.com/share/16paAaXL7b/

Greater Boston Food Bank expands refrigeration capacity to meet increasing needs

"A team member at the Greater Boston Food Bank loaded boxes of orange juice and eggs onto a pallet, steering it by shelves as he selected items. Local food pantries compile an order, much like making a grocery shopping list for your family’s needs.

“Our agency partners go online to our shopping system they can see all of this product in house available online, and they start to build their orders based on the needs of their clients,” said Jonathan Tetrault, vice president of Community Impact and Operations for the Greater Boston Food Bank.

At more than two stories high, it would seem the food bank’s refrigerated section has plenty of space, but there is such a demand the food in cold storage turns over more than twice a week. Produce and eggs are some of the most expensive and highly sought-after items at local food pantries. The executive director of the town of Franklin’s food pantry told us last year they ordered almost 90,000 eggs.

“When the Greater Boston Food Bank doesn’t have that in stock, because our clients rely on those staples and because they are such a healthy multicultural food type, we have to go purchase those staples,” said Tina Powderly."

Continue to read and view the news clip on the Greater Boston Food Bank  refrigeration project and how it helps the Franklin Food Pantry ->   https://www.wcvb.com/article/greater-boston-food-bank-expands-refrigeration-to-meet-growing-demand/62298067

Greater Boston Food Bank expands refrigeration capacity to meet increasing needs

Franklin Food Pantry Awarded $24,929 Community Investment Grant from The Greater Boston Food Bank

The Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB), the largest hunger-relief organization in New England, awarded nearly $25,000 to the Franklin Food Pantry to support its ability to empower food insecure neighbors, bolstering GBFB’s network of food distribution agencies and advancing hunger-relief efforts across Eastern Massachusetts in response to the continuing hunger crisis in the state. 

The annual grant program, originally founded in 2013, has now been investing in GBFB partner agencies for over a decade. This investment aims to strengthen The Pantry’s ability to provide nutritious food to the Franklin community. The grant will be used to fund the addition of a Support Services Coordinator who will enhance The Pantry’s client programs and services, and food procurement and processing systems. Individuals interested in the new position can learn more HERE.

“The support The Pantry has received from Greater Boston Food Bank has been instrumental in alleviating food insecurity in Franklin,” said Tina Powderly, Executive Director Franklin Food Pantry. “We’re grateful to receive the Community Investment Grant to strengthen our team and in-turn our community.” 

This grant coincides with GBFB’s fourth annual report on food insecurity, equity and access in Massachusetts. The 2024 study, “Opportunities to Improve Food Equity & Access in Massachusetts,” reveals consistently high rates of food insecurity in the state and sustained disparities in food access for communities of color and households with children.

“GBFB’s network of dedicated agency partners continue to inspire us to be innovative in our efforts to address food insecurity across Eastern Massachusetts,” said Catherine D’Amato, president and CEO at GBFB. “With sustained inequities in food access across our region, we aim to continue to invest in those communities facing a heightened need for food and drive progress towards hunger relief through strategic grantmaking to our network of agency partners. As the cost of living in our region continues to rise, we look forward to seeing how these funds bolster Franklin Food Pantry’s s ability to provide nutritious meals to our neighbors in Franklin.”

About the Franklin Food Pantry, Inc.:

The Franklin Food Pantry, Inc. offers supplemental food assistance, household necessities, and resource referral programs to more than 1,300 individuals per year. The Pantry relies on donations and grants to purchase items and pay for daily operations, and partnerships with The Greater Boston Food Bank, Spoonfuls, and local grocery stores to achieve greater buying power and lower costs. Programs include In-person Shopping, Curbside Pick-up, Emergency Food Bags, Mobile Pantries, Home Delivery, Kids’ Snack Bags, Weekend Backpacks, Holiday Meal Kits, and the SNAP match at Franklin Farmers Market. The Pantry is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization in good standing in Massachusetts, recognized by Charity Navigator as a Four-Star Charity, and awarded GuideStar’s Platinum Transparency ranking. The Pantry is located at 341 W. Central St. in Franklin, MA on Route 140. Please visit www.franklinfoodpantry.org for more information.

About The Greater Boston Food Bank:

The Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB) is the largest hunger-relief organization in New England and among the largest food banks in the country. As the food bank for Eastern Massachusetts, GBFB is feeding people in 190 towns across the region, distributing the equivalent of nearly 90 million meals through a network of 600 dedicated food distribution partners and programs. A member of the national Feeding America network, GBFB’s mission is to end hunger here. The organization remains committed to the belief that access to healthy food is a human right regardless of an individual’s circumstances. Through policy, partnerships, and providing free, nutritious, and culturally responsive food, GBFB is committed to addressing the root causes of food insecurity while promoting racial, gender and economic equity in food access. For more information and to help us help others, visit us at GBFB.org, follow us on Facebook, Twitter (@gr8bosfoodbank) and Instagram, or call us at 617-427-5200.

Franklin Food Pantry Awarded $24,929 Community Investment Grant  from The Greater Boston Food Bank

Franklin Food Pantry: Celebrating One Year at 341 W. Central St.

Dear Friend,

This June marks one year since The Pantry moved to 341 W. Central St.! We have grown so much and are serving more neighbors through in-person shopping, curbside distribution, weekend backpacks, home delivery, and more. We have also expanded our food rescue partnerships and offer more choices including culturally appropriate food. 

Our team of volunteers has grown to over 300 individuals, and we are strengthening our commitment to sustainability by installing solar panels and launching a compost program. All that we have accomplished is because of YOU! We are grateful for our volunteers, donors, business partners, and clients. The support we have received is a true testament to the generosity and kindness in our community and I am proud to call Franklin home. 

Unfortunately, hunger in Franklin persists. This month, our partner the Greater Boston Food Bank released its fourth annual statewide study Food Equity and Access in Massachusetts: Voices and Solutions from Lived Experience. Many of the key takeaways mirror our experience at The Pantry: the cost of living and food is too high; people must choose between buying food or paying for housing, utilities, education, or transportation; food insecurity exacerbates many medical and mental health conditions; SNAP, WIC, and school meals are not enough. 

While we are excited about our one-year anniversary, we know that there is more work to be done and remain committed to meeting the growing demand for food assistance.

Donate and Help Fight Hunger https://www.franklinfoodpantry.org/give-gifts/

Help us celebrate our one-year anniversary by getting involved with The Pantry – host a food or fund drive, make a monetary donation, or volunteer. There are so many ways to help us fight food insecurity and we can’t do it without you.

With gratitude and appreciation for your continued support,

Tina Powderly

Executive Director, 

Franklin Food Pantry

Read the Greater Boston Food Bank Report -> https://www.gbfb.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/GBFB_Food-Access-Report_2024_final.pdf

Franklin Food Pantry: Celebrating One Year at 341 W. Central St.

GBFB: "The Importance of Grants: Tina Powderly and the Franklin Food Pantry"

"Food insecurity respects few if any boundaries, particularly those of geography. One in three Massachusetts residents remains in need of food assistance – no decrease since the pandemic – regardless of the fact that the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency officially ended on May 11th. 

In Franklin, Tina Powderly, executive director of the Franklin Food Pantry, reports that they’ve seen a 39 percent increase in families in need since last July – from 154 to close to 200. Ninety children receive assistance through the pantry’s Weekend Backpack Program – up from 60 just last summer. 

 When the numbers go the wrong way, the lifeblood provided by grants becomes even more important to a nonprofit. “They have been absolutely critical,” Powderly explains. “We wouldn’t be where we are now without them.” She points to the pantry’s five-year-old, grant-funded pilot, ‘Walk-In Friday’ – client-choice shopping – from which they’ve taken valuable lessons and strategies for the future. 

The program taught them that healthy produce and perishable items were key differentiators in meeting clients’ needs, prompting them to make significant investments in refrigerator and freezer space. That allowed them to carry and distribute far more frozen proteins, more milk, eggs, yogurt, cheese and produce. 

(In 2022, the Franklin Food Pantry served 1,103 people in 514 households, of which 255 of them were children, and 213 seniors.) “Those are extreme needs for our clients and quite expensive, so we’re really making a difference in their lives,” Powderly says. "

Continue reading the article online ->

https://www.gbfb.org/2023/08/02/gbfb-community-investment-grants-franklin-food-pantry/

unloading the food pantry truck at their former location

The Franklin Food Pantry is here for you. If you need us, we are here with not only food, but useful programs and resources for individuals, seniors and families struggling with food insecurity. If you can support us, we thank you - visit franklinfoodpantry.org to explore volunteering, donating funds, donating food, or supporting our Capital Campaign to keep the lights on and the programs, from food elves to weekend backpack stuffing. It truly takes a village to keep our food pantry running and supporting the increasing demand, supporting our Franklin neighbors.

Ending Hunger in Massachusetts - Forum scheduled for Wednesday, January 25

As the costs for basic necessities rise, more Massachusetts residents living on the economic margins must choose between buying groceries and paying for housing, transportation, childcare and other basic utilities. It's a dilemma that plays out in hundreds of thousands of Massachusetts households every day. Hunger and access to proper nutrition remain pervasive, with nearly 1 in 3 adults experiencing food insecurity in Massachusetts in 2021, an increase from 2020. Hunger in Massachusetts is significantly higher among Black and Latinx populations, and visits to local food pantries have not returned to pre-pandemic levels. Food insecurity rates among Massachusetts college students, seniors, and immigrants also remain surprisingly high. The issue of food insecurity recently gathered national leaders at a historic White House Conference – 50 years in the making – on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health where a national strategy to end hunger and reduce diet-related disease in America by 2030. Now, leaders across the Commonwealth are convening and building a framework, drawing on the expertise spearheaded and piloted here, to advance our state's food security by 2030 as well. Join a State House News Service/MASSterList forum featuring leaders, advocates, and experts for a discussion of opportunities and obstacles for Massachusetts to advance this national strategy across the Commonwealth. For sponsorship opportunities, contact Dylan Rossiter: Dylan.Rossiter@StateHouseNews.com IN-PERSON EVENT Wednesday, January 25 | 8:15 a.m. - 10 a.m. | MCLE Boston (Downtown Crossing) | Doors open for light refreshments and networking at 7:30 a.m. Keynote Remarks (taped) U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern REGISTER Program: 7:30 - 8:30 a.m. — Networking and light refreshments 8:30 - 8:45 a.m. — Keynote remarks from U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern (taped) 8:45 - 9:45 a.m. — Panel discussion Catherine D'Amato, The Greater Boston Food Bank President and CEO Erin McAleer, Project Bread President and CEO Sen. Jo Comerford, Co-Chair, MA Food System Caucus Rep. Hannah Kane, Co-Chair, MA Food System Caucus supporting organizations About Fresh, Children's Health Watch, Community Servings, Daily Table, Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University, Food Bank of Western MA, MA Food System Collaborative, Mass General Brigham, Mass Law Reform Institute, Stone Soup Café, Worcester County Food Bank

Affiliated News Services, LLC | 568 Washington St, Wellesley, MA 02482 Sent by massterlist@massterlist.com

Franklin Food Pantry Awarded Community Investment Grant from The Greater Boston Food Bank

Franklin-based Non-Profit to Use Community Investment Funds to Advance Local Hunger-Relief Efforts

The Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB), the largest hunger-relief organization in New England, awarded $13,831 to Franklin Food Pantry of Franklin, MA to support its ability to combat hunger in the area, bolstering GBFB's network of food agencies and advancing hunger-relief efforts across Eastern Massachusetts in response to an increased need for food in the state.

The annual grant program, originally founded in 2013, pivoted this year to strategically identify and invest in communities facing a heightened need for food. This investment aims to strengthen Franklin Food Pantry's ability to provide nutritious food to the Franklin community.

The grant will be used to fund technology upgrades and supplies for the Franklin Food Pantry's community garden which grows fresh vegetables for the Pantry to distribute to its neighbors.

A GBFB partner, the Franklin Food Pantry provides choice-based shopping to over 1,100 people in the Franklin community. The Pantry offers a unique hybrid model offering its neighbors appointment-based indoor shopping or a curbside distribution. Neighbors can shop weekly. Other programs include weekend backpacks for Franklin school students, home-delivery, mobile pantries, three holiday distributions and a robust community garden.

"We are so grateful to The Greater Boston Food Bank for awarding us the Community Investment grant. Franklin Food Pantry is focused on providing our neighbors with the highest quality of fruits and vegetables is committed to programming that improves our neighbor's quality of life," said Tina Powderly, Executive Director of the Franklin Food Pantry. "Ninety percent of our donations go directly to supporting our neighbors.  The GBFB grant enables us to invest in much needed technology to enhance our client service operations and improve our organizational efficiency, enabling our staff and volunteers to spend more time directly assisting our neighbors and fulfilling our mission. We are also grateful for the support to our Community Garden. Our neighbors enjoy receiving freshly grown organic produce each week. The GBFB support is critical as the Community Garden grows into a core Pantry program supporting the overall health of our neighbors."

This grant follows the release of GBFB's second annual report on food insecurity, equity and access in Massachusetts. The study, "Opportunities to Improve Food Equity & Access in Massachusetts," reveals rising rates of food insecurity in the state and sustained disparities in food access for communities of color; with Latinx, Black and LGBTQ+-identifying adults experiencing the highest rates of food insecurity.

"It is solely through collaboration with our network of partner agencies that we are able to address food insecurity across Eastern Massachusetts on such a large scale," said Catherine D'Amato, president and CEO at GBFB. "In response to the sustained inequities in food access, we aim to invest in those communities facing a heightened need for food and drive equitable progress towards hunger relief through strategic grantmaking to our network of partner agencies. As food costs continue to rise nationwide, we look forward to seeing how these funds bolster the Franklin Food Pantry's ability to provide nutritious meals to our neighbors in Franklin.

 

About the Franklin Food Pantry 

The Franklin Food Pantry offers supplemental food assistance and household necessities to almost 1,100 individuals per year. The Franklin Food Pantry is not funded by the Town of Franklin. As a private, nonprofit organization, we depend on donations from individuals, corporations, foundations, and other strategic partners. We are grateful for our many partnerships, including that with the Greater Boston Food Bank, that allow us to achieve greater buying power and lower our costs. Donations and grants fund our food purchases, keep our lights on, and put gas in our food truck. Other programs include home delivery, Weekend Backpack Program for Franklin school children in need, mobile pantry, emergency food bags and holiday meal packages. The Pantry is located at 43 W. Central St. in Franklin on Route 140 across from the Franklin Fire Station. Visit www.franklinfoodpantry.org for more information.   

About The Greater Boston Food Bank:
The Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB) is the largest hunger-relief organization in New England and among the largest food banks in the country. In response to the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, GBFB distributed the equivalent of nearly 97 million meals in fiscal year 2021 through its network of 600 dedicated food distribution partners and programs in the 190 cities and towns across Eastern Massachusetts. A member of Feeding America, the nation's food bank network, GBFB's mission is to end hunger here and it is committed to providing at least three healthy meals a day to everyone in need. For more information, visit us at GBFB.org, follow us on Facebook, Twitter (@gr8bosfoodbank) and Instagram, or call us at 617.427.5200.

Community garden harvest at a Franklin Food Pantry distribution

Watch "Help us Grow Healthy Futures!" on YouTube

"Summer is a particularly difficult time for families facing hunger, since kids, teens, and even college students are not receiving regular school meals. 

Growing Healthy Futures: Sponsored by MathWorks will benefit all of GBFB’s summer children and family hunger relief initiatives, ensuring students have access to enough food during the summer months. 

MathWorks will generously match all gifts (through 9/30/21), dollar-for-dollar, up to ONE MILLION DOLLARS to multiply our impact! Our collective efforts will sustain and bolster the GBFB network and allow communities most impacted by the pandemic to re-emerge stronger."

Video link -> https://youtu.be/_evwJnZH8KI

Visit Greater Boston to donate ->  https://www.gbfb.org/

Or visit Franklin Food Pantry to donate -> https://www.franklinfoodpantry.org/

The Greater Boston Food Bank: "Gaps in Food Access in Massachusetts During COVID-19"

The Greater Boston Food Bank (@Gr8BosFoodBank) tweeted on Mon, May 24, 2021:

Last week, we hosted a presentation on our newly-released report, "Gaps in Food Access in Massachusetts During COVID-19"

To learn about our findings, as well as programmatic and policy recommendations, check out the full presentation: https://t.co/UMi7IhJRrH

Shared from Twitter: https://twitter.com/Gr8BosFoodBank/status/1396845461034647554

 

Direct video link -> https://youtu.be/WInSGSsJn5I

 

For more about the research and report visit the GBFB web page ->

https://www.gbfb.org/what-we-do/data-research/

 

Franklin Food Pantry: unloading the Greater Boston Food Bank food truck

#ICYMI Our latest #FAQFriday.  Learn how we unload the Food Truck from the Greater Boston Food Bank at The Franklin Food Pantry 

Shared from Twitter: https://twitter.com/FranklinFoodPan/status/1366381311271837703

YouTube video link =  https://youtu.be/evH5F5RV81Y