Franklin Food Pantry Increases December 2024 Holiday Meal Distribution by 42%

Dedicated volunteers, generous community support, and the utilization of Oasis Insight contributed to The Pantry's successful distribution

The Franklin Food Pantry, which provides supplemental food assistance in Franklin, distributed an unprecedented 473 holiday meals in December, a 42% increase from the 333 meals distributed last year. Reaching more people over the holiday season was made possible by The Pantry’s dedicated volunteers and generous donors, and by utilizing Oasis Insight, a customizable software provided at no cost from the Greater Boston Food Bank.

Dec Holiday Meal Distribution Increases by 42%

Over a three-week period in December, volunteers and staff used Oasis Insight to schedule appointments, communicate with clients, and monitor inventory. The result was that every client who shopped at The Pantry was provided with a holiday meal consisting of a grocery store gift card and an extra bag to fill with their choice of food.

The new holiday meal distribution process was first implemented over the Thanksgiving holiday and was developed in response to client feedback. It was designed to reach a greater number of people and to provide clients with the dignity of choosing food and preparing meals that are meaningful to them. In previous years, The Pantry distributed pre-packed holiday meal kits during a single, designated time. The new process is more convenient for clients, eliminating the need to sign up in advance to receive a meal, which could lead to confusing pickup times and waitlists, and the burden of an additional trip to The Pantry.

"While the need for food assistance continues to rise, we are inspired by the dedication of our volunteers and the incredible generosity of our community who helped ensure so many families and individuals enjoyed holiday meals to celebrate with loved ones," said Tina Powderly, Executive Director, Franklin Food Pantry. "We also extend our sincere gratitude to the Greater Boston Food Bank and their dedicated team for their invaluable support in implementing Oasis Insight, which helps us serve our clients more effectively and reach more people experiencing food insecurity."

To build upon The Pantry’s success, during the month of December, anonymous food donations in our donation bin increased 93% compared to last year, and The Pantry Elves campaign which included more than 170 middle and high school students reached $86,000. These donations demonstrate the generosity of our community, will help sustain programs and services, and provide food and household needs for our 850 households that visit The Pantry.

For more information or to support the Franklin Food Pantry through donations or volunteerism, please visit www.franklinfoodpantry.org/get-involved.

If you or someone you know needs food assistance, please visit www.franklinfoodpantry.org/get-help, or contact The Pantry at 508-528-3115.

About the Franklin Food Pantry, Inc.

The Franklin Food Pantry, Inc. offers supplemental food assistance, household necessities, and resource referral programs to more than 1,800 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 Meals, 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.

Pantry Elves shift from collecting food to encouraging donations digitally (audio)

FM #1321 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1321 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares my conversation with Tina Powderly, Franklin Food Pantry Executive Director and with Jen Johnson, Franklin Food Pantry Development Associate. We had our conversation at the Franklin Food Pantry at Edwin’s. 

We talk about the Pantry Elves campaign which happens during December. Middle, high school. and college students will conduct a digital campaign within their circles. 

We talk about how the Pantry Elves have evolved, from the initial 12 Days of Giving, primarily a food drive to more recently focusing on fundraising and this year going digital with the fund raising. Ah, but there is also a purple envelope tie in.

Disclosure: during the conversation you will hear that I was previously on the Board and currently volunteering on a couple of committees to help the Food Pantry mission. 

The recording runs about 22 minutes, so let’s listen to my conversation with Tina and Jen. Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1321-franklin-food-pantry-pantry-elves-go-digital-11-18-24/

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Pantry Elves campaign -> https://www.franklinfoodpantry.org/get-involved/volunteer/pantryelves/ 

Food Pantry current needs page -> https://www.franklinfoodpantry.org/get-involved/pantry-needs/ 

Amazon wish lists -> https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2SIL7UR08ZZUC?ref_=wl_share 

Schedule a food & fund drive page -> https://www.franklinfoodpantry.org/get-involved/food-and-fund-drives/ 

Sign up for a public tour of the Pantry -> https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0f4baaa622a4f4c43-pantry#/ 

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 www.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.

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We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm). 

This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.

 

How can you help?

• If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors

• If you don't like something here, please let me know

• And if you have interest in reporting on meetings or events, please reach. We’ll share and show you what and how we do what we do

Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.

 

For additional information, please visit www.franklin.news or www.Franklinmatters.org/ 

If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com

The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana"  c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.

I hope you enjoy!

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You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

Pantry Elves shift from collecting food to encouraging donations digitally (audio)

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

Attention Middle and High School Students: Join Pantry Elves and Help Raise Funds for the Franklin Food Pantry

The Franklin Food Pantry, which provides supplemental food and household necessities, invites middle and high school students to volunteer for the Pantry Elves campaign!  

Join Pantry Elves

Since 2005, hundreds of students have participated in this holiday-inspired campaign, which has evolved into one of The Pantry's largest fundraising events of the year. The annual campaign has been instrumental in raising funds to fight food insecurity during the holiday season and throughout the year.  

This year, Pantry Elves will fundraise electronically from their friends and family members and will not canvass neighborhoods. Donations, which will be used to purchase fresh produce, dairy, meats and proteins, and household necessities, will be sent directly to The Pantry.  

Pantry Elves registration is open through December 2, 2024, and volunteers will receive 12 hours of community service.

To register, visit www.franklinfoodpantry.org/get-involved/volunteer/pantryelves, or contact Jen Johnson, Development Associate Franklin Food Pantry, at jjohnson@franklinfoodpantry.org. 

Calling to the attention of middle and high school students to gain community service hours as part of the Pantry Elves

Pantry Elves

"Attention middle and high school students looking for community service hours - sign up for "Pantry Elves" - an essential fundraising campaign that helps feed our neighbors over the holiday season and winter months.  

Please note there are changes to the campaign and participants will not canvass neighborhoods. Sign up today or learn more on our website!"

Register for Pantry Elves -> https://www.franklinfoodpantry.org/get-involved/volunteer/pantryelves/

Shared from -> https://www.facebook.com/share/sGT6XaY1AtXcYXqe/

Attention Middle & High School Students: Join the Pantry Elves and Help Raise Funds for the Franklin Food Pantry

The Franklin Food Pantry, which provides supplemental food and household necessities, invites middle and high school students to volunteer for the Pantry Elves campaign!

Join the Pantry Elves

Since 2005, hundreds of students have participated in this holiday-inspired campaign, which has evolved into one of The Pantry’s largest fundraising events of the year. The annual campaign has been instrumental in raising funds to fight food insecurity during the holiday season and throughout the year.

This year, Pantry Elves will fundraise electronically from their friends and family members and will not canvass neighborhoods. Donations, which will be used to purchase fresh produce, dairy, meats and proteins, and household necessities, will be sent directly to The Pantry.

Pantry Elves registration is open through December 2, 2024, and volunteers will receive 12 hours of community service. 

To register, visit www.franklinfoodpantry.org/get-involved/volunteer/pantryelves, or contact Jen Johnson, Development Associate Franklin Food Pantry, at jjohnson@franklinfoodpantry.org.