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.
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| 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.
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.
