Franklin Letter Carriers and Local Residents Provide 8,300 Meals Through "Stamp Out Hunger" Food Drive

On Saturday, May 9, the Franklin Letter Carriers collected approximately 10,000 pounds of food and household essentials during the annual Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive. Despite the rain, residents across Franklin filled bags with donations, providing the equivalent of 8,300 meals to help the Franklin Food Pantry support neighbors experiencing food insecurity. The town-wide outpouring of support comes as the need for food assistance has reached an all-time high.  

Over the past year, volunteers have played an important role in preparing for the drive. Franklin youth, civic groups, and local businesses, assembled instruction bundles and paper bags which were donated by Allegra Print and Marketing. Franklin Letter Carriers delivered the bundles to households throughout Franklin to help promote the food drive and encourage households to participate. 

"While the Stamp Out Hunger food drive culminates in one incredible day of action, the work behind the scenes is a year-round commitment from Franklin Letter Carriers, volunteers, and supporters in our community," said Anne McGillis, Director of Operations at the Franklin Food Pantry. "The Pantry relies on Stamp Out Hunger donations to help sustain our community through the spring months. We are profoundly grateful to our letter carriers and community for their generosity and support."

For households who missed the drive but still wish to participate, The Pantry accepts donations at their 341 W Central St. location. Items can be placed in the purple bin on the loading dock at the back of the building. Supporters can shop and send donations directly through The Pantry’s Amazon Wish List, and monetary donations can be made on The Pantry’s website. 

Stamp Out Hunger 2027 is scheduled for Saturday, May 8, 2027, rain or shine! For more information about volunteering or to learn more about upcoming community initiatives that help fight food insecurity, please visit www.franklinfoodpantry.org.

About Franklin Food Pantry, Inc.

The Franklin Food Pantry, Inc. offers supplemental food assistance, household necessities, and resource referrals to more than 1,880 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 Inside Shopping, Curbside Pickup, Emergency Food Boxes, 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, or on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn for more information.

Register O'Donnell Thanks Contributors to Registry's Annual Holiday Food Drive

 Norfolk County Register of Deeds William P. O'Donnell today expressed his sincere appreciation to everyone who contributed to the Registry's 2025 Annual Holiday Food Drive. With the help of the local community, The Registry collected over 100 pounds of food this year.

"I am thankful that so many Norfolk County residents, including our employees and title examiners, took the opportunity to donate and to help those with hardships during this holiday season. We received a lot of pastas, sauces, soups, cereals, canned vegetables, and household products," stated Norfolk County Register of Deeds William P. O'Donnell.

Register O'Donnell Thanks Contributors
to Registry's Annual Holiday Food Drive

The non-perishable food collected during the drive will be dispensed to several pantries throughout Norfolk County.

Register O'Donnell stated, "While the holiday food drive has ended, it does not stop hunger from affecting many of our neighbors. There is definitely a need for more food assistance. Household expenses are higher due to the cost of home heating fuel and increased food costs. These increased costs disproportionately impact some Norfolk County families."

Today, according to the latest Project Bread statistics, 37% of all households in Massachusetts are considered food insecure. Furthermore, the Greater Boston Food Bank reports that child-level food insecurity—where parents must reduce or alter the food their children eat due to financial constraints—affected 43% of households with children in Massachusetts in 2024.

Register O'Donnell concluded by saying, "I urge residents to consider dropping off supplies at their local pantries. Besides food, many pantries are requesting toiletries and paper products. Dropping off a donation at your local food pantry can make a world of difference to a struggling family, especially in the winter months when the cost of fuel can play havoc with a family's budget."

For a list of food pantries in the 28 communities that make up Norfolk County, please visit the Registry of Deeds website at www.norfolkdeeds.org, go to the top of the menu bar, click on News and Events and then in the drop-down box click on Norfolk County Food Pantries.

To learn more about these and other Registry of Deeds events and initiatives, "like" us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/norfolkdeeds. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @norfolkdeeds.

The Norfolk County Registry of Deeds, located at 649 High St., Dedham, is the principal office for real property in Norfolk County. The Registry is a resource for homeowners, title examiners, mortgage lenders, municipalities, and others with a need for secure, accurate, and accessible land record information. All land record research information can be found on the Registry's website, www.norfolkdeeds.org. Residents in need of assistance can contact the Registry of Deeds Customer Service Center at (781) 461-6101 or email us at registerodonnell@norfolkdeeds.org.

Franklin vs. Weymouth Food Pantries Face Off in "SOUPer Bowl 2026" Soup Drive

The Franklin Food Pantry is gearing up to defend its title as SOUPer Bowl Champion against the Weymouth Food Pantry in the highly anticipated SOUPer Bowl 2026 canned soup competition.

The two pantries are asking their communities to donate cans of soup starting January 8, 2026. The pantry that receives the most soup by February 8, 2026, will be named SOUPer Bowl Champ 2026.

"SOUPer Bowl 2026" Soup Drive

The Franklin Food Pantry and Weymouth Food Pantry previously faced off in 2025. The competition resulted in a combined total of 4,967 cans of soup, with Franklin edging out the win by a mere 205 cans. While SOUPer Bowl 2026 is a friendly, spirited competition, the stakes are profoundly serious. Hunger in Massachusetts is reaching crisis levels, with a staggering 1 in 3 people experiencing food insecurity. This challenge will help stock the shelves in both pantries and combat the skyrocketing hunger in our communities. Here's how to get in on the game and support your pantry:

• What: SOUPer Bowl 2026 (Canned Soup Drive)
• Who: Franklin Food Pantry vs. Weymouth Food Pantry
• When: January 8 to February 8, 2026

To Donate:

• Bring donations to the Franklin Food Pantry, 341 W Central St., Franklin, MA, 02038, or donate via the Franklin Food Pantry's Amazon Wish List
• Bring donations to the Weymouth Food Pantry Warehouse, 40 Reservoir Park Dr., Suite E, Rockland, MA, 02370, or donate via Weymouth Food Pantry's Amazon Wish List
  

Individuals, families, houses of worship, sports teams, clubs, business, and other groups are encouraged to join the competition