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Questions? Call us. 508-541-4118.Thanks for listening to 102.9 wfpr●fm.And – as always – thanks for watching.
Providing accurate and timely information about what matters in Franklin, MA since 2007. * Working in collaboration with Franklin TV and Radio (wfpr.fm) since October 2019 *
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use this QR code to find your elf |
Questions? Call us. 508-541-4118.Thanks for listening to 102.9 wfpr●fm.And – as always – thanks for watching.
"Food prices increased by 13.1% nationally and 10.9% locally this year and have not only impacted our neighbors but have increased The Franklin Food Pantry’s operating costs as well. Fundraisers like Food Elves are critical to our organization especially now amid rising food prices and increasing need.
Franklin Food Pantry Food Elves 2022
Last year our Elves raised over $95,000! These funds help us continue to provide services and food, including fresh produce, proteins and dairy to our neighbors in need. Food Elves is our largest fundraiser and we can't wait to see what our Food Elves accomplish this year!
Food Elves will be canvassing Franklin neighborhoods starting this week. Look for your purple envelope and consider making the holidays brighter for your neighbors by placing a donation in the purple envelope for pickup by your local Food Elf. If you have not been visited by a Food Elf you can donate here or use the QR code."
The Franklin Food Pantry is excited to announce Food Elves 2022. This year the Franklin Food Elves “12 Days of Donating” Campaign marks 17 years of helping neighbors in need during the holiday season and beyond. Between December 1 through 12, the neighborhood collection by local middle and high school students serves as the largest fundraiser for The Franklin Food Pantry. In 2021, the Food Elves collected over $95,000 and we are excited to see what they accomplish this year!
The Elves collect monetary donations only for The Pantry. With several food and fund drives underway, the Pantry is quickly filling up its small warehouse. The Pantry uses monetary donations to purchase chicken, beef and other meats, dairy products, eggs, fresh vegetables, and fruits at a deep discount from the Greater Boston Food Bank at a time when the need for those items is highest. With food prices increasing nationally by 13.1% and locally by 10.9% this year, it’s more expensive than ever to serve our neighbors in need.
“Our amazing community is high
“Our Food Elves are amazing students who are dedicated to giving back to the community. We appreciate their commitment and hard work as well as the tireless efforts of our district parents. Special thanks to Colleen Bond, Lisa Frankina, Deb Morandi, Denise Flynn Wright, Kathleen McGuigan, Laurie Cain and Kristen DeMayo.”
The Food Elves distribute flyers about their donation drive and our signature purple envelopes in their neighborhoods. Their flyers direct community members about how to donate. Donations can be made in two ways: through a check donation that the Elves will pick up personally; or through each Elf’s own online personal campaign page. Each Elf sets their own fundraising goal and will be able to keep track of how much they personally raise. Students will receive 12 community service hours for in-person fundraising and 10 hours for online only fundraising.
The deadline to sign up as an in-person Food Elf is 11/4. After 11/4 students can sign up for online fundraising only. The Food Elves program is a wonderful way to develop and encourage a lifelong commitment to service. Students can sign up to be a Food Elf and get more information here.
If an Elf doesn’t visit your neighborhood, you can donate to the general page here.
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Franklin Food Pantry Launches ‘The Pantry Food Elves Holiday Drive’ |
About the Franklin Food Pantry
The Franklin Food Pantry is not funded by the Town of Franklin. As a private, nonprofit organization, it depends on donations from individuals, corporations, foundations, and other strategic partners. It is grateful for its 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 food purchases, keep the lights on, and put gas in the 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.
"12 Days of Donating" Campaign Celebrates 16 Years
The Franklin Food Pantry announces Food Elves 2021. This year the Franklin Food Elves "12 Days of Donating" Campaign marks 16 years of helping neighbors in need during the holiday season and beyond. Starting on December 1 and running through December 12, the neighborhood collection by local middle and high school students serves as the largest fundraiser for The Pantry. In 2020, the Food Elves collected over $80,000 and we are excited to see if they can beat that total.
The Elves collect monetary donations only for The Franklin Food Pantry. With dozens of food and fund drives underway, the Pantry is quickly filling up its small and limited warehouse. The Pantry uses monetary donations to purchase chicken, beef and other meats, dairy products, eggs, fresh vegetables and fruits at a deep discount from the Greater Boston Food Bank at a time when the need for those items is highest.
"Our community is very engaged at this time of year, collecting food for the Pantry and educating our community about food insecurity," said Tina Powderly, Executive Director for the Franklin Food Pantry. "We are grateful for the incredible amount of food we receive. But, after the holidays, when end-of-year giving naturally subsides and food drives lessen, monetary donations help us through the lean months that follow. The Food Elves program is a wonderful way to engage our younger community members to create a lifelong commitment to service."
"Our Food Elves are amazing students who are dedicated to giving back to the community. We appreciate their commitment and hard work as well as the tireless efforts of our district parents. Special thanks to Colleen Bond, Lisa Frankina, Deb Morandi, Denise Flynn Wright, Kathleen McGuigan and Kristen DeMayo."
The Food Elves will distribute flyers and envelopes in their neighborhoods about their donation drive. The Elves have switched this year from their signature purple envelope to a standard white envelope, but personalized labels and flyers will direct community members about how to donate. Donations can be made in two ways: through a check donation that the Elves will pick up personally; or through each Elf's own online personal campaign page. Each Elf set their own fundraising goal and will be able to keep track of how much they personally raise.
If an Elf doesn't visit your neighborhood, you can donate to the general page here.
About the Franklin Food Pantry
The Franklin Food Pantry is not funded by the Town of Franklin. As a private, nonprofit organization, it depends on donations from individuals, corporations, foundations and other strategic partners. It is grateful for its 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 food purchases, keep the lights on, and put gas in the 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.
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Franklin Food Elves Launch Holiday Drive |
Registration is officially open for the 2021 Food Elf program with the Franklin Food Pantry. The Food Elf program is the Franklin Food Pantry’s largest fundraiser, which was made to help those in need in the Franklin community around the holidays. https://franklinpanthers.us/feature/2021/11/06/registration-now-open-for-the-2021-food-elf-program/
"The town of Franklin has been around for nearly 250 years since its inception in 1776. Throughout that time, both Franklin and the world around it have shifted in monumental ways to transform into the modern age of today. Since Franklin was founded: electricity has been invented, cars were created, we went to the moon, and over 100,000 people have resided in the town." https://franklinpanthers.us/entertainment/2021/11/05/history-of-franklin-franklin-historical-museum/
“Typical, isn’t it?” So here comes the FHS Theatre Company producing yet another iconic production, a fan favorite: Mamma Mia! If you didn’t already know, Mamma Mia overlooks the story of Donna and Sophie, a fun-loving mother-daughter relationship amid Sophie’s wedding. However, as Donna and her friends tirelessly plan the occasion, the bride-to-be has other intentions. On the hunt for her birth father, Sophie invites three men from her mother’s past to the ceremony in hopes that her real dad will be revealed and can walk her down the aisle on the big day!" https://franklinpanthers.us/top-stories/2021/11/04/fhs-theatre-company-presents-mamma-mia/
Visit Pantherbook for these and other stories about Franklin High School: https://franklinpanthers.us/
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Did you miss these stories in Pantherbook? |
"Registration is open for 2021 Food Elves!
Earn #communityservice hours and help fight hunger in your community.
@FHS_EmptyBowls @FranklinHS @FoodElves
#foodelves "
For more info, please visit -> https://t.co/kUiwXbrjIO
From Pantherbook we share the following:
"As COVID-19 cases continue to grow each day, so do the lines for food pantries across America. According to NPR, nearly 1 in 4 households have experienced food insecurity this year, which can be described as the lack of constant access to sufficient amounts of food needed to live a healthy life. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, 10.5% of all American households (13.7 million) experienced food insecurity at some point in 2019. The image below displays the 4 main levels of food security and describes how households are affected at each level."
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the 4 main levels of food security and describes how households are affected at each level |
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From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:
"Usually, a holiday elf's job is to make toys, pack Santa's sleigh and deliver presents on Christmas Eve. But there's a team of elves in Franklin with a different job: Collect donations for the Franklin Food Pantry.
They are the Franklin Food Elves, and they are about to launch their annual "12 Days of Donating" campaign, an effort that is important to the food pantry's continuing efforts to help community members in need.
The Franklin Food Elves are getting ready to launch their 2020 "12 Days of Donating" fundraiser for the Franklin Food Pantry, which will collect monetary donations to help the pantry help community members in need. From left, during filming of a pantry tour for this year's elves are: Kim Cooper, pantry donor relations manager; Laura Often, communications manager and Lynn Calling, executive director.
“Franklin Food Elves is our biggest fundraising opportunity," said Food Elves senior captain Erin McCaffrey in a video she recently prepared to promote the 2020 campaign. "Last year we raised over $30,000 and this year I think we can beat that goal, but we need your help.”
Franklin Food Elves ready to launch pantry fundraiser |
This year the Franklin Food Elves “12 Days of Donating” Campaign marks 15 years of helping neighbors in need during the holiday season and beyond. Starting on December 1 and running through December 12, the neighborhood collection by local middle and high school student serves as the largest fundraiser for The Franklin Food Pantry. Be on the lookout in your neighborhood for purple envelopes to support your local Food Elf or donate here.
This year especially, The Pantry needs monetary donations to help feed its neighbors. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, The Pantry has had to change how it serves its neighbors. Neighbors are able to visit The Pantry once a week and they all receive a bag filled with the same shelf-stable items. Neighbors all get a choice of proteins and a bag of fresh produce. The money raised by the Food Elves will help to purchase the items needed by our neighbors to help meet their needs.
“So many people in our community have reached out to ask how they can help us during the Pandemic. Becoming a Food Elf is a great way that some of our younger community members can support The Pantry,” said Lynn Calling, executive director for the Franklin Food Pantry. “Food Elves is our largest fundraiser of the year and helps us purchase what we need when we need it to provide for the more than 1400 individuals who count on us.”
The Food Elves will notify people in their neighborhood about how they can support the Pantry. They will distribute flyers in their neighborhoods about the Food Elves Drive. Neighbors can make donations in two ways” through a check donation that the elves will pick up personally; or through each Elf’s own online personal campaign page. Each Elf will be able to keep track of how much they personally raise.
The Franklin Food Pantry thanks our middle and high school students who serve as our Food Elves and our district parents who are helping to lead.
Any student interested in becoming a Food Elf can visit: https://www.franklinfoodpantry.org/franklin-food-elves/
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Past Food Elves gather at the Pantry for an orientation and tour |
Holiday Greetings
There is so much for us to be thankful for and celebrate this holiday season. That said, I wish that I was writing this letter to say that because of these successes, we no longer have to be here to serve our community. But, food insecurity does not go away even during the happiest times of the year. The holidays can be even harder for those thinking about where their next meal is going to come from. Through the support of our community, we are able to provide food and other items to our friends and neighbors in Franklin and help ease the stress of the holidays.
We have been very busy here at the Pantry. While so many people are out doing their holiday shopping, we are making sure that our friends and neighbors have food on their tables. We could not do that without YOU. Through the generosity of our community, we were able to provide 440 meal packages for the Thanksgiving and winter holidays. There were numerous drives that were held to stock our shelves and provide daily necessities like toothpaste, shampoo, and other items.
In addition, some of the younger members of our community also showed their support by being Food Elves - middle and high school students who create awareness about, and raise money for, the Pantry every year during the first 12 days of December. The Food Elves reached their goal of raising $28,000 for the Pantry so that our neighbors can have access to fresh fruits, vegetables, and food throughout the year. If you missed your Food Elf, or were not visited by one, you can still support this effort by going here.
In 2020, let's continue to work together to support one another and help to alleviate food insecurity. Whether you live, work, or do business in Franklin, our community is a better place because of you.
Thank you,
Lynn Calling
Executive Director
Franklin Food Pantry
https://twitter.com/FranklinFoodPan/status/1208023233573863424 |
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Some of this year's Food Elves gather at the Pantry for an orientation and tour |
The Franklin Food Pantry offers supplemental food assistance and household necessities to over 1,000 individuals. Clients have access to a variety of fresh, frozen and nonperishable foods on monthly scheduled shopping trips as well as Walk-in Fridays. They can visit the Pantry daily for fruits, vegetables, bread and pastry. As a nonprofit organization, the Pantry depends entirely on donations, and receives no town or state funding.
In 2018, 304,824 pounds of food was provided to clients. Other programs include the Weekend Backpack Program, Carts for Clients, Mobile Pantry, Healthy Futures Shelf, emergency food bags and holiday meal packages. Visit www.franklingfoodpantry.org for more information.
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Franklin Food Elves Launch Holiday Drive - Dec 1 |
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Wanted Food Elves for the Franklin Food Pantry! |
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