Franklin Food Elves Launch Holiday Drive: “12 Days of Donating” Campaign Celebrates 15 Years

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/

Past Food Elves gather at the Pantry for an orientation and tour

Holiday greeting from the Franklin Food Pantry

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

Holiday Meal Distribution

On Thursday December 19, our Pantry volunteers distributed over 200 holiday meals to our neighbors. The meal packages included a ham, fixings, some special chocolates and a blanket.

Thank you to all our volunteers and thank you to the Interfaith Council, MetroWest Provisions, customers of MetroWest Provisions, Chris Feeley and family, Sue Kilcoyne and all those that participated in her holiday event to benefit the Pantry, and our holiday greeting card creators for their generous donations to help make everyone's holiday brighter.

https://twitter.com/FranklinFoodPan/status/1208023233573863424

You can contribute to the Franklin Food Pantry securely online
https://www.franklinfoodpantry.org/

Disclosure: as a former Food Pantry board member, this organization remains a top priority for my charitable contributions.

Franklin Food Elves Launch Holiday Drive - Dec 1

This year the Franklin Food Elves "12 Days of Donating" Campaign marks 14 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 Pantry.

Again this year, the Elves will collect monetary donations only for The Pantry. With dozens of food and fund drives underway, the Pantry is out of space to store the inventory. The Pantry uses the collected monetary donations to purchase chicken, beef and other meats, dairy products, eggs, fresh vegetables and fruits.

"Our community becomes very involved this time of year collecting food for the Pantry," said Lynn Calling, 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 subsides and food drives are infrequent, monetary donations will help us through the lean months that follow."

"In addition, monetary gifts allow us to buy what we need when we need it. They give us the flexibility we need to provide for the more than 1000 individuals who count on us. We are also able to purchase food through the Greater Boston Food Bank for much less money than people pay in the grocery story allowing our dollars to have more buying power."

The Food Elves will notify their neighbors about how the 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. Any student interested in becoming a Food Elf can visit: https://www.franklinfoodpantry.org/franklin-food-elves/

Some of this year's Food Elves gather at the Pantry for an orientation and tour

About the Franklin Food Pantry

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.

Franklin Food Elves Launch Holiday Drive - Dec 1

Wanted Food Elves for the Franklin Food Pantry!

The food elf program has fundraised for the Franklin Food Pantry for thirteen years and is our largest fundraising event. This program is unique because it is driven by high school and middle school students only. 

Starting December 1 for twelve days the elves participate in "12 days of giving" and collect funds from their neighborhoods. Each elf is assigned to a particular neighborhood and drops off a customized envelope and flyer to a Franklin resident and then returns to pick up a donation to the Franklin Food Pantry. Elves can also fundraise online through our donorperfect platform.

The Franklin Food Pantry provides all the elves with everything they need including their own webpage, flyers and thank you notes. Each elf also receives either between 10 and 12 community service hours for participating in the program.

Interested volunteers can visit our website to sign up at: https://www.franklinfoodpantry.org/franklin-food-elves

Wanted Food Elves for the Franklin Food Pantry!

In the blink of an eye

Holiday Edition 2018    Thankful for you.    Dear Friends, In the blink of an eye, it will all be over. The harried pace of the next few weeks will roll into a post-holiday calm that will be welcomed by many of us. We, at the Pantry, will take pause and look back at all that we have accomplished, thankful to our generous community of supporters who made it all possible. Many nonprofit organizations appeal to their donors for support during the holiday season and encourage end-of-year giving. We are no different. We offer a variety of ways to engage our supporters to capture the spirit of giving that abounds this time of year. The gifts that are made now will help us get through the leaner months ahead, when giving subsides and food drives are less frequent. There are so many ways you can support the Pantry. However you choose, we are grateful. Join us Thanksgiving morning for the Franklin Turkey Trot Buy groceries online through our GivingTuesday Campaign Support your neighborhood Food Elf through the "12 Days of Donating" Campaign  Make a one-time donation or set up a monthly recurring gift to feed our families all year long When the season of giving ends, the need continues. Your gifts now will help us care for the 1,000 individuals who count on us long after the holidays are over.  THANK YOU for your support, however you choose to help the Pantry. Wishing you and your families a very Happy Thanksgiving!   Warmly, Erin  Franklin Food Pantry       www.franklinfoodpantry.org Our facility is generously donated by Rockland Trust. We are located at 43 West Central Street, Franklin, MA, on Route 140 in the Rockland Trust parking lot,  across the street from the fire station.

Franklin Food Pantry, 43 West Central Street, PO Box 116, Franklin, MA 02038 Sent by erin@franklinfoodpantry.org in collaboration with Try it free today

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Franklin Food Elves “12 Days of Donating”

This year the Franklin Food Elves “12 Days of Donating” Campaign marks 13 years of helping neighbors in need during the holiday season.

The Elves will once again shift their collections for the Pantry to monetary donations only. The move away from food collections last year was necessary because the Pantry has no room to store the large amount of products that are donated during the holiday season.

(left to right) Julia Buccella and Natalie Dextradeur,
co-leaders of the Food Elves Campaign

“We are truly grateful for the incredible amount of food we receive, but we are simply out of space,” said Erin Lynch, the Pantry’s executive director. “After the holidays, when end-of-year giving subsides and food drives are infrequent, monetary donations will help us through the lean months that follow.”

The Food Elves Campaign is now the Pantry’s largest fundraiser, raising nearly $24,000 last year.

“The community’s response was incredibly positive,” said Lynch. “The Elves delivered the message about our needs and the constraints of our facility, and their neighbors responded with enthusiasm. They rallied behind the Food Elves and really showed their support for the Pantry and the nearly 1,000 individuals who count on us.”

Monetary gifts allow the Pantry to buy what they need when they need it. They can supplement the nonperishable food that is collected through food drives with fresh and frozen foods like chicken, beef and other meats, dairy products, eggs, fresh vegetables and fruits.

an open house and tour at the Franklin Food Pantry
for a group of Food Elves to kick off this year’s holiday drive

Over the next few weeks, the Food Elves will reach out to their neighbors about how they can support the Pantry. Donations can be made in two ways: through a check donation that the elves will pick up personally and deliver to the Pantry; or through each Elf's own personal campaign page on CrowdRise. 

CrowdRise is the world’s largest and fastest-growing fundraising platform dedicated exclusively to charitable giving. Each Elf will be able to keep track of how much each personally raises.

There are more than 130 elementary, middle and high school students involved in the Food Elves. Any student interested in becoming a Food Elf for the 2019 Campaign can sign up online at www.franklinfoodpantry.org/franklin-food-elves/.

Franklin Food Elves Launch Holiday Drive - “12 Days of Donating” Campaign Celebrates 12th Year

This year the Franklin Food Elves “12 Days of Donating” Campaign marks 12 years of helping neighbors in need during the holiday season. The Elves are putting a new twist on this popular giving tradition with a shift in their collections for the Pantry.

The Elves are changing it up to be a fund only drive. With dozens of food and fund drives underway, the Pantry is out of space to store the inventory. Monetary donations that are collected will be used to buy chicken, beef and other meats, dairy products, eggs, fresh vegetables and fruits.

According to Erin Lynch, the Pantry’s Executive Director, “Our community becomes very involved this time of year in collecting food for the Pantry. We are grateful for the incredible amount of food we receive. But, after the holidays, when end-of-year giving subsides and food drives are infrequent, monetary donations will help us through the lean months that follow.”

“In addition, monetary gifts allow us to buy what we need when we need it. They give us the flexibility we need to provide for the more than 1,000 individuals who count on us. We are also able to purchase food through the Greater Boston Food Bank for much less money than people pay in the grocery store.”

Later this month, the Food Elves will notify their neighbors about how they can support the Pantry. As in the past, 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 personal campaign page on CrowdRise. 

CrowdRise is the world’s largest and fastest-growing fundraising platform dedicated exclusively to charitable giving. It is used by millions of individuals to raise money for their favorite charities and causes. Each Elf will be able to keep track of how much each personally raises.

There are more than 130 elementary, middle and high school students involved in the Food Elves. Any student interested in becoming a Food Elf should contact franklinfoodelves2017@gmail.com.

About the Franklin Food Pantry

The Franklin Food Pantry offers supplemental food assistance and household necessities once a month to more than 1,000 individuals, including nearly 300 children. Clients have access to bread and fresh produce daily during Pantry hours. 

As a nonprofit organization, the Pantry depends entirely on donations, and receives no town or state funding. Other programs include a Mobile Pantry, Cooking Matters classes, a Healthy Futures Market, 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 franklinfoodpantry.org for more information.

Julia Buccella and Natalie Dextradeur are the Co-Lead Food Elves for the
2017 Campaign (Photo courtesy of Patti Dextradeur.)

Help fill the St. Vincent de Paul Thanksgiving food baskets

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

Each year, the St. Vincent de Paul headquarters in Stoughton offers the Franklin St. Mary’s St. Vincent de Paul Thanksgiving food baskets ($10 each) for distribution throughout the community. Those in need of assistance can call the St. Vincent de Paul office at 508-918-2291. 

The St. Mary’s St. Vincent de Paul Society will be conducting its 9th annual Thanksgiving Food Drive on the weekend of Nov. 18-19, to enhance the baskets from HQ and to restock food pantry shelves. Suggested items to donate include applesauce, cranberry juice, popcorn, peanut butter, jelly, jams, cookies, crackers, bread mix, pudding, candy corn, cranberry sauce, stuffing, cereal, fruit cocktail, coffee/tea/cocoa, boxes of chocolate, canned yams and vegetables, rice, chowder and a Thanksgiving tablecloth or decoration.

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http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20171016/strongst-vincent-de-paul-announces-food-drivestrong

Help fill the St. Vincent de Paul Thanksgiving food baskets

In the News: real estate supply shortage; Food Elves succeed again

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"Local real estate agents are optimistic an increased number of buyers will be looking for homes in the coming months, but there may not be enough houses on the market to meet demand. 

"Sales have been brisk," said Paul Yorkis of Patriot Real Estate in Medway. "The biggest problem I see for 2017 is the absolutely overwhelming shortage of housing everywhere in the Boston metropolitan area."

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http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20161228/regions-real-estate-agents-optimistic

"The Franklin Food Elves are celebrating the results of their 11th food drive, thanks to a change in strategy that bore fruit, said group members. 

Though this year's "12 Days of Donating" campaign garnered fewer food items than last year - about 4,000 pounds as compared to 2015's 8,000-pound total - that was the result of an intentional shift. Instead of asking the community for food, the elves asked for money: They were able to collect $13,273 - a sizable increase over last year's $1,943 sum. 

The switch from a strictly-food-drive to an appeal for both food and money will allow the Franklin Food Pantry - which receives the drive's donations - to provide better options to those it serves. With the additional funds, the pantry can buy fruits, vegetables, dairy products, eggs and meat - and do so when the need is greatest, not just in December."

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http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20161227/franklins-food-elves-rack-up-another-success

If you have the opportunity to make a donation to help your year end tax contributions

donation to the Franklin Food Pantry securely online

Food Elves Inspire “Fresh” Approach to Food Drive - Community Response Overwhelming

When more than 130 Franklin Food Elves set out to collect gifts from their neighbors for the Franklin Food Pantry for the “12 Days of Donating” Campaign, their load was lighter than the year before. But that’s what they hoped for.

Erin Lynch, left, Franklin Food Pantry
Executive Director, and Ellie Teixeira, lead Food Elf

The Elves encouraged more monetary donations this year so the Pantry could purchase fresh food for clients. The community rallied behind the Food Elves’ appeal and donated $13,273 and 3,696 pounds of food. Last year’s total yield from the Food Elves’ drive from residents was $1,943 and 8,001 pounds of food.

“This was an extraordinary effort by the Food Elves,” said Erin Lynch, executive director of the Franklin Food Pantry. “And our community responded with such generosity. The monetary donations will allow us to purchase nutrient-rich food to supplement the canned and boxed food donations that were collected. The high cost of fresh food is often a barrier to wholesome nutrition for the families we serve.”

With monetary donations, the Pantry can purchase fruits, vegetables, dairy products, eggs and meats. As a Greater Boston Food Bank partner, the Pantry purchases items at a fraction of what it costs in the grocery store, therefore making donation dollars stretch even further.

Lead Food Elves Ellie Teixeira (left) and Julia Buccella
distributed red bins to 11 Franklin Downtown
Partnership member businesses

In addition to neighborhood collections, the elves placed red food donation bins at the following local businesses: Chestnut Dental Associates, Dean Bank, Dean College, Emma's Quilt Cupboard, Feet In Motion School of Dance, Franklin Agway, Franklin Downtown Partnership Office, Franklin Mill Store, Keefe Insurance Agency, Murphy Business, and Pour Richard's Wine and Spirits. As part of their commitment to the Food Elves, the business partners have also pledged to donate $200 each to the Franklin Food Pantry.

The Franklin Food Elves is a charitable community service group comprised of more than 130 dedicated elementary, middle and high school students. This was the eleventh year of the neighborhood drive, and the sixth year the elves partnered with local businesses to create one of the Franklin Food Pantry’s most successful collection drives. The food and cash will help sustain the pantry’s 504 client families through the winter.

• For more information on the Franklin Food Pantry franklinfoodpantry.org

• For more information on the Franklin Food Elves contact franklinfoodelves@yahoo.com
• Photos courtesy of Bob Teixeira

In the News: Holiday Stroll set for Thursday; Food Elves kick off new drive

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"With Thanksgiving over, the Franklin Downtown Partnership is preparing to kick off the holiday season with its much-anticipated Holiday Stroll next week. 

The event, set for Thursday, Dec. 1, 4:15-7 p.m., will include a tree lighting, carols and other holiday festivities. 

The first celebration of the season will take place in the town's newly upgraded downtown business district, with Main Street closed to traffic for the duration to give revelers a chance for a leisurely stroll among the attractions on Main, West Central, East Central and Summer streets."

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http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20161127/franklin-downtown-partnership-planning-holiday-stroll/1

new seasonal banners up on the street lights in downtown Franklin

"After their "12 Days of Donating" drive last year garnered more than four tons of food, the Franklin "Food Elves" are gearing up for another run this December. 

Though the group hopes to once again near or beat that total, it's monetary donations that will be the focus of this year's effort. 

The drive, now in its 11th year, is run by local students - the "Food Elves" - to benefit the Franklin Food Pantry."

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http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20161127/franklin-12-days-of-donating-drive-to-start-dec-1

“12 Days of Donating” campaign to benefit the Franklin Food Pantry

The Franklin Food Elves and the Downtown Partnership will launch the “12 Days of Donating” campaign to benefit the Franklin Food Pantry on December 1. This year’s collection drive marks 11 years that the Food Elves have helped neighbors in need during the holiday season.

The Food Elves were created in 2006 when Melissa and Cameron Piana began collecting donations in a wagon in their neighborhood. This tradition continues with Ellie Teixeira as lead Food Elf who took over this legacy last year from Cameron. More than 120 school-aged elves and 12 local businesses raised more than four tons (8,001 pounds) of goods and $11,000 for the Food Pantry. This year the Elves are asking for more monetary gifts because it gives the Pantry greater flexibility to meet community need.

“We are looking forward to building on the success the Food Elves have had, and this year we hope to raise more money. The Food Pantry can buy food at a much lower price than others can. And, they can buy exactly what they need for their clients,” says Ellie Teixeira, lead Food Elf.

left to right, are Erin Lynch, Food Pantry executive director, and Lead Food Elves Ellie Teixeira
and Julia Buccella. (Photo courtesy of Bob Teixeira)

The Franklin Food Elves is a charitable community service group comprised of more than 120 dedicated elementary, middle and high school students. This will be the sixth year the elves have partnered with local businesses to create one of the Franklin Food Pantry’s most successful collection drives. Each year the 12 Days campaign brings in food and cash to help sustain the pantry’s 504 client families through the winter.

In December the Food Elves will notify their neighbors about collection dates, instructions and items needed. The elves make it easy to donate; residents simply place bags of goods at their mailboxes on designated dates, and the elves pick up and deliver the goods to the Pantry. If residents prefer to make a monetary donation, Food Elves captains will also give instructions on how funds will be handled in their neighborhood.

“The Pantry has some lean months after the holidays, when end-of-year giving subsides and food drives happen less frequently,” says Erin Lynch, executive director of the Franklin Food Pantry.

“We count on the Food Elves to bring in the donations that help carry us through the winter months, a time when families who are struggling to put food on their tables face even harder times because of higher energy costs. We are so grateful for the hard work of the Food Elves and the gifts they bring to us,” she adds.

Lynch is hoping that more people give monetary donations. “We can purchase food from the Greater Boston Food Bank at a fraction of what it costs in the grocery store. We are able to supplement food donations with more nutritious and fresh food, such as fruits, vegetables, dairy products and meats.”

In case there’s no Food Elf in your neighborhood, it is still easy and convenient to donate. Participating Franklin Downtown Partnership member businesses all across town will have red collection bins at their locations. If the Food Elves meet their goal of collecting more than 1,200 pounds of goods, each business has pledged to donate at least $200 to the 12 Days of Donating drive. A list of businesses hosting red bins will be posted on the Food Elves Facebook page and the FDP website and Facebook page.

A red collection bin will also be set up at the Holiday Stroll tree lighting ceremony at Dean College on Thursday, December 1, at 4 p.m. Event goers can drop off donations there, or at the Food Pantry, 43 W. Central St. Please designate donations made at the Pantry as Food Elves.

The Food Pantry’s greatest needs currently are personal care items such as deodorant, shampoo, liquid hand soap, toilet paper and feminine products. To make an online donation in honor of the Food Elves, visit the Pantry’s website, franklinfoodpantry.org. Please mention Food Elves in the donation form’s acknowledgement box. For more information call 508-528-3115.

Any student interested in becoming a Food Elf should contact Ellie Teixeira at franklinfoodelves@yahoo.com.

To learn more about the Franklin Food Elves and the “12 Days of Donating” campaign, please contact the Food Elves at franklinfoodelves@yahoo.com or visit their Facebook page. Information can also be found at franklindowntownpartnership.org and on the FDP’s Facebook page.

Franklin Food Elves Bring in Record Donations – Again!

The Franklin Food Elves did it again! The final donation numbers are in, and the Elves are pleased to announce that the “12 Days of Donating” Campaign has collected more than four tons (or 8,001 pounds) of goods, and more than $11,000 for the Franklin Food Pantry. 

These numbers beat last year’s record totals by more than 1,500 pounds of food, and nearly $3,000. The success was due to the hard work of more than 120 Food Elves, along with tremendous support from the community and local businesses. The Food Elves, increasing by 35 elves this year, has grown every year in popularity among local elementary, middle and high school students.  

Photo courtesy of Bob Teixeira

As the Food Elves canvassed local neighborhoods for food and monetary donations, Franklin businesses did their part by placing donation bins at their locations and pledging cash donations to support the cause. 

Those businesses included Chestnut Dental Associates, DCU, Dean Bank, Dean College, Emma’s Quilt Cupboard, Franklin Downtown Partnership Office, Jane’s Frames, Keefe Insurance Agency, Murphy Business, Pour Richard’s Wine & Spirits, SELF Aesthetics and Therapeutic Specialists, Medical Spa and The Adirondack Club. 

“We are overwhelmed by the amount of support we received this year from the Franklin Food Elves, member businesses of the Franklin Downtown Partnership, and our community,” said Erin Lynch, executive director of the Franklin Food Pantry. “Thanks to the hard work of the Food Elves, we will be able to continue helping our families who are struggling to put food on their tables.” 

For the first time, the Food Elves gave residents the option of making monetary donations in addition to, or in lieu of, food. Monetary gifts allow the Pantry to supplement food donations with more nutritious and fresh food, such as fruits, vegetables, dairy products and meats. 

“The response was incredible,” said Lynch. “Not only did we break all records in the amount of food we received, we are able to supplement the nonperishable donations with fresh, protein-rich and nutritious foods. We could not be more grateful.”

For more information about the Food Elves and the “12 Days of Donating” Campaign, please contact the Food Elves at franklinfoodelves@yahoo.com. For more information about the Franklin Food Pantry, or a list of its current needs, visit www.franklinfoodpantry.org.

In the News: 'Tis the Season, Hancock sponsors marathon documentary, food elves in 10th year

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin

Franklin Performing Arts Company will present “’Tis the Season!,” at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 19 and 2 p.m. Dec. 20 at the Franklin High School auditorium, 218 Oak St. 

The production will feature members of the Kenny Hadley Big Band, with contemporary arrangements of favorite holiday classics in musical styles ranging from R&B, Motown and gospel to pop, jazz and Broadway. First staged by FPAC in 1995, “’Tis the Season!” returns with a large cast of area performers to entertain audiences.

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http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20151203/NEWS/151208865/1994/NEWS

The first official documentary on the Boston Marathon is set to be released next fall. 

Filmmakers were in Hopkinton in 2014 as the start line was being painted by Jack LeDuc and the elite Kenyan runners visited Elmwood Elementary School for their annual pep rally. Of course, they were at the start to film the first race after the 2013 bombings. 

On Thursday, John Hancock Financial announced they will partner with LA Roma Films to be the title sponsor of BOSTON, the first ever feature-length documentary film about the race.

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http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20151203/NEWS/151208241/1994/NEWS
Note: I am pleased to be fully employed by John Hancock.

A local charitable group has kicked off its "12 Years of Donating" campaign this week, looking to exceed the more than three tons of food it donated to the Franklin Food Pantry last year. 

The campaign, in its 10th year, is manned by a group of local schoolchildren: the Franklin Food Elves. This year marks the highest number of volunteers, officials said, with 115 students volunteering.

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http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20151203/NEWS/151207989/1994/NEWS

In the News: 12 Days of Donating, Adult Ed registration opens, MassDEP provides food guidance, Tri-County holiday buffet

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin

The Franklin Food Elves kicked off the “12 Days of Donating” campaign on Dec. 1 to benefit the Food Pantry. Franklin Downtown Partnership member businesses are collecting goods and monetary donations. 

The Food Elves is a charitable community service group made up of more than 90 students from Franklin schools. This year, 10 local businesses are participating in the 12 Days drive. Each business has a red collection bin on site and will donate $200 if the Food Elves meet their goal of collecting more than 1,200 pounds of goods.

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http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20151201/NEWS/151209396/1994/NEWS

Registration is open for the winter semester at the Center for Adult Education and Community Learning in Franklin. Classes begin on Jan. 11. 

Participation is open to individuals and businesses in Franklin and the surrounding region towns.

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http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20151201/NEWS/151209399/1994/NEWS

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection is putting a new emphasis on donating food versus trashing food. 

This November, RecyclingWorks, an organization funded by MassDEP, launched their "Food Donation Guidance for Massachusetts Businesses" page on the RecyclingWorks website. 

"We were getting a noticeably increased volume of requests to get assistance for starting an effective donation program," said Lorenzo Macaluso, director of Green Business Services with RecyclingWorks. "The feedback we were getting was that corporations were having lots of questions on how to do it safely and legally." 

RecyclingWorks connects businesses with services and resources to help them create or expand green operations, like recycling, composting and diverting food waste.

recycling works webpage header

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Gerry’s Place, the student-run restaurant at Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical High School, 147 Pond. St., will host an annual International Holiday Buffet from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Dec. 9. 

The buffet will cost $9.95. No reservations will be taken. Menu offerings include: latkes, cider-glazed root vegetables, Moroccan saffron chicken, Guatemalan potato and green bean salad, Parisienne potatoes, roasted Brussels sprouts and roast pork with prune, pine nut and spinach stuffing.

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Franklin Businesses Participate in '12 Days of Donating'

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Franklin Downtown Partnership  9 E. Central Street, Franklin, MA  02038 (774) 571-3109   downtown.franklin@yahoo.com Press Release:  10 Businesses Participate in '12 Days of Donating' Campaign The Franklin Food Elves kick off the "12 Days of Donating" campaign on Tuesday, December 1, to benefit the Food Pantry, and Franklin Downtown Partnership member businesses are doing their part to help collect goods and monetary donations.   The Food Elves is a charitable community service group made up of more than 90 students from Franklin schools. This year 10 local businesses are participating in the 12 Days drive. Each business has a red collection bin on site and will donate $200 if the Food Elves meet their goal of collecting more than 1,200 pounds of goods. Bins can be found at these participating locations: Chestnut Dental Associates, 38 Pond St. DCU, 500 West Central St. Dean Bank, 21 Main St. Dean College, Campus Center Franklin Downtown Partnership Office, 9 East Central St. Jane's Frames, 11 East Central St. Keefe Insurance Agency, 51 West Central St. Murphy Business, 15 East Central St. Pour Richard's Wine & Spirits, 14 Grove St. The Adirondack Club, 800 Chestnut St. For more information about the Franklin Food Elves and the "12 Days of Donating" campaign, please contact the Food Elves at franklinfoodelves@yahoo.com or visit their Facebook page. Franklin Downtown Partnership | downtown.franklin@yahoo.com | 774-571-3109 | franklindowntownpartnership.org Connect with us:

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