Bill seeks to get meals to medically vulnerable seniors

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

"A bill that would establish a Medicare pilot program to address the link between diet, chronic illness and senior health has been introduced by a bipartisan group including U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern.

The Massachusetts Democrat said the bill would ensure that nutritious meals reach medically vulnerable seniors in their homes, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, while providing data to help build a more resilient health care system.

“There is no doubt that what we eat plays a huge role in our overall health, yet our federal policies are decades behind the science on this,” McGovern said in a press release. “We prioritize treatment instead of prevention.”

Other lawmakers backing the measure including Republican U.S. Reps. Jackie Walorski of Indiana and Roger Marshall of Kansas and Democratic Rep. Chellie Pingree of Maine."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200523/bill-seeks-to-get-meals-to-medically-vulnerable-seniors


For the resources available locally, check out the Coronavirus portal on the Town of Franklin page
https://www.franklinma.gov/home/pages/community-resources-and-support

check out the Coronavirus portal on the Town of Franklin page

You may be eligible for SNAP benefits

AlertsMA: Need help buying healthy food? You may be eligible for SNAP benefits. Visit Mass.gov/covid-snap for more information and how to apply.

"You may be eligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) administers SNAP benefits. SNAP provides a monthly benefit to buy nutritious foods.

To get SNAP, you must be low-income and be a U.S. citizen or legal noncitizen (restrictions apply). Eligibility for SNAP benefits depends on financial and nonfinancial criteria."

You may be eligible for SNAP benefits

Franklin Food Pantry Purchases Building to Expand Services

The Pantry Looks to Renovate a Bigger Franklin Space to Better Serve Its Neighbors

Today (Apr 27, 2020) the Franklin Food Pantry announced that it has purchased a building to be able to better serve its neighbors. The building formerly known as Dante’s Motors, Inc. is located on 138 East Central Street and will undergo renovations to make it into a functional and expanded Pantry.

The new building will allow The Franklin Food Pantry to increase safety, accessibility, confidentiality and robustness of its current services and help The Pantry to develop new services to better fulfill the full mission of the Franklin Food Pantry. The Pantry will announce a Capital Campaign later in the year to help fund the renovations of the new space. In the meantime, The Pantry will continue to operate at its current location and appreciates the Support of Rockland Trust.

“For the past three years, The Franklin Food Pantry has been searching for a bigger space to be able to increase our assistance to our community. We are so thankful to Rockland Trust for loaning us our space and taking such good care of us over the past ten years, but we have outgrown the building,” said Lynn Calling, Executive Director of the Franklin Food Pantry. “Through the generosity of our Board members and close friends of The Pantry we were finally able to make this happen. Because of the commitment of the Board - as volunteers, donors, and advisors - we have been able to secure a mortgage for this property.”

Lynn Calling, Executive Director, stands in front of the future home

“We are so grateful for the incredible outpouring of support from our community as we meet increased demand due to Covid-19 and we are happy to be able to bring some good news to them,” said Tina Powderly, Board President. “This endeavor has been a long time coming and we’d like to thank community member Christine Bracci who worked with us so closely to help create a lasting legacy for her family’s business and to ensure the growth of the pantry.”

“This building has been in my family for a long time, and I’m so glad that I was able to work with the Franklin Food Pantry to give the building new life and another chance to serve the Franklin Community,” said Christine Bracci, previous owner. “I would like to thank my attorney Michael Heaney, Heaney and Small LLP for his help with making this deal possible.”

During the pandemic, the Franklin Food Pantry continues to operate to serve all new and existing neighbors. The Pantry has changed its hours to Tuesdays and Fridays from 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM and 1:30 PM to 4:00 PM. The Pantry is distributing prepackaged bags of shelf stable items as well as fresh produce and proteins through a drive up service. Since March, the Pantry has seen a weekly increase of new neighbors needing to receive services and all donations have gone toward continuing to feed its patrons.

About the Franklin Food Pantry

The Franklin Food Pantry offers supplemental food assistance and household necessities to over 1,100 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 2019, 302,336 pounds of food was provided to clients. Other programs include the Weekend Backpack Program, Carts for Clients, Mobile Pantry, emergency food bags and holiday meal packages. Visit www.franklingfoodpantry.org for more information.

In the News: exploring ‘new ways’ to pass State budget; public assistance programs

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

Spilka: State exploring ‘new ways’ to pass budget

"Bills aimed at providing protection for renters and homeowners are among the Senate’s short-term COVID-19 response plans, and beyond that, Senate President Karen Spilka is looking at ways to keep the body running with most senators working remotely amid the ongoing public health crisis. 

“We’re just about to enter the surge. I think all of us need to keep our eye on the ball, or the surge, right now,” Spilka said Wednesday after virtually caucusing with Senate Democrats for upwards of three hours. “We just can’t take our eyes off of it.” 

Gov. Charlie Baker has projected the number of COVID-19 cases in Massachusetts could reach its peak somewhere between Friday and April 20. A total of 16,790 people had tested positive for the coronavirus as of Wednesday afternoon, and 4 o’clock has become synonymous with grim daily updates of infection and virus death totals. 

Nearly a month after Baker declared a state of emergency, Spilka said the Legislature’s focus has remained on limiting spread of the virus and providing a safety net for residents whose lives have been disrupted."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200408/spilka-state-exploring-new-ways-to-pass-budget

MA residents leaning heavily on public assistance programs

"A flood of new applications surged into state social safety net programs in recent weeks, another piece of evidence reflecting widespread economic hardships brought on by the coronavirus pandemic. 

Following Gov. Charlie Baker’s March 10 state of emergency declaration, the number of Massachusetts residents seeking government aid from three major programs rapidly increased as businesses were ordered to close and as layoffs spread widely. 

Total weekly applications for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the Transitional Aid to Families with Dependent Children program (TAFDC) and the Emergency Aid to the Elderly, Disabled and Children (EAEDC) more than tripled over the past month, state data show. 

The heightened need will get attention next week from the Legislature: on Monday, the Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities Committee will host a virtual hearing on a bill (H 4622) that would provide an extra month of TAFDC and EAEDC benefits to families in need."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200408/mass-residents-leaning-heavily-on-public-assistance-programs

Hockomock Area YMCA Responds with Food Collection & Distribution

The Y served over 5,700 meals in the first weeks of responding to the Coronavirus health crisis, and will continue to be on the front lines preventing hunger to the most vulnerable - our children. As the community need continues to grow, the Hockomock Area YMCA has announced that family-sized bags of food will be available for drive-up distribution on Wednesdays from 1-2 PM and 5-6 PM at the YMCAs located in Foxboro, Franklin and North Attleboro. No registration is required.

Last week, at these locations (67 Mechanic Street Foxboro; 45 Forge Hill Road Franklin; and 300 Elmwood Street North Attleboro) the effort resulted in the distribution of 259 bags of much appreciated food for local families in need.

In partnership and collaboration with school nutrition and many other community partners, the Hockomock Y is also providing grab and go meals Monday through Friday in North Attleboro at the Community School and in Milford at the Memorial Elementary School. “To date, we have provided 5,729 meals,” says Ed Hurley, president of the Hockomock Area YMCA.

marykate-bergen-director-of-health-innovation

“It is with heartfelt gratitude that the Hockomock Area YMCA acknowledges and thanks all of our community partners and Y members, friends and donors for their extraordinary generosity during this time of need,” continues Hurley.

For anyone interested in helping out, the Y has located collection bins for non-perishable food donations at the above sites, which are available seven days a week from 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM. The response from Y members and our community has been heartwarming. But the demand will continue to grow in the coming days and weeks. Suggested donations include the following food items: oatmeal cups/packets, macaroni & cheese boxes/cups, granola bars (nut free whole grain preferred), applesauce or mandarin orange cups (no added sugar), whole grain crackers, tuna pouches in water (low sodium), Progresso chicken soup (low sodium), rice boxes/cups, Barilla Ready Pasta and pasta boxes.

Needless to say, these are challenging times that none of us could have predicted just a few short weeks ago. Despite the social distancing that is required these days, let us not miss the opportunity to benefit from social connection. Technology and social media offer great opportunities to still stay connected. But let’s also pick up our phones to check on our friends and loved ones more—which is something the YMCA is doing for its senior members: calling to check on them.

scott-martin-bernon-family-branch-executive-director

“As our YMCA has always done, we will face these challenges head on and continue to do whatever we can to meet the incredible community need that exists all around us,” says Hurley. “We encourage those who are able to provide contributions of non-perishable foods to do so at any of our Hockomock Area YMCA branches.”

If you are interested in providing monetary donations, please contact Katie Moore at katiem@hockymca.org or 508-643-5265. Thank you to these leadership donors who have joined our philanthropic efforts: CVS Health, United Way of Massachusetts Bay, Dave and Anne Doran, Tom and Trish Gruppioni, Stop & Shop, The Captain Kyle R. Van De Giesen Memorial Award Fund, and anonymous donors.

For more information, please visit: hockymca.org.

About Hockomock Area YMCA:

Where Cause Meets Community. At the Hockomock Area YMCA, strengthening community is our cause. The Hockomock Area YMCA is an organization of men, women, and children sharing a commitment to nurture the potential of kids, promote healthy living, and foster a sense of social responsibility.

Our YMCA is committed to partnering and collaborating with others to create and deliver lasting personal and social change in the 15 communities we are privileged to serve. The Hockomock Area YMCA is a not-for-profit charitable cause-driven organization with facilities in North Attleboro, Foxboro, Franklin, and Mansfield. For more information visit hockymca.org.

Hockomock Area YMCA Responds with Food Collection & Distribution

During this unprecedented public health crisis, the Hockomock Area YMCA is inspired by the efforts of the community to come together to support those in need. These efforts include assembling take home meals and coordinating food drive collections and distribution – all for children, families and individuals in need – supporting the fifteen communities the Hockomock Area YMCA serves.

The Hockomock Area YMCA is working with school nutrition departments and community partners to ensure that children and families have meals while schools remain closed. The Y is collaborating in North Attleboro and Milford to provide take home meals to serve children and families. In just four days more than 2,200 grab and go meals were distributed. No advanced paperwork or signup is required. 

The Hockomock Y is also coordinating food drive collections. “Our Y will continue to be a force of good in these difficult times,” says Ed Hurley, president of the Hockomock Area YMCA. “We encourage those who are able to provide contributions of non-perishable foods to do so at any of our Hockomock Area YMCA branches.” 

Donation boxes are located outside of the Y’s branches in Foxboro, Franklin, and North Attleboro every weekday between 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. for non-perishable food items. Through these food collections, beginning next week the Hockomock Y will be distributing a family-size food bag at its branches in Foxboro, North Attleboro, and Franklin. 

Details and schedules are available on the Y’s website at www.hockymca.org and will be updated daily. Hurley acknowledged the many local businesses and organizations who have already joined in these efforts. Said Hurley, “CVS Health, Stop & Shop, the United Way of Massachusetts Bay and the Captain Kyle Van De Giesen Award fund have stepped up with generous financial contributions in this time of need.”

“Challenging times often brings out the best in people. Please know that our Y is committed to being there for our members, our staff and our community,” adds Hurley.

Additional information on these food distribution and collection efforts in the community, as well as suggested donation items, are available at hockymca.org.

If you are interested in providing monetary donations, please contact Katie Moore at katiem@hockymca.org or 508-643-5265.

About Hockomock Area YMCA:

Where Cause Meets Community. At the Hockomock Area YMCA, strengthening community is our cause. The Hockomock Area YMCA is an organization of men, women, and children sharing a commitment to nurture the potential of kids, promote healthy living, and foster a sense of social responsibility.

Our YMCA is committed to partnering and collaborating with others to create and deliver lasting personal and social change in the 15 communities we are privileged to serve. The Hockomock Area YMCA is a not-for-profit charitable cause-driven organization with facilities in North Attleboro, Foxboro, Franklin, and Mansfield. For more information visit hockymca.org.

Hockomock Area YMCA Responds with Food Collection & Distribution

Franklin Food Pantry: Coronavirus Update - March 16, 2020

"We want to thank our community for the amazing show of support that they have shown us over the past few days. We're so grateful for your donations to help us to continue to serve our neighbors through this crisis.

The Coronavirus poses an even bigger health threat to our community's most vulnerable populations - low-income individuals and senior citizens - who can't afford to miss work or an extra trip to the grocery store. With schools closed and many people out of work, we expect to see an increased need for our services. If you haven't had an opportunity and are able to donate, we'd appreciate your help. You can easily donate online. Thank you again for your support.

While our doors will still be open to all who need us, we are making some changes to ensure safety among our guests. We are limiting those who enter The Pantry. Effective immediately we are suspending our volunteer hours and will have less staff working. We will offer no shopping within The Pantry.

Instead, we ask that our neighbors keep their appointments and drive up to The Pantry and a staff member will bring prepackaged bags to their car or through walk up services. We will offer the prepackaged bags through April 6 and will reevaluate the situation then.

We are working closely with town officials and school administration to get the word out to the community that we are here for those that need us and also to discuss programs, such as the weekend backpack program, that are impacted by school closures. We will keep the community updated as plans are finalized.

In addition we also will be postponing two of our large Spring fundraising events: The Party for The Pantry and Empty Bowls. We know many of you look forward to these events and we will keep you updated when we are able to reschedule them. Thank you to our Sponsors for their support.

Please follow us on Facebook for regular updates.
https://www.facebook.com/FranklinFoodPantry/

If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to me at lcalling@franklinfoodpantry.org"

Regards,

Lynn Calling
Executive Director
Franklin Food Pantry

Shared from the "Coronavirus Update - March 16, 2020"
https://www.franklinfoodpantry.org/coronavirus-update-march-16-2020/

Franklin Food Pantry: Coronavirus Update - March 16, 2020

Franklin Food Pantry Will Be Open Next Week (March 17 - 20)

Important Update From The Pantry

The Franklin Food Pantry will be open regular hours next week, March 17 - March 20. We will be open to our current neighbors and anyone who needs us including families who count on the breakfast and lunch options provided by the Franklin area schools. We will provide a prepackaged bag full of nonperishable items to help you through this time. You can visit us daily if needed. We will reopen on March 24 with our regular shopping hours and procedures.

How can you help?

We are so grateful to our community and have received many questions on how you can help us during these uncertain times. If you are able, the best way to support The Pantry is through a monetary donation. Monetary donations allow us to purchase the items we need at a cheaper price through the Greater Boston Food Bank. If you are interested in donating items, please visit our current needs list. https://www.franklinfoodpantry.org/give-help/donate-food/current-needs-list/

Please check back regularly as we update frequently. Thank you for your continued support of the Franklin Food Pantry.

Please stay safe and reach out if we can help in any way: 508-528-3115

Thank you! 

 

Franklin Food Pantry Will Be Open Next Week (March 17 - 20)

Hockomock Area YMCA Hosts Food Drive To Help Feed Families

The Hockomock Area YMCA welcomes donations to the sixth annual Stop &a Shop Healthy Futures Food Drive, which will take place at all three Hockomock Area YMCA branches and at locations within the community March 9th to April 15th. This work is part of the Y’s Healthy Futures Initiative, a commitment to promoting physical activity and nutrition to improve health outcomes for youth and communities, which is generously supported by Stop & Shop.

Over the last year, the Y has worked collaboratively with school districts and food pantries to create take home food programs onsite at local schools. Today there exist 34 school-based pantries in Bellingham, Franklin, Hopedale, Mansfield, Medway, Milford, Millis, North Attleboro, Plainville, Sharon and Wrentham alone—representing a 90% increase in one year. While local food pantries provide a critical service in our communities, school-based food pantry options can complement community offerings. 

Hockomock Area YMCA Hosts Food Drive  To Help Feed Families

These models allow students to discreetly access a supply of healthy food directly from their schools, especially prior to the weekend when there are often challenges with reliable sources of healthy meals. Additionally, school personnel who know the children and families in the district can help to identify those who may be in need of this service or who may not be comfortable accessing a traditional food pantry.

Collections from the food drive will be delivered to the schools by YMCA staff and volunteers and will go a long way to reduce child hunger and alleviate household food insecurity. Having healthy food available at schools removes challenging barriers to food access for busy families, such as long work hours and transportation. Members of the community can directly support local students by donating healthy, kid-friendly food to the 2020 food drive.

Suggested items include: oatmeal cups/packets, macaroni & cheese boxes/cups, granola bars (nut free whole grain preferred), applesauce or mandarin orange cups (no added sugar), whole grain crackers, tuna pouches in water (low sodium), Progresso chicken soup (low sodium), rice boxes/cups, Barilla Ready Pasta and pasta boxes. Grocery store gift card donations can also be made in person at the YMCA Member Service Desks.

"these programs are really a win, win, win"

Via Commonwealth Magazine, we find that the State is suspending the HIP program as of Feb 24. The Farmers Market today in Franklin is not affected but the next markets in Mar and Apr will be.

"AT A MONTHLY WINTER FARMERS market run by Roots Rising in Pittsfield, shoppers can buy apples, canned tomatoes, carrots, potatoes, onions, and winter squash. A shopper using SNAP benefits can spend $1 to buy $2 of produce under the state’s Healthy Incentives Program, or HIP.

But as of Feb. 24, shoppers on public benefits will no longer get that extra money. The state is suspending HIP for the winter, with plans to restore it May 15. State officials say the program – which doubles the impact of SNAP benefits when produce is bought from a participating farm – is a victim of its own success and has outgrown its budget.

Without a temporary suspension of the program, state officials say its $6.5 million state appropriation would run out quickly and no money would be left during the busier buying and growing season this summer.

Advocates for farmers and low-income individuals say the loss of HIP will hurt shoppers and sellers. Recently, 89 legislators wrote to Department of Transitional Assistance Commissioner Amy Kershaw protesting the suspension, and the lack of notice."

Continue reading the article online
https://commonwealthmagazine.org/state-government/state-suspending-farm-food-benefits-program/

Winter Farmers Market

When: Sat, February 15, 10am – 2pm

Where: Fairmount Fruit Farm, 887 Lincoln St, Franklin, MA 02038, USA (map)

Description: A winter farmers market where local farms and crafters/vendors can gather together to sell products and network within their community

 

 

"these programs are really a win, win, win"

Franklin Letter Carriers Stamp Out Hunger on May 12 - Franklin Food Pantry Asks for Special Items and No Expired Food

The Franklin Food Pantry is appealing to the community for some very specific items in this year’s Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive. On Saturday, May 12, Franklin letter carriers will pick up donated goods from town residents at their mailboxes and deliver them to the Franklin Food Pantry.

Because the Pantry is currently overstocked with green beans, black beans, chicken soup and tomato soup, it is asking for residents to please consider donating the items most needed:

• Canned fruit
• Cream of (any kind) soup
• Chowder (any kind)
• Corn
• Cranberry sauce
• Coffee, tea and cocoa
• Shampoo and conditioner
• Toothpaste and toothbrushes
• Deodorant
• Liquid dish soap
• Liquid hand soap

“In our current building, we have very limited space to store a surplus of items,” said Erin Lynch, executive director of the Franklin Food Pantry. “That’s why we are asking the community for these very specific items, as well as no expired food. We are so appreciative of all the donations we receive, but unfortunately, we have space limitations.”
The Pantry receives roughly 14,000 pounds of food donations monthly. Every item is checked for expiration dates by volunteers. The expired food must be disposed of, which costs the Pantry time and money. Processing expired food items is challenging for the nonprofit because of its limited resources.

Nearly 100 volunteers helped process food donations
in last year’s Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive 

According to Lynch, “We receive thousands of pounds of outdated products each year. We are asking the community to please check expiration dates on their donations so that we can prevent excess waste and avoid volunteer burnout. This would be such a huge help to us, and much appreciated by our hard-working volunteers.”

Volunteers are still needed for the event. If anyone is interested, they can sign up online at https://www.franklinfoodpantry.org/volunteers-needed-for-stamp-out-hunger-may-12/.
Franklin residents can donate to the food drive by leaving a bag of non-perishable food where their letter carrier normally delivers their mail on Saturday, May 12. Some residents may receive the special yellow Stamp Out Hunger grocery bags to use, but any paper or plastic bag can be used. Letter carriers will pick up the bags during their normal mail rounds and will deliver the food to the Franklin Food Pantry.

“We are so thankful to the letter carriers, and a supportive community, for helping us acquire the items that are most needed,” said Lynch. “We have nearly 1,000 individuals who count on us for food on a regular basis. We could not provide for them without the support of such a generous community.”

Lynch said that in lieu of donating goods, individuals who want to support the Pantry can donate online at www.franklinfoodpantry.org.

Franklin Letter Carriers picked up 9,000 pounds of
donations from Franklin residents 

“Monetary donations give us the flexibility to purchase what we need, when we need it,” said Lynch. “We can also purchase fresh food such as fruits, vegetables, meat and dairy products to supplement the canned and boxed food donations. We count on both types of donations to provide a wholesome and balanced inventory of products for our clients.”

The Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive is a nationwide effort organized by the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) that provides food to local food banks and pantries that would otherwise be faced with depleted stocks during the summer months. The food drive is the nation’s largest single-day drive, collecting a record 80 million pounds of nonperishable food last year.  For more information on the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive, visit www.helpstampouthunger.com. 

In the News: "Theater of Life" film; Caleb Haven Martin

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

"On Thursday, March 29, at 7 p.m. at the First Universalist Society in Franklin (FUSF), 262 Chestnut St., Franklin, the FUSF food group Home Made will screen the documentary “Theater of Life.” 

“Theater of Life” is a 2016 Canadian feature-length film written and directed by Peter Svatek about a gourmet soup kitchen created by Italian chef Massimo Bottura and 60 international colleagues, including Mario Batali, Rene Redzepi and Alain Ducasse, using food waste from Expo 2015 in Milan. 

The film addresses the issue of food waste and the 1.3 billion tons of food thrown away annually around the world — one-third of all food produced. “Theater of Life” takes pains to study the persistence and perseverance of the disenfranchised while celebrating gastronomic talent."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://franklin.wickedlocal.com/news/20180326/fusf-to-screen-theater-of-life-documentary



More info on the movie can be found online http://www.theateroflifemovie.com

"Caleb Haven Martin, who attended Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter School in Franklin, died on Wednesday due to injuries he sustained in a car accident on March 17. 

Martin, a 19-year-old freshman at the University of Massachusetts–Amherst, died at the Cleveland Clinic in Mayfield Heights, Ohio, according to his obituary. He lived with his family in Senegal, where his parents, William and Katherine Martin, have a ministry. 

Martin was driving to UMass after “visiting a friend in Wisconsin when he hit a deer in the highway. As he was calling 911 he was hit by another car from behind. He was taken to a local trauma center in Cleveland with a severe brain injury, and was put into a medically induced coma so his body could heal,” according to a YouCaring page set up in Martin’s honor by Janice Thompson."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20180326/former-franklin-resident-dies-in-crash-returning-to-umass

St. Vincent de Paul Freedom from Food Hunger Drive

Once again the St. Mary's Conference of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul is excited to announce its 7th annual Freedom From Hunger Food Drive on the weekend of June 24th and 25th. 

In order to receive a variety of nonperishable items we are requesting the following items; whole grain crackers, cereal, spaghetti sauce and pasta, peanut butter and jelly, individual containers of Jell-O/fruit/pudding, all paper products, detergent, canned fruit, fruit juice, and applesauce.

All items may be dropped off in the Sacred Heart Hall, (lower level of St. Mary's church or at any of the doors of the church throughout the weekend of June 24th and 25th.

Having breakfast food, healthy snacks, fruit juice and nutritious meals can help people face the day with a positive attitude. Your donations make this possible. Thank you all for your help and support.

St. Vincent de Paul Freedom from Food Hunger Drive

The Kids Count Data Center is a resource for you

MassBudget    Information.    Participation.  Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center    Democracy. Kids Count Data Center is a Resource  Everyone engaged in public policy debates about improving the lives of children in Massachusetts needs trusted data that can inform analysis of challenges and potential solutions. With so many different tools and resources, it can be hard to find trusted information. That's why we want to make sure our readers know about the Annie E. Casey Foundation's KIDS COUNT Data Center. It contains thousands of child well-being indicators related to education, poverty, health and youth risk factors. By being able to filter by state, city, county and congressional district, users are able to access data that is relevant in their communities and comparable to other places. As part of the KIDS COUNT network, MassBudget manages this national data resource in Massachusetts and incorporates additional local data. To give an example, the state's Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) improves the economic security of working families. The EITC raises the after-tax incomes of over 400,000 low-wage workers and their families, 13 percent of all tax filers in Massachusetts. Those who benefit are mostly working parents. It also helps a smaller number of other low-wage workers. The KIDS COUNT Data Center makes it easy to see how many tax filers benefit from the EITC in each city and town in the Commonwealth. With a few clicks, you can also map the share of filers that received the EITC across the state. If you haven't done so lately, visit the KIDS COUNT Data Center today and see what it has to offer. You can also Tweet about it, and like it on FaceBook. Visit the KIDS COUNT Data Center here (LINK). The Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center (MassBudget) produces policy research, analysis, and data-driven recommendations focused on improving the lives of low- and middle-income children and adults, strengthening our state's economy, and enhancing the quality of life in Massachusetts. MASSACHUSETTS BUDGET AND POLICY CENTER 15 COURT SQUARE, SUITE 700 BOSTON, MA 02108

Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center, 15 Court Square, Suite 700, Boston, MA 02108 Sent by nberger@massbudget.org in collaboration with Try it free today

I queried the Kids Count Data to see what the reduced lunch price data looked like for Franklin and the neighboring communities. It was easy to do. You can add other school districts to this table or query other types of data.

• The table view of the data

Kids Count Data for local reduced lunch price data - table

• The line chart view of the data

Kids Count Data for local reduced lunch price data - line chart

In the News: Fire Dept busy, hunger largely invisible problem, MIlford tops FHS in football

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

"The Fire Department fought two fires on the same street Friday afternoon - one at a home and another at a compost pile. 

Both took place on Beaver Street - the house fire at 73 Beaver St., the compost fire at the town recycling center at 455 Beaver St. 

According to Fire Chief Gary McCarraher, the house fire was reported around 4 p.m. He said three adults and a child were in the home then, and that all three were got out safely. The fire, he said, was under control by 4:37 p.m."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160916/franklin-firefighters-have-busy-day

"While more than 10 percent of eastern Massachusetts residents struggle to put food on the table, Greater Boston Food Bank President and CEO Catherine D’Amato characterizes hunger as a largely invisible problem. 

She hopes a new awareness campaign will help bring hunger out of the shadows. The Greater Boston Food Bank, which provides food for more than 550 member agencies in 190 communities, is participating in the national Hunger Action Month this September. D’Amato recently discussed the campaign with Wicked Local and shared her thoughts on hunger in Massachusetts."

The Franklin Food Pantry is a proud member agency of the Greater Boston Food Bank

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160916/food-bank-sheds-light-on-hidden-epidemic

"It had been a long time—20 years, in fact—since the Milford football team had beaten rival Franklin. While they have only been in the same league for five years, the Panthers had been a pain in the Scarlet Hawks’ side for two decades. That includes last year when the Panthers overcame a 14-point, second-half deficit to upend Milford in the final minute. 

This time, though, the Scarlet Hawks simply refused to lose. Although the Panthers manufactured a game-tying drive to even the score in the final seconds of the first half, Milford utilized its dominant running game to ultimately pull away with a 35-7 victory over visiting Franklin."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/sports/20160916/milford-35-franklin-7-scarlet-hawks-win-worth-wait

“Everything about Daily Table is not normal”

From the Boston Globe Magazine, one of the Game Changers for 2016

"As the executive chef of Daily Table, the nonprofit grocery in Dorchester that has been an experiment in bringing food rescue efforts to the marketplace, Samad is faced with these challenges every day. The store is the creation of Doug Rauch, the former president of Trader Joe’s, who worked at the company for 31 years. 

Daily Table receives shipments of excess food donations from groceries, suppliers, and food rescue organizations throughout Greater Boston, sometimes without much warning. Then, Samad and his team must find ways to make healthy food on the fly, using creative methods to prep, prepare, preserve, and serve inexpensive food for its low-income neighborhood store, all while ensuring as little as possible goes to waste (it’s like the Food Network’s hit show Chopped, only the one with the fewest leftovers wins). Adding to the challenge: All of their prepared meals must meet their strict nutritional guidelines. Remarkably, most meals cost from $2 to $4, allowing shoppers using food stamps to get the most for their money."

Daily Table turns donations of excess food into prepared meals, most costing $2 to $4.
(Globe photo: JONATHAN WIGGS/GLOBE STAFF/FILE)

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http://www.bostonglobe.com/magazine/2016/05/13/daily-table-mission-stop-food-waste-and-feed-hungry/z7BtUqM6uhmsPAi6CUkgHO/story.html

• For more info about Daily Table, visit them on the internet  http://dailytable.org/

Find other Game Changers online
http://www.bostonglobe.com/magazine/2016/05/12/who-made-globe-list-game-changers/F8JzcyATcJSBoPFFXDVpxL/story.html