Franklin Matters: humanitarian aid

Showing posts with label humanitarian aid. Show all posts

Saturday, December 30, 2023

#LOVEfranklin // Emergency Shelter Humanitarian Aid UPDATE for Dec 29, 2023

As we role into year's end, we have been busy maintaining programs and beginning to shift our focus from emergency management to long-term sustainability and support for the families in the Emergency Aid (EA) Shelter in Franklin.

The After-School Program continues to offer a weekly outlet for children in elementary, middle, and high school. The program runs weekly on Wednesday afternoons (when there's not a holiday). The program is working with the hotel staff so that the program can run on days when Franklin Public Schools let out early for a half day. If you would like to learn more about the After-School Program or volunteer to help, contact Rev. Kathy McAdams at rector@stjohnsfranklinma.org.

Over the last two weeks, we have made major transitions with donation sorting at the Franklin United Methodist Church. Due to construction in the sanctuary and the inability to continue to use that space as additional storage and a walk-thru, all donations have been moved to a new, bigger location within the church on the second floor (the old balcony). This expanded space allows for more storage and a better working environment for volunteers. All volunteers must (still) be able to navigate stairs in order to enter the space.

new, bigger location within the church on the second floor

In addition to moving spaces, volunteers have also been able to pack bags of underwear, socks, and hygiene supplies to all but about 20 families that we have information for. Many thanks to everyone who has donated to the Franklin Interfaith Council's Humanitarian Aid Fund. Your contributions paid for all the socks and underwear! And, many thanks to Stop & Shop for donating the paper bags.

many thanks to Stop & Shop for donating the paper bags

As we move into the new year, the needs at the shelter are shifting. Most of the families are now receiving services that afford them with basic necessities and (in some cases) a modest income. Donations are now being used to supplement the services families are receiving. We are working to figure out what that looks like. We are trying to figure out how donations can be accessed by families in a way that brings some amount of personal agency and choice to the process. We will do our best to keep you up to date as to what those transitions look like as they are happening.

All of that being said, the Franklin Interfaith Council is continuing to solicit donations and regular volunteers to help sort the donations. You can signup to help by going to franklininterfaith.org/donation-sorting/. If you have any questions about the donation sorting or would like to sign up a group at a special time, please contact Pastor Jacob Juncker at jacob@franklinumc.org.

Below is the updated flyer detailing the specific donations we are looking for. As a reminder: all donations should be dropped off inside the main entrance of the Franklin United Methodist Church and NOT at the EA Shelter/Best Western Hotel.

Thank you all for your continued support. The work we have accomplished together is nothing short of monumental and life-changing. Thank you! If you have any questions, please email info@franklininterfaith.org.

#LOVEfranklin // Emergency Shelter Humanitarian Aid UPDATE for Dec 29, 2023

Shared from -> https://franklininterfaith.org/lovefranklin-ea-shelter-humanitarian-aid-update-rev-20231229/#

Friday, December 8, 2023

#LOVEfranklin // Emergency Shelter Humanitarian Aid UPDATE for Dec 7, 2023

Everything is settling into a routine at the Emergency Shelter in Franklin. Many of the residents at the Emergency Shelter are beginning to receive state services that were, initially, slow to start. This means that our efforts will slowly begin to move from emergency meeting of needs and service gap-filling to long-term support that will ultimately help families transition out of the shelter (which is still going to be a long, slow process).

The After-School Program is now a regular part of community life and providing a helpful outlet for support and play for children in elementary, junior high, and high school. It is offered Wednesday afternoons (when there's not a half-day or holiday). If you'd like to learn more or potentially help out, contact Rev. Kathy McAdams at rector@stjohnsfranklinma.org.

The initial push for donation sorting and packing is over. Just about everyone has received warm clothes and at least one coat. That being said, there are still needs to be met and plenty of opportunities to help.

Next week, there will be opportunities to volunteer Monday through Friday. We need to move all the donations to a new location inside the Franklin United Methodist Church (82 W. Central Street, Franklin)--from the basement to the balcony. This new location is slightly larger and will be much more convenient, especially as works begins on the church's sanctuary ceiling. You can signup to help by going to franklininterfaith.org/donation-sorting/.

If you have any questions about the donation sorting/packing/moving or would like to sign up a group at a special time, feel free to reach out directly to me at jacob@franklinumc.org.

The Franklin Interfaith Council voted today to bulk order new socks and underwear. Once received we will pack socks and underwear to go out to everyone at the shelter. Over the next several weeks, we will be doing our best to fulfill needs that were partially fulfilled (or not at all) in the first round of donation distribution. As such, we're asking for a new list of donations. See the attached flyer (.pdf and .jpeg)

Please note: we are not taking furniture donations nor are we taking toy donations at this time. Christmas gifts for emergency shelter residents have already been taken care of separately from this effort.

Thank you for your on-going support! If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Peace.

Jacob

PS ~To stay up to date on all that is going on with the Franklin Interfaith Council, subscribe to our website by going to franklininterfaith.org and submitting your email address at the bottom of the page.

><O><O><O><O><O><O><O><

Rev. Dr. Jacob W. Juncker

Pastor, Franklin United Methodist Church

President, Franklin Interfaith Council

Download the flyer to share ->

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cD8x5M58kzwqqSR1cpQK9wguV1SYrBSG/view?usp=drive_link

#LOVEfranklin // Emergency Shelter Humanitarian Aid UPDATE for Dec 7, 2023

Thursday, November 23, 2023

#LOVEfranklin // Emergency Shelter Humanitarian Aid UPDATE (as of 11/22/23)

The population at the Emergency Shelter in Franklin is stable. Here's the quick update regarding volunteer opportunities and donations.

The After-School Program has been on a two-week hiatus due to parent teacher conferences and school vacation. It is scheduled to resume next week. If you'd like to volunteer for this program, you must first be screened and trained. Please reach out to Rev. Kathy McAdams at rector@stjohnsfranklinma.org for more information.

Donation sorting and packing for distribution continues at the Franklin United Methodist Church. We have provided clothes and supplemental hygiene products to just over 100 people. We are going to do a major push next week to get donations out. The (ambitious) goal is to distribute to another 100 people next week! We have five packing days scheduled. All volunteers are asked to register. Due to the abundance of donations and the limited space in the rooms where items are being stored, we are limiting the number of volunteers per session to six people. You can signup to help by going to franklininterfaith.org/donation-sorting/. If you have any questions about the donation sorting/packing or would like to signup a group at a special time, please contact Pastor Jacob Juncker at jacob@franklinumc.org.

Below is the updated flyer. Our donation needs are shifting a bit. We are looking for donations of suitcases and large duffle bags. We are packing items in them (when we have them) for distribution to the hotel. Families keep the bags. We are also asking for new (in the package) socks and underwear (all sizes). Please note: we are not taking massive lots of clothes, furniture, or toys at this time.

#LOVEfranklin // Emergency Shelter Humanitarian Aid UPDATE (as of 11/22/23)

Thank you! What we are accomplishing together is impressive. Your generosity is inspiring. You are making a huge impact in the lives of the 90+ families placed in the Emergency Shelter. I really cannot say it enough: thank you for your continued support.

Download a (.pdf) of the flyer here and distribute as you see fit.

You can also find this update online -> https://franklininterfaith.org/lovefranklin-emergency-shelter-humanitarian-aid-update-5/#

Saturday, November 4, 2023

#LOVEfranklin // Emergency Shelter Humanitarian Aid UPDATE for Nov 3. 2023

It feels like we are hitting our stride this week! The Emergency Shelter in Franklin is near capacity, the After-School Program has begun, and we’ve worked most of the kinks out of our process for assessing needs, collecting donations and distributing them.

The After-School Program is up and running. In its first offering, it served an estimated 30 children, elementary age and younger. The program was such a success that, in the future, we’ve been given permission to start a little earlier in order to reach out to the middle- and high-school students who arrive to the shelter about an hour before the elementary students. If you’d like to help with the After-school Program, please reach out to Rev. Kathy McAdams. We are hopeful that we will soon be able to offer the program over multiple days each week.

All donations have been consolidated at the Franklin United Methodist Church and teams of volunteers have done an excellent job of sorting. Next week, we will be sorting on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday. In the weeks that follow we will have regular sorting on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Click here to learn more and signup for donation sorting.

The other amazing thing that happened this week was the receipt of several donations for the Franklin Interfaith Council’s Local Humanitarian Aid Fund, including a $1000 gift from a community member. In the near term, these funds will go to provide direct support and aid to the shelter. If you’d like to make a donation online, click here and designate the “Local Humanitarian Aid Fund.”

Attached is the updated flyer. We are continuing to ask for baby wipes and laundry detergent. We are also asking for new (in the package) socks and underwear (all sizes). Please distribute the flyer as you see fit.

Thank for your donations! Thank you to everyone who has volunteered! Thank you all for your continued support.