Educational Opportunity Strengthens The Pantry’s Commitment to Community and Sustainability
FRANKLIN, Mass. (September 19, 2024) – The Franklin Food Pantry, which provides supplemental food assistance to more than 1,800 individuals each year, welcomed Liz Miller, Senior Community Relations Manager of Spoonfuls, a food recovery organization, on Thursday, September 12, 2024, to present “Wasted Food, Hunger, and the Climate Emergency: How Food Recovery Helps.” The free, educational event brought attention to food waste and its impact on food insecurity and climate change and emphasized The Pantry’s commitment to educating the community and finding innovative and sustainable methods to fight hunger. Members of the community, including high-school students, businesses, and social service agencies attended the event which was hosted by the Food Justice Team at the First Universalist Society in Franklin.
The event coincided with Hunger Action Month, a nationwide campaign to raise hunger awareness during the month of September, and the release of The Pantry’s 2024-2027 Strategic Plan which guides growth to ensure The Pantry remains a sustainable source of support for the community. Providing opportunities to learn about food recovery emphasizes top priorities in the Strategic Plan— people, engagement, advocacy, and sustainability—and gives individuals and groups tangible ideas to take action.
“The Pantry is empowering the community by providing knowledge and actionable steps to fight food insecurity,” said Tina Powderly, Executive Director, Franklin Food Pantry. “By sharing information and working with Spoonfuls, The Pantry is demonstrating our commitment to reducing food waste, serving as responsible stewards of environmental resources, and influencing long term changes that improve outcomes for those we serve.”
The amount of food The Pantry receives from Spoonfuls has multiplied over the past two years. In 2022, The Pantry received 100 pounds of food from Spoonfuls each week. In 2023, deliveries steadily increased, and now stands at 2,000 pounds each week. The increase is due in part to The Pantry’s new location and ability to accept more food, but also is a deliberate response to the increasing need for food assistance and leveraging food suppliers who are utilizing sustainable solutions to reduce food waste.
“Spoonfuls is grateful for our partnership with the Franklin Food Pantry, one of the valued food programs we work with across Massachusetts to get good food to people who need it now,” said Liz Miller, Senior Community Relations Manager, Spoonfuls. “Our work in the Metrowest and across the regions where we work means we are recovering millions of pounds of food each year and ensuring that that food is being used for its highest and best purpose, to feed people.”
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About the Franklin Food Pantry, Inc.
The Franklin Food Pantry, Inc. offers supplemental food assistance, household necessities, and resource referral programs to more than 1,800 individuals per year. The Pantry relies on donations and grants to purchase items and pay for daily operations, and partnerships with The Greater Boston Food Bank, Spoonfuls, and local grocery stores to achieve greater buying power and lower costs. Programs include In-person Shopping, Curbside Pick-up, Emergency Food Bags, Mobile Pantries, Home Delivery, Kids’ Snack Bags, Weekend Backpacks, Holiday Meal Kits, and the SNAP match at Franklin Farmers Market. The Pantry is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization in good standing in Massachusetts, recognized by Charity Navigator as a Four-Star Charity, and awarded GuideStar’s Platinum Transparency ranking. The Pantry is located at 341 W. Central St. in Franklin, MA on Route 140. Please visit www.franklinfoodpantry.org for more information.
About Spoonfuls
Through food recovery and distribution, education, and advocacy, Spoonfuls works to address the health, environmental, and economic impact that wasted food has on people and the planet. To date, the organization has prevented 35 million pounds of good food from going to waste. Learn more at spoonfuls.org.