The Franklin Food Pantry served a record 2,411 residents during fiscal 2026, as demand for food assistance continued to climb throughout the community, according to a community announcement.The number of people relying on pantry services increased 28% from the previous fiscal year, while the number of children receiving assistance rose 35%. Programs and services were accessed 32,873 times during fiscal 2026, and more than half of registered clients visited three or more times each month to help meet household grocery needs.The ...
The Franklin Food Pantry served a record 2,411 residents during fiscal 2026, as demand for food assistance continued to climb throughout the community, according to a community announcement.
The number of people relying on pantry services increased 28% from the previous fiscal year, while the number of children receiving assistance rose 35%. Programs and services were accessed 32,873 times during fiscal 2026, and more than half of registered clients visited three or more times each month to help meet household grocery needs.
The increase reflects broader food insecurity challenges. More than 61,000 Massachusetts children have lost access to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits since July 2025 following enactment of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, H.R.1, leading more families to seek assistance from local food pantries.
"The numbers from this past fiscal year reflect both an alarming rise in food insecurity within our community and the extraordinary generosity of the people in Franklin," said Tina Powderly, executive director of the Franklin Food Pantry, in a statement.
Franklin Food Pantry named top partner by Greater Boston Food Bank
To meet demand, the pantry distributed 816,610 pounds of food during fiscal 2026, a 30% increase from the prior year, according to the announcement. That includes 186,536 pounds of recovered fresh food that otherwise would have been discarded.
The pantry also provided 4,134 weekend food backpacks to Franklin Public Schools students, delivered 3,394 grocery bags to medically homebound residents, supplied 2,032 bags through four mobile pantry sites and distributed 1,075 Thanksgiving and winter holiday meals, according to the announcement. Supporting those efforts were 568 volunteers who contributed 15,351 hours of service.
Amid rising demand, the Greater Boston Food Bank named the Franklin Food Pantry its Agency Partner of the Year and designated it a Healthy Pantry Leader.
For information or food assistance, visit franklinfoodpantry.org or call 508-528-3115.
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