The Franklin Food Pantry and Franklin Letter Carriers held the annual “Stamp Out Hunger” food drive, on Saturday, May 10, 2025. The town-wide event, led by the letter carriers, raised nearly 9,000 pounds of food and household items, which equates to approximately 7,500 meals, for individuals and families who are experiencing hunger and financial hardship in Franklin, Massachusetts. The outpouring of support comes at a critical time for The Pantry. Demand for the nonprofit’s programs and services continues to increase, and the community’s support is essential to meeting the growing need.

Volunteers from Benchmark Senior Living at Forge Hill assemble Stamp Out Hunger bundles that include instructions and a paper bag, donated by Allegra Print and Marketing and Central Paper Company, Inc. Franklin Letter Carriers distributed 6,000 bundles to Franklin residents a week prior to the May 10, 2025, food drive.

 The Pantry began preparations for this year’s Stamp Out Hunger in October 2024. Volunteers, including youth groups, local businesses, houses of worship, and retirement communities volunteered their time to assemble Stamp Out Hunger bundles that included instructions and a paper bag, donated by Allegra Print and Marketing and Central Paper Company, Inc. A week prior to the event, letter carriers delivered the bundles to approximately 6,000 households in Franklin. On May 10, 2025, Franklin residents left donations of nonperishable food and goods by their mailboxes for letter carriers to collect along their route. Letter carriers brought the items to the Franklin Senior Center where volunteers set up stations to sort and organize the donations. The items will be distributed to clients through The Pantry’s several food assistance programs including Inside Shopping, Home Delivery, Mobile Pantries, Weekend Backpacks, Curbside Distribution, and more.

“Stamp Out Hunger plays a vital role in providing much-needed support to neighbors facing food insecurity and helps ensure The Pantry can provide nutritious food for individuals and families leading up to the summer months,” said Anne McGillis, Operations Director, Franklin Food Pantry. “We extend a heartfelt thank you to our amazing letter carriers, the Franklin Senior Center for generously providing space for the immense undertaking of receiving and sorting the donations, our dedicated volunteers who gave their time leading up to and on the day of the event, and the Franklin community for their ongoing generosity. It truly takes a village to combat food insecurity, and the overwhelming participation makes a tangible and profound difference in the lives of so many.”

Individuals, households, and businesses who did not receive a Pantry bundle or who did not have an opportunity to participate in Stamp Out Hunger can bring donations to the Franklin Food Pantry, 341 W Central St. in Franklin, and place items in the purple bin on the loading dock at the back of the building. Items can also be shipped directly through The Pantry’s Amazon Wish List.

Special thanks to the many individuals and groups who volunteered to help make this year’s Stamp Out Hunger a success including Benchmark Senior Living at Forge Hill, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Coldwell Banker Realty Franklin/Cumberland Regional Office, Dell Technologies, The Enclave of Franklin, Eversource Energy, First Universalist Society in Franklin, Franklin High School Boys Soccer Team, G&C Plumbing, Inc., The Language and Behavior Center (TLBC) New England, Milford High School Football Team, Station 117 Apartment Group, UDR Apartment Group.

Stamp Out Hunger 2026 will take place rain or shine on Saturday, May 9! To volunteer as an individual or group to help The Pantry with this or other upcoming events, please complete a volunteer application online: https://www.franklinfoodpantry.org/get-involved/volunteer/.