Called a lifeline for residents facing food insecurity, the Franklin Food Bank is experiencing an exponential increase in demand.
“We’re seeing a lot of new families each and every day,” said Derek Smith, the food bank’s executive director. “People are struggling, and unfortunately, for many reasons, especially in the face of high rent, groceries and childcare costs, the end is not clearly in sight − but we are trying our very best to build bridges to sustainability for our neighbors.”
For nearly 50 years, Franklin Food Bank has aimed to help create a future where food security is a right, not a luxury. In that time, the organization has adapted to meet the community’s evolving needs. In under five years, the nonprofit more than doubled food distribution − from 1.3 million pre-pandemic to nearly three million pounds in 2024.
Historically, the Franklin Food Bank ran one primary program. That changed in 2022 with the addition of the Community Distribution and Beyond Borders programs. The last two years have seen even more innovation.
A food pantry is an organization that serves people, while a food bank is an organization that serves organizations. The Franklin Food Bank does both with its hybrid model, Director of Development Allie O’Brien said.
The Client Choice model allows families and individuals to enter the facility and “shop” by choosing their own foods. The market is arranged like a small grocery store with typical food categories like produce, meats, dairy, frozen and bread. Clients call to schedule an appointment and once inside, they are checked in, grab a cart and shop for whatever they want to feed their families. A menu details the categories and items available.
More than 450 families shop each week via Client Choice at the Franklin Food Bank.
The Client Choice Market is open 2 to 7 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays and 9 a.m. to 12 on Saturdays.
And at every visit, every bag is filled, and meal is given with dignity and respect for those in need, Smith said.
More: Needy Cases Fund 2024: How to help your neighbors in need this holiday season
A Franklin resident is eligible for up to two visits per month at the Client Choice Market, while anyone can come to the monthly Community Distribution programs the first Wednesday of each month at the headquarters of the Franklin Township Community Relations Bureau (“the CRB”), 935 Hamilton St. in Somerset. The program begins at 11 a.m. and runs until 1 p.m. or when supplies are gone.
This program is run in partnership with the Franklin Township Police Department’s Community Relations Bureau and with volunteers from the YMCA of Somerset County. There are no requirements such as residency or appointments necessary for the community distribution program, which sees 300 cars and 100 walking guests with 26,000 pounds of food distributed on average at each event. That’s up to 1,000 boxes of produce as well as dry staple goods and/or beverages when available.
The Beyond Borders program is a collaborative effort with 40 other nonprofit organizations in which Franklin Food Bank shares items.
The Franklin Food Bank goes beyond simply handing out food, said O’Brien. The organization understands food insecurity to be a symptom of deeper issues, she said. To better address this, they’ve recently implemented several innovative strategies.
This year, Franklin Food Bank expanded its services with increased operating hours, outreach to community partners and additional services like nutrition education and cooking classes. These empower neighbors to manage their resources effectively without sacrificing quality or health.
Looking at 2024, the Franklin Food Bank’s has placed a focus on long-term solutions, including new initiatives like regular cancer, diabetes and heart health screenings through partnerships with Rutgers University, St. Peters Healthcare System, Zufall Health and Robert Wood Johnson Barnabas Health. These help address immediate medical concerns and help prevent or mitigate disease.
The nonprofit also added benefits navigation assistance with SNAP and WIC applications and other government programs and monthly nutrition classes and financial literacy workshops to help empower individuals to make informed choices.
School-based programs will further combat childhood hunger and the stigma associated with food assistance. Currently, a backpack program is active in two Franklin elementary schools. On a weekly basis healthy breakfast, lunch and dinner items are provided for the weekend to students receiving Free and Reduced Lunch Program assistance.
Beyond this, Franklin Food Bank has fostered a “welcoming and joyful atmosphere where neighbors feel safe, respected, and celebrated,” O’Brien said. The organization believes that together, they can “create a thriving, holistic environment where everyone has access to the food and services they need and deserve,” she said.
The Franklin Food Bank’s devotion to excellence in programming, community leadership, and culture has garnered county, state and national recognition. The nonprofit also sits on multiple coalitions at the municipal, county, regional, state and national levels.
Earlier in 2024, the transformative power of Franklin Food Bank’s initiatives was recognized with a $1 million dollar gift from the MacKenzie Scott Yield Giving Foundation. This award, coupled with national rankings and local accolades, helps position them to tackle the growing need even more effectively, Smith said.
In 2019, the organization moved to larger quarters at 224 Churchill Ave. in Somerset. In the future, the Franklin Food Bank is planning a new facility to allow for increased capacity to better fulfill ever-growing needs of the community and so the organization can continue to launch wraparound programs.
For more information, go to Franklinfoodbank.org and for an appointment, call 732-246-0009.
How to support the Needy Cases Fund
From Dec. 1 to 8, the Courier News, the Home News Tribune and MyCentralJersey.com are focusing on 11 organizations serving Central Jersey as part of the annual Needy Cases Fund program.
The Needy Cases Fund is a Central Jersey holiday tradition, stretching back more than seven decades. The community-service project has been sponsored by the Home News Tribune and its predecessor, the Daily Home News, working with the Lions Club of New Brunswick. The Courier News has joined the Home News Tribune in sponsoring the charity since 2020.
Send donations (checks made out to the Needy Cases Fund or cash) to: Needy Cases Fund, Home News Tribune/Courier News, 92 E. Main St., Suite 202, Somerville, NJ 08876. Please indicate with a note whether you wish to be acknowledged in a wrap-up story about the program, or whether you wish to remain anonymous.
Donations will be gratefully accepted through the end of December.
email: cmakin@gannettnj.com
Cheryl Makin is an award-winning features and education reporter for MyCentralJersey.com, part of the USA Today Network. Contact: Cmakin@gannettnj.com or @CherylMakin. To get unlimited access, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: Franklin NJ Food Bank battles hunger with innovation
