Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Are you in need of Food Assistance? Want to donate? Need to arrange a Pick up? Volunteers?

If you live in one of the towns in Franklin County, MA, and are income eligible, you can receive a food allotment once a month from our food pantry.  Our food pantry is located at 96 Fourth Street in Turners Falls.  The food pantry is open Monday through Friday 10:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.  Come in and complete an application. Bring proof of residency for the town in which you live (such as your current lease or mortgage slip), picture ID, proof of income for all the people in your apartment or home (work, public assistance or pensions or social security), and cost of utilities.  Once you are approved, you will receive food for all members of your household.  You also can come in each day and get special items we have available for all who come.  Some of these items are limited, such as 1 item per family, 2 items per family, etc.

Feeding those who need help is our main mission.  To continue to do this, we operate our thrift store. The thrift store must do well for us to be able to supply the food to those who need it. We depend on donations of furniture, clothing, household items, etc., to sell at low cost in the store. The items must be in clean, sellable condition, or we have to throw it out (and that takes money away from our mission).  Please be sure that items you donate are items you would be willing to pay for yourself. If you wouldn't buy it, then neither will our clients.

If you have items to donate, please contact Jamie Symmes, Site Supervisor, at 863-9549.  He will work out a time and date that will work for you and him.  Let him know what you have before he comes, so that he knows whether he will need help or not with loading the truck.  We accept estates, home/office clean outs. We cannot accept computers, printers, cribs, mattresses/boxsprings, carseats, large stereo equipment, older luggage items or older model televisions.

Remember when you shop at our store, we allow a 7 day hold for pick up of any large item you purchases. The down payment is non-refundable, so if you do not pick up the item within that 7 day period, it will be placed back up for sale and you forfeit your down payment (there will be no exceptions due to space limitations).  We will also deliver your item for you for a reasonable fee.  Jamie will be able to tell you the cost once he knows where you want it delivered.  Remember, too, that he will deliver to the address, but only to the first floor.

We rely heavily on a team of great volunteers. If you are willing to give a few hours a week, we would definitely appreciate your help. Please come in and complete a volunteer application and talk with Jamie.

We hope you will continue to support the Franklin Area Survival Center.

If you have any questions, suggestions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me, Faith E. Rockwood, President, Board of Directors.