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To the Editor:

I would like to express our appreciation to Franklin Cooperative Ministry’s amazing donors as we approach the season of giving thanks. This month brings us full-circle, as last October I wrote to you about the phasing out of our food pantry and our plan/hopes of growing an expanded hygiene pantry (hot on the heels of the relocation of our free clothing closet from Main Street to First Avenue.) “Fall is proof that change is beautiful,” and we needed to believe that!

I know we asked a lot of our donors and we don’t take that lightly. For many, weekly shopping for FCM was a habit — milk and bread for them, boxed mac ‘n cheese and peanut butter for us. It was something many had done for decades, almost on auto-pilot, and I had the sheer audacity to ask for deodorant and hand soap instead…on the opposite side of the store! I’ll admit I was a nervous wreck about rocking the boat; the boat floated just fine and had for 30 years, thank you very much!

I want to thank our community for rowing right along with us. The need for household and hygiene items is almost staggering at times and our numbers have yet to plateau. We met 68 requests for household bags and 117 requests for hygiene bags in September — our highest numbers yet. Five new families came to FCM just because of our hygiene pantry!

The need is great, but our community’s generosity is greater. Thank you for trusting us and for growing with us. We are reaching families in new but powerful ways, and it’s all because of our amazing donors.

Sending our deepest appreciation to those who help us make the magic happen!

Margaret Anne C. Smith

Director/Franklin Cooperative Ministry