Franklin Food Pantry Announces Appointments to Board of Directors

The Franklin Food Pantry announced that Franklin community members, Nancy Schoen and Roberta DeBaggis Trahan have joined its Board of Directors to help reach its mission to provide immediate hunger relief and healthy sustainable solutions within the Franklin area. 
“On behalf of the Franklin Food Pantry and the Board of Directors, I am pleased to welcome Ms. Schoen and Ms. Trahan to the Board,” said Lynn Calling, Executive Director of the Franklin Food Pantry. “Both women have extensive experience serving nonprofits and have deep roots in the Franklin community that will help guide us as we continue to grow the Pantry and serve our neighbors.” 
Nancy Schoen is a retired music teacher where she spent thirty-three years in the Franklin Public Schools as a teacher and K-12 Director of Music. In 2005, she represented Franklin and the Massachusetts Teachers Association as the 2005 Massachusetts Teacher of the Year. Nancy continues to teach in the Franklin Lifelong Learning’s String Program. She is a graduate of University of Massachusetts Amherst, (BMus) and Cambridge College (MEd).  Nancy continues to be an active volunteer in the Franklin community. She is currently Chair of the Franklin Cultural District Committee and is an active member of St. Mary’s St. Vincent de Paul Society. 
“For the last thirty-five years I have enjoyed living, working and raising my family in Franklin. During the last two years, I have volunteered with the St. Mary’s St. Vincent de Paul, Through my work with this group, I have become more aware of the needs of so many in our community,” said Ms. Schoen. “The Franklin Food Pantry is such an incredible resource for those in need. I am honored to be a part of this wonderful organization.”
Roberta DeBaggis Trahan is a lifelong member of the Franklin community. She is a retired Critical Care Registered Nurse having worked in Adult ICU for 44 years, is a graduate of FHS, Saint Vincent Hospital School of Nursing and Worcester State University. She is actively involved as a volunteer with many community organizations: Vice President of Franklin Downtown Partnership; FPAC/TBB member; Vice President of The Franklin Education Foundation; Chair of Saint Mary Parish Council, FPS Student Wellness Advisory Council member and The Franklin Cultural District Committee. She is a past member of the Franklin School Committee having served for 10 years and has volunteered for various other community organizations in the past.
“I have always supported the Food Pantry from afar, and when the opportunity presented itself for me to become more actively involved, I agreed,” said Ms. DeBaggis Trahan. “I am thankful for all the blessings in my life, especially for my family and friends and for a community that embraces those less fortunate. It seemed fitting that I’d be able to give my time to assist this worthy organization, not from afar but up close. I’m looking forward to supporting the Food Pantry’s mission and to work to accomplish the goals we have set for the coming year.”
About the Franklin Food Pantry
The Franklin Food Pantry offers supplemental food assistance and household necessities to over 1,000 individuals. Clients have access to a variety of fresh, frozen and nonperishable foods on monthly scheduled shopping trips as well as Walk-in Fridays. They can visit the Pantry daily for fruits, vegetables, bread and pastry. As a nonprofit organization, the Pantry depends entirely on donations, and receives no town or state funding. In 2018, 304,824 pounds of food was provided to clients. Other programs include the Weekend Backpack Program, Carts for Clients, Mobile Pantry, emergency food bags and holiday meal packages. Visit www.franklingfoodpantry.org for more information.