Franklin Food Bank Supporting Students Beyond the Bell

On the first Monday of each month, we welcome a guest from Franklin Food Bank. Our Franklin Food Bank visitor this month is Franklin Food Bank Development Director Allie O’Brien.

Allie shares some important information about Franklin Food Bank’s increased need during the holiday season. Check out our conversation below as we discuss "First Wednesday," "First Friday," "Match Week," and more.

More than half of the people they serve at Franklin Food Bank are families with children. 44% of the 73 hundred Franklin Township public school students are enrolled in the free and reduced lunch program, which is 10% higher than the state average.

This year, they've launched two satellite food pantries at schools that serve most of the food-insecure kids. They not only provide food but also foster a sense of stability and support.

The financial burden for families has not decreased even as inflation has come down recently. Grocery prices are still exceedingly high. And even New Jersey, which is by all accounts a state whose policy focus has been on helping struggling families, is often too expensive for many to handle.

To address all of these burdens for families, FFB holds an annual fundraiser at the end of the year. This fundraiser is both online and by mail. It is the most impactful fundraiser for the organization annually, affording them a chance to not only directly request support from their community of treasured donors but also the chance to spread awareness about the story of their year.

If you haven’t been a supporter yet, now is a great time to join. Your investment will directly and immediately impact the local community.

Check out my chat with Allie here…

The Franklin Food Bank will celebrate their 50th birthday next year and we have some exciting things in store. However, before they start celebrating their accomplishments, they hope to end this year with more supporters than they did last year, and that starts with you.

When it comes to holiday movies, nobody does it like the Muppets. These lovable creatures know how to throw Christmas spirit in your face with just the right mix of heart, humor, and complete insanity. They’ve got something for everyone… Comedy, heartfelt songs, and even moments that sneak up and make you go, “Damn, why am I crying over a talking frog?” Muppet Christmas movies are proof that the holidays don’t have to be perfect to be magical. They just have to be full of love, laughs, and maybe a turkey or two running for its life.

The Muppets have mastered the art of taking classic Christmas tales and putting their wild spin on them. And when they’re not reworking Charles Dickens or George Bailey’s life, they’re coming up with their own bonkers holiday stories that somehow still capture the true meaning of Christmas. It’s the kind of joyful chaos you want during the holidays, like when your family is fighting over the last slice of pie, but deep down, you know everyone’s having having a blast doing it. That's a Muppet Christmas movie.,

What makes Muppet Christmas movies stand out is they’ll cast Michael Caine as Scrooge and surround him with singing rats! Or they’ll make Kermit question his existence while Miss Piggy hilariously spirals. Don't we all? And then there’s the catchy tunes that you’ll hum all season long, even if you don’t want to admit it. You love it.

Whether it’s a cozy jug-band in a small town or Gonzo pretending he’s Charles Dickens, every Muppet Christmas movie has something special. Sure they’re silly, but they always remind me that Christmas isn’t about perfection, it’s about showing up for the people (or Muppets) you love.

This is the Christmas classic. Gonzo as Charles Dickens? Genius. Michael Caine giving Oscar level acting surrounded by singing frogs and rats? Unmatched.

It’s like the Muppet version of a potluck. You’ve got Muppets, Sesame Street, and Fraggle Rock in one big holiday mashup. And yes, Miss Piggy arrives dramatically late, because she’s a star.

A heartfelt road trip to deliver lost letters to Santa. It’s sweet, it’s silly, and Pepe the Prawn steals the show with his one-liners. This one is special.

The Muppets go full It’s a Wonderful Life here, with Kermit wondering what life would be like if he’d never existed. Spoiler: Miss Piggy becomes a washed-up reality star. Iconic.

This one’s pure, old-school Jim Henson charm. Emmet Otter and his friends bring small-town sweetness and banjo vibes while chasing their dreams. It’s about family, music, and holiday spirit, wrapped up in a jug-band jam session.