Franklin September 2018

Page 2 Franklin Local Town Pages www.localtownpages.com September 2018
WALK
continued from page 1
Paul. Last year, the sole fundraiser
brought in about 60 walkers,
who raised about $8,000,
which all poured back to needy
people in the community. This
year, the group hopes to raise
more and at least 100 people
willing to walk the 3-mile course,
which begins in the parking lot of
the Benjamin Franklin Classical
Charter Public School. Potential
donors could even donate right at
the walk’s informational website,
fopwalk.org/event/2066.
Annette Murphy has been organizing
the Friends of the Poor
Walk in Franklin Martin for the
past four years. The event takes
place with a lot of help from the
Franklin Knights of Columbus
Sacred Heart Council 1847 and
the local police department as
well as donations from Garelick
Farms.
“I got invested in St. Vincent
de Paul in 2009,” says Murphy.
“When I retired, I was looking
for some meaningful way to
be part of the community – to
contribute to it.” Fellow Society
member Helen Brunelle, she
says, very much inspired her to
join the group, a sentiment fellow
member and walk volunteer
Joanne Tavalone echoes.
“I’m so glad I (joined),” says
Murphy. “They’re great people
to work with, and you really feel
like you’re helping other people,
and getting money to help with
the group is a really important
aspect of that.”
Members of the Society say
they have seen a growing need
among community members.
When they are approached for
help, two members of the society
will come out to visit with them
and assess their need.
“None of our decisions are
made by one person,” says Charlotte
Webber, newcomer to the
walk committee this year.
“Client situations are different,”
says Martin, who explains
that the Society’s financial council
will review each situation. “If
(the need) is a larger amount,
something we’re not quite sure
of, they will review it and help
with that decision.”
“A lot of people have come
to us from homelessness,” says
Nancy Schoen, who says that
local people are facing issues of
rising rents and utilities. Electricity
rates, in particular, have increased.
SvDP members are now
seeing a number of people in
town who are living in their cars
or in the woods.
“We’re seeing a lot of people
facing eviction,” says Bernice
Brown. “Sometimes we can help
them pay part of their back rent,
but their wages cannot keep up
with the increases in rent. There
are people that are unemployed,
but there are a lot of working
poor, and there are a lot of single
parents. Another group I seem
to see a lot is the elderly,” adds
Bernice, “specifically sometimes
disabled elderly that need our
help, too.”
St. Mary’s St. Vincent de Paul
Society has also compiled a vast
resource list of organizations in
Massachusetts that can assist
people with issues such as abuse,
homelessness, and budgeting.
“We work very closely with
many organizations within
Franklin such as the Senior Center,
Franklin Food Pantry and the
Interfaith Church Council,” says
Murphy.
All are invited to help their
needy neighbors by participating
in part of The Friends of
the Poor Walk. Registration will
begin between 8:30 a.m. and 11
a.m.in the Benjamin Franklin
Charter School parking lot on
Pleasant Street and then the walk
will begin there at 9 a.m., rain or
shine. You can also join the walk
or donate to the cause at fopwalk.
org/event/2066.
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