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It started with a simple request from Tri-Valley, Inc., a social services organization that serves Franklin as well as more than 20 other towns in the region.
They asked Terrazza proprietor Charles Bradford to host a `giving tree’ during the holidays and to post needs for 50 individuals.
That was several years ago, before Covid, Bradford recalled. “We started with 50 and didn’t know what we could produce in terms of donation, but it’s been amazing,” he said. That first year, all 50 ‘asks’ were taken care of by generous shoppers who quickly took on the task of fulfilling someone's request, prompting Bradford to print some of the requests a second time. This year, the ‘tree’ hosts some 230 requests vetted through Tri-County.
They are mostly individuals facing a hard time, taking care of a loved one with cancer or dealing with a disabled family member and trying to work and make ends meet,” he said.
The “tree” is located near the center of the Terrazza store in the Village Mall off of West Central Street.
Donations can be in many forms, but gift cards to a grocer or retailer are the most common request, according to Bradford. The tree stays up through the holidays.
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Saturday, 9:30 to 5:00
Sunday, 11:00 to 4:00
