Barbara Franklin
Changing Lives One Person at a Time
by Monica Davis

Sacrificing practically everything from financial stability, her home, corporate status and time with her children, Barbara Franklin decided to take a different path in life

For six years, Barbara Franklin has been the saving grace for her community in Paterson, New Jersey at the Creech Community Center and Food Pantry.

What was her inspiration?  Her son who dashed into her room one-night and told her a story any mother would be horrified to hear.  Another youth had held a gun to his head and pulled the trigger because he wanted the gold chain her son was wearing.  Thankfully, the gun wasn’t loaded.

That moment changed Franklin's life forever.  It was her defining moment.  No longer could she continue to work in her cushy corporate office job while her community was being overtaken with drugs and violence.  It was time for action.  Not only did she take action but she is achieving amazing results.

She grew up in Paterson where everyone knew everyone else.  It was what she calls a village concept.  “We could go from one family’s home to another and eat together and play together and stay overnight” Franklin replied.

“Something had to give and it had to be in me.” Franklin stated.  She used her technical knowledge and corporate savvy and discovered a way to begin changing her neighborhood.

Before leaving her corporate position, she began distributing free food from her car by redeeming coupons at local supermarkets.

What really confirmed to Franklin that she was moving in the right direction was a well-dressed and beautiful young woman who approached her one day.  Franklin didn’t recognize the young lady at first but quickly realized it was the same person who several months before was living on the streets and was on crack.

Franklin replied, “She said I came back to say thank you.  You fed me.  You never judged me.  You never were angry at me.  You knew I was prostituting and was on drugs but you just fed me."  This young lady had gone back home, cleaned up her life and was doing wonderful.

“People like to be treated well” says Franklin.  “I was always taught to treat people decent no matter who they are, what color they are or what they look like.”

In addition to serving adults, the Creech Community Center and Food Pantry also helps kids of all ethnic backgrounds.  The smiles and the energy she receives from the children and teenagers is Franklin’s biggest motivation.  “We have 98 kids here and there’s not one child I don’t know.  I know them intimately because I listen to them.  It’s not about being over anyone, it’s about partnership.”

The Center serves lunch to 1,500 local residents a month; delivers food to 50 seniors; provides free after-school tutoring to the children and distributes clothing to adults. 

Franklin’s loving heart and caring spirit goes well beyond feeding the hungry.  She also extends a helping hand to those without work, assisting the mentally ill locate housing, and helping mothers get off drugs. These are just some of the well-received services that her program provides.

Her inner strength comes from her parents.  “They always had a strong foundation.  I’ve seen them in their weakest moments when the money wasn’t making it, but they never complained about it.  They always believed they would make it”, she replied.

The program not only has a positive affect on it’s recipients but it has changed the lives of those who help run the program.  Many of them who started as volunteers and were on welfare are no longer on welfare.  “It was collaboration; it was a holistic approach; it was an approach to clean up their lives as well as the lives of the children and their families” Franklin stated.

They are now ex-drug dealers and ex-prostitutes.  They have gone through training courses at night; some are going back to school.  She calls it “taking complete ownership” and she’s done a spectacular job in changing the outlook of her community.

Franklin and her wonderful volunteer staff and partners in the Creech Community are working miracles. She leaves us with words of wisdom. “Don’t sit on what God has given you to do.  Act on it.  It may be the simplest thing, but act on it.”

To get more information about the Creech Community Center and Food Pantry, contact Barbara Franklin at: 221 Hamilton Avenue, Paterson, NJ 07501, or by phone at: 973-341-7481.