The Watertown community stepped up at a time when many in town face cuts in their SNAP benefits. The monthly Porch Pick Up program collected around 1,500 pounds of food for the Watertown Food Pantry.
Kathy Cunningham, coordinator of the Watertown Food Pantry sent out a thank you on social media on Nov. 1.
“THANK YOU , THANK YOU!!! The youth of Watertown have truly made a profound impact with their Monthly Porch Pick Up Program in partnership with the Watertown Food Pantry! Today was an incredible day of donations for the Watertown Food Pantry, thanks to the second monthly Porch Pick-Up Event! Approximately 1500 pounds of food was picked up, which should fill our shelves this week for those who are struggling in our community.”
The program began in August, Cunningham wrote, as an idea from Watertown High School student Aiden Anker. The senior is a co-captain of the soccer team and he recruited two teammates, Edmond Daly (team manager) and Evan Kurth (a co-captain) to start the program.
“The idea came from seeing a bag of donations sitting in his house for the pantry, and his Mom never having the time to drop it off,” Cunningham wrote. “This initiative began before the government shutdown, and before the evolving SNAP crisis began, and we are deeply grateful to Aiden, Edmond, and Evan for caring for our community and taking action to help solve a problem that they saw needed solving. These boys and their parents are the real heroes, and we all owe them our deep gratitude for taking on such a large project, committing to following through on a monthly basis, and looking for no recognition – but we believe they are owed it!
Click here to sign up to be part of Porch Pick Ups
Nearly 2,500 Watertown residents receive SNAP benefits. See more info and some local food assistance efforts by clicking here.