Around Town

Watertown Teachers Running Marathon, Holding Fundraising Event

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Cunniff third grade teacher Erin Hallisey and Maureen Murphy, a special education teacher at the Lowell, are running the 2026 Boston Marathon. Erin is raising money for the Boston Public Library, while Murphy is raising money for the Newton Firefighters Children’s Fund and they will be hosting a fundraising event in March. 

“John Brewers has graciously offered to host a fundraiser event for us. Twenty percent of any dine-in/take out orders made between 3 p.m.-7 p.m. on March 12 with proceeds be donated to both organizations!” Murphy said. Hallisey and Murphy provided the following information about the organizations:

The Boston Public Library Fund provides financial support to keep the BPL “free to all.”

Around Town

Watertown Non-Profits Award $50K for Residents Needing Emergency Assistance

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The following announcement was provided by the Watertown Community Foundation:

To help Watertown residents who need urgent help with rent, utilities or other emergency needs, the Watertown Community Foundation, the Marshall Home Fund, and the Helen Robinson Wright Fund at the First Parish of Watertown, came together in December to create a one-time Watertown Emergency Assistance Fund of $50,000. Grant awards from The Watertown Emergency Assistance Fund, in collaboration with local social service organizations, have provided immediate relief for rental assistance, help with utilities, and other short term emergency needs. Grant recipients have included The Watertown Housing Authority to provide rental assistance, Springwell will help older adults with rental assistance and other needs, and the Watertown Senior Center. Seeded by the Watertown Community Foundation, the Marshall Home Fund and the Helen Robinson Wright Fund quickly pledged their support to create the Watertown Emergency Assistance Fund to help individuals and families get back on their feet during a very difficult time. “When the SNAP program was suddenly cut off in November, we could see this was the tip of the iceberg and families were struggling.

Around Town

Marshall Home Fund Holding Grant Info Session for Organizations Working with Older Adults

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Marshall Home Fund will hold a Grant Information Session on Thursday, Feb. 12, at 1 p.m. at the Watertown Free Public Library. See more information provided by Marshall Home Fund, below. The Marshall Home Fund (MHF) awards modest grants to organizations that serve older Watertown residents. MHF also provides limited financial assistance grants to Watertown seniors with urgent needs, referred through a local service agency.

Around Town

City of Watertown Thanks All for Successful Community Food Drive

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Food collected from multiple locations across the City during the Community Food Drive in November and December. The following announcement was provided by the City of Watertown:

The City of Watertown would like to extend its sincere gratitude to the entire Watertown community – residents, businesses, volunteers, and more – for supporting the community food drive hosted through November and December 2025. Thanks to everyone’s efforts together, thousands of food items were collected to support our pantries, community fridge, and directly to families in need. This community food drive was organized by the City of Watertown, with support from the Watertown Community Foundation, in early November when federal SNAP benefits were delayed and over 1,600 Watertown households were unsure if the assistance they rely on each month would come through. Jenna Bancroft, Watertown’s Director of Human Services, was amazed by the way the community stepped up and supported their neighbors.

Around Town

Watertown Community Foundation Distributes $43,000 in Donations to Food Pantries

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Food collected from multiple locations across the City during theCommunity Food Drive, running through December 31, 2025. The following announcement was provided by the Watertown Community Foundation:

The Watertown Community Foundation received $43,000 in donations to support Watertown’s food pantries since the City of Watertown’s Community Food Drive began on October 31. These funds have been distributed to the Watertown Food Pantry and Watertown Catholic Collaborative Food Pantry to purchase and distribute food at each pantry. Residents from Watertown, Belmont and nearby communities also continue to contribute shelf-stable pantry goods at multiple drop off locations in our schools and across the city during the Community Food Drive. An estimated one to two tons of food each week have been distributed among the food pantries, the Watertown Community Fridge, and, as needed, to the city’s social service providers since November 10.

Around Town

WBC & Rotary Club Hosting Holiday Mixer & Toy Drive for Whooley Foundation

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The Rotary Club and the Watertown Business Coalition will host the fourth annual Holiday Mixer and Toy Drive on Dec. 9. See details provided by the WBC, below. The Watertown Business Coalition is excited to continue our holiday tradition with our 4th Annual Holiday Mixer & Toy Drive in partnership with the Watertown Rotary Club at the Mosesian Center for the Arts on Tuesday, Dec. 9th from 5:30-7:30 p.m. to support the Whooley Foundation!

Around Town

See How to Give to Watertown Organizations on Giving Tuesday

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Watertown has many worthy organizations to support on Giving Tuesday, whether it is supporting children, the arts, troops overseas, history, and more. Watertown Community Foundation

Watertown families are under pressure. Benefits for food, housing and health support are in peril, as the overall cost of living continues to rise. When you donate to the Fund for the Most Vulnerable, you help support Essential Needs Grants. You designate your gift for programs to address food insecurity, housing assistance, emergency assistance, mental health, health and wellness for Watertown’s most vulnerable residents.

Business

Watertown Restaurant Spotlighted by Governor for Providing Free Meals During SNAP Benefits Cuts

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The owner of a Watertown restaurant got a special call from the Governor for donating meals to people in need when the SNAP benefits lapsed during the Federal Government shutdown. Gov. Maura Healey reached out to Max Ritcey, owner of Ritcey East, to thank him personally. “What your family did making all of those meals available to hundreds of people was just an amazing, amazing beautiful gift,” Healey said. “I just want to thank you.” Ritcey said, “Ya, of course.