Charity

COVID-19 Putting Up Hurdles for Watertown-Based Group Effort to Get Care Packages to the Troops

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During normal times, volunteers will gather in Watertown and pack care packages to send off to American servicemen and women across the globe, but social distancing requirements during the COVID-19 outbreak have slowed Operation American Soldier’s ability to fulfill its mission. The base of operations for the non-profit group is the basement of the Marine Corps League’s Shutt Detachment on Mt. Auburn Street. The group has some loyal volunteers who would come in to pack boxes, said Wendy Rocca, who co-founded the group in 2003 with her husband. Sometimes businesses or other organizations would send a team of people over to put together the packages, but those efforts have largely stopped because of the Coronavirus shutdown.

Around Town

Watertown Restaurant Raising Funds to Give Meals to Local Families

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Donohue’s Bar & Grill has started a GoFundMe effort to raise money to pay for meals for local families struggling duding the COVID-19 shutdown. Dubbed the Donohue’s Cares Act, the effort will provide a meal for every $10 donated, and the restaurant is providing the first 500 meals. As of Saturday morning, more than $1,100 has been donated by 17 people. The goal is $10,000. Find out more and donated by clicking here.

Around Town

Watertown Savings Hands Out $150K to Local Non-Profits

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The following information was provided by Watertown Savings Bank:

In a series of videos that aired recently, Watertown Savings Bank (WSB)honored the 32 non-profit winners of their Annual Customer Choice Awards. “In celebration of the Bank’s 150th Anniversary in 2020, we have awarded $150,000 in donations to 32 local non-profits, as voted on by WSB customers,” said Bank President & CEO Brett Dean. “This year’s winners represent five different towns, and dozens of volunteers who help hundreds of people in their communities.”

Organizations that received one percent of the total number of votes cast, received a donation. Voting took place from October-December 2019. The Awards Night planned in April was canceled in light of the current social distancing rules.

Around Town

Watertown Groups Providing Ways to Get Help From & Give Assistance to Neighbors (Including Face Masks)

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The recently created Mutual Aid Network is a way for Watertown residents to help their neighbors, and for people in town to get assistance during the COVID-19 outbreak, including food, financial assistance and even face masks. The combined effort by the Watertown Community Foundation and the Wayside Youth & Family Support Network kicked off last week, and has already garnered a team of volunteers. Jan Singer, executive director of the Watertown Community Foundation said that people can request assistance or volunteer to provide help through this Mutual Aid form. The idea of Mutual Aid is to connect people, Singer said. Normally the groups would create a central drop-off and pick-up site, but that is not possible with places like the Watertown Library and Town Hall closed due to orders by the Governor.

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Watertown Community Foundation Thanks Volunteers, Still Has Ways to Help

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The Watertown Community Foundation sent out the following information:

May 2,2020 would have been our 7th Annual WHO-Watertown Helps Out! A Town Wide Day of Community Service. Because of COVID-19 we are unable to gather in groups but the wonderful spirit of helping out and giving back continues. THANK YOU for volunteering the past 6 years.THANK YOU for always being willing to step up and help out.THANK YOU for your donations to the Community Resilience Fund.THANK YOU for keeping the spirit of the day alive.THANK YOU for making Watertown a wonderful community. See how to volunteer to help during the COVID-19 outbreak by clicking here.

Around Town

Watertown Groups Start Mutual Aid Network so Neighbors Can Help Neighbors

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The Watertown Community Foundation teamed with Wayside to launch new Watertown Mutual Aid Network, which will allow neighbors to assist neighbors in these difficult times. The Watertown Community Foundation and the Wayside Youth & Family Support Network sent out the following information:

Welcome to the Watertown Mutual Aid Network, funded by the Watertown Community Foundation in association with Wayside Youth & Family Support Network’s  Multi-Service Center. Mutual aid is a way for Watertown neighbors to support each other, by delivering food, making weekly calls for social support, providing financial assistance, and in many other ways. By following this link, you will find information about how to use mutual aid, links to forms to offer help and request aid from your Watertown neighbors, and additional resources. Please reach out to Sophia, the Community Coordinator at Sophia_Suarez-Friedman@WaysideYouth.org or 617-744-9585 if you have any questions or wish to offer help or request aid over the phone (translation services are available). We hope that this resource will bring our community together during this difficult time.

Around Town

Watertown Community Foundation Using Resilience Funds to Help Food Pantry, Fund Coordinator

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Just weeks after creating the Resilience Fund to help Watertown weather the Coronavirus outbreak, the Watertown Community Foundation has awarded money to help make sure residents have food, and to fund a coordinator to help those in need of assistance. The fund started with $40,000 from the Foundation’s unrestricted fund and donations from board members and staff. That amount has increased to more than $60,000 thanks to donations from individuals, local businesses and foundations, said WCF Executive Director Jan Singer. The money is intended to help people who are struggling due to the impacts of the COVID-19 outbreak. Some of the funds have already been distributed to help restart the operation of the Catholic Coalition Food Pantry in East Watertown, and to hire a part-time coordinator to help match people with the assistance they need.

Around Town

Community Foundation Starting New Fund Respond to Impacts of the COVID-19 Emergency

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Looking for ways to help people in Watertown who are adversely impacted by the Coronavirus, the Watertown Community Foundation has created a new fund. Jan Singer, executive director of the Community Foundation, said the response to the Community Resilience Fund already been positive. The Foundation boards met remotely using Zoom to put together plans for the fund. “We know that this is going to be very difficult for a lot of people and it’s going to last for a while, we are assuming at this point,” Singer said. “We met together as a board and came up with an idea for the Resilience fund.