Charity

LETTER: Food Pantry Thanks Community for Its Support; Even With SNAP Restored the Need is Not Over

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It has been a whirlwind of a month at the Watertown Food Pantry, as we faced one of the greatest obstacles in feeding our clients that we have encountered. We’ve been through COVID, the fall of our ceiling, and, at this moment, the emergent loss of our space, but the loss of life-saving SNAP benefits for our clients was devastating, personal, and emotional to all of our volunteers who care so much for our clients. And yet, they showed up, handed out as much as they could, with sympathy, empathy, and love to all who came through our doors. My heartfelt thanks and gratitude goes out to all these unsung hero’s, without whom, we could not do what we do. And to our Watertown Community — you always come through for us!  Thank you for all your donations of food! Thank you for all your monetary donations! Thank you for your words of support!

Around Town

Watertown Community Foundation Distributes $7,000 in Donations to Food Pantries

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Tia Tilson, Executive Director, Watertown Community Foundation, delivers a donation check for the Watertown Food Pantry to Jenna Bancroft, Director of Human Services, City of Watertown. The Watertown Community Foundation announced the donations received in the first days of the drive to support local food pantries. The drive runs through December. See details in the announcement from the Watertown Community Foundation, below. The Watertown Community Foundation received $7,000 in donations to support both of Watertown’s food pantries to date.

Charity

Catholic Charities Boston Launches Holiday Giving Drive with M&T Bank to Support Food for Families

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The following announcement was provided by M&T Bank and Catholic Charities:

M&T Bank is joining Catholic Charities Boston (CCAB) in providing Hope for the Holidays to those in need. M&T Bank is collecting non-perishable food items at all Greater Boston branch locations beginning next week through the end of November. The donations will benefit Catholic Charities Boston’s food pantries, which served 69,441 people across Eastern Massachusetts this past year. 

This holiday season, the need for donations is dire as policy changes, funding cuts, and high grocery costs further strain struggling households. One in three Massachusetts families faces food insecurity. One in six Massachusetts families rely on SNAP benefits to feed their families.

Charity

Watertown Restaurant Holding Sweet Fundraiser for a Food Pantry

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Bar ‘Cino’s gelato is just one dessert to choose from in the No Child Hungry This Summer program. (Courtesy of Bar ‘Cino)

Bar ‘Cino, located at 47 Main Street in Watertown, is pleased to announce a new fundraising effort to support the Centre Street Food Pantry, a local food relief agency serving Brookline, Needham, Newton, Waltham, Watertown, and Wellesley. From August 17 though August 31, 50 percent of dessert sales will be donated to the Centre Street Food Pantry’s “No Child Hungry This Summer” program. In a survey of families who visit Centre Street Food Pantry, more than half reported that their children did not receive subsidized meals in the summer, while the remainder who brought their children to an approved meal site said they came home and were still hungry. In response, the Centre Street Food Pantry has held the “No Child Hungry This Summer” fundraising campaign each of the last four summers to raise funds to provide lunch food items to approximately 1,400 children each month from June through September.  

“We are so grateful to the work that the Centre Street Food Pantry does for families in need and humbled to have the opportunity to support their efforts,” said Gary Morrison, Regional Manager, Newport Restaurant Group.

Around Town

Point32Health Finance Team Supports Operation American Soldier

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Employees at Point32Heath packed care packages for American servicemen and -women, which will be delivered by Operation American Soldier. (Photo from Point32Health)

The following announcement was provided by Point32Health:

The Point32Health finance team turned a summer BBQ into something unforgettable. More than 150 colleagues in the finance organization came together for food and camaraderie and to make a meaningful impact in support of Operation American Soldier. Point32Health employees assembling the care packages. (Photo from Point32Health)

Together, the team assembled and donated 115 backpacks filled with snacks, toiletries, and handwritten notes of appreciation.

Business

Addgene Supports Wayside Multi with Back-to-School Backpack Donation

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Sophia Suárez-Friedman, Program Director at Wayside Multi-Service Center, with backpacks donated by Addgene. (Courtesy Photo)

The following piece was provided by the Wayside Multi Service Center:

As the new school year approaches, preparation can make all the difference — and thanks to Addgene, youth supported by Wayside Youth & Family Support Network’s Multi-Service Center (Wayside Multi) in Watertown will be starting the year well-equipped and ready to succeed. Addgene, partnering with TeamBonding, generously donated backpacks filled with school supplies to the Wayside Multi, which serves local youth and families. These backpacks were distributed to children and teens who will benefit from having the tools they need to start the school year with confidence. Some backpacks were distributed to students through Project Literacy, a program offering free English classes through the Watertown Free Public Library, where they were met with enthusiasm.

Around Town

Friends of Watertown Group Seeks to Help Those in Need, Bring People Together

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Friends of WatertownVictor Lattanzi of Friends of Watertown visited the St. Patrick’s/Sacred Heart Food Pantry to make a donation. The Friends of Watertown formed during the Pandemic with the goal of helping people, bring people together, and to maintain friendships and traditions. Founder Victor Lattanzi said the 501 3C non-profit organization will be making donations to local groups, host events and more. “The Friends of Watertown is partnering with community leaders in Watertown, i.e., clergy, teachers and police in order to have a direct line to those who may be suffering in silence and could benefit from charitable offerings in the form of food, school supplies and other identified necessities,” Lattanzi said.

Charity

Watertown Company Cleans Up Section Along Charles River

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WiTricityEmployees from Watertown-based WiTricity cleaned up the area along the Charles River near the Watertown Bridge. Volunteers from Watertown-based WiTricity spent an afternoon cleaning up a section of the Charles River near Watertown Square. A team of 25 employees from the company located on Water Street in Watertown cleaned the river bank near the bridge over Galen Street on May 5. The clean-up was done under the guidance of the Charles River Conservancy. WiTricityTwenty-five employees from WiTricity picked up trash along the Charles River in Watertown.