Around Town

Groups Helping Residents During Pandemic the Focus of Watertown Cable Show

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Guests Jan Singer of the Watertown Community Foundation (top left) and Sophia Suarez-Friedman of Watertown Mutual Aid (bottom right) joined Inside Watertown co-hosts Charlie Breitrose (top right) and Bob Airasian (bottom left). Two organizations that have been helping Watertown residents weather the COVID-19 pandemic were highlighted on the most recent episode of Watertown Cable’s Inside Watertown. The guests on the Zoom edition of Inside Watertown were Sophia Suarez-Friedman, the Town’s Social Services Resource Specialist at Wayside Youth & Family Support Network and coordinator of Watertown Mutual Aid; and Jan Singer, executive director of the Watertown Community Foundation. Co-hosts Charlie Breitrose and Bob Airasian talked with Suarez-Friedman and Singer about some of the many initiatives that have started during the pandemic. Mutual Aid is one, which pairs residents who want to help neighbors in need of assistance.

Around Town

Donations Sought for Watertown Mutual Aid’s Winter Coat Drive

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The following announcement was provided by the Watertown Mutual Aid Network:

Join us for the Winter Coat Drive on Saturday, Dec 12th, 12-3 p.m benefitting Watertown organizations and families. Please share the flyer with your friends and neighbors! We are accepting donations of:

NEW & LIKE NEW winter coats for children and adultsNEW hats, gloves, scarves for children and adultsNEW children’s pajamas

Around Town

Watertown Residents Can Help Neighbors Celebrate Thanksgiving in 2020

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Mutual Aid, which is sponsored by the Watertown Community Foundation and Wayside Youth and Family Support Network, sent out details about how to provide or request support:

As the Winter Holiday season begins, we want everyone to be able to celebrate with good food on the table. Fill out this form https://forms.gle/373WyM4aoCxDH8tL6 to support a family or request support in celebrating Thanksgiving, Thursday November 26th. Support can include a gift card to a grocery store or restaurant, a home-cooked meal, or grocery delivery. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Sophia, the Community Coordinator at watertownmutualaid@waysideyouth.org or 617-744-9585. If you need other resources, contact the Watertown Social Services Resource Specialist (SSRS) Program at 617-744-9585.

Around Town

Hundreds Donate to Food Pantry During Drive-Thru Food Drive

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The drive-thru food drive, organized by the Watertown Community Foundation, drew good traffic during the event on Oct. 17 at the food pantry. Watertown residents showed up in the hundreds to donate to the Watertown Food Pantry. The event was held on the afternoon of Oct. 17, and Watertown Food Pantry Coordinator Kathy Cunningham said the event got a good response.

Around Town

Watertown Hosting a Drive-Thru Food Donation Event

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The Watertown Community Foundation will be switching gears for its food drive, and will have a drive-thru event. The drop off will take place on Saturday, Oct. 17 from 12-4 p.m. at St. John’s Church at 80 Mt. Auburn St. 

People can simply drive into their circular driveway and volunteers will remove the donations from the car. Donations will be split between the Watertown Food Pantry and the Catholic Collaborative Food Pantry.

Around Town

Watertown Community Foundation Hosting Online Trivia Night

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The Watertown Community Foundation sent out a save the date for the annual Townwide Trivia Night. The Trivia Night be happening again this year, but it will be done virtually. It will take place on Friday, Nov. 20 beginning at 7 p.m. and participants will will join via Zoom from the comfort of their homes. Teams can join for $50, and there are a maximum of six people per team.

Around Town

Watertown Community Foundation Celebrates Reaching $100K in Resiliency Fund

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The Watertown Community Foundation has given out these lawn signs to people who have donated to help others in town during COVID-19. The Watertown Community Foundation announced it has raised more than $100,000 for the Community Resilience Fund, which was created in to help community members during the COVID-19 pandemic and the shutdown. Be sure to check out the video, which provides a nice tour of Town and features many familiar faces. The Watertown Community Foundation sent out the following announcement:

In March of 2020 the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown our town but it did not shutdown the Watertown Community Foundation (WCF) or our community spirit. WCF worked quickly to establish the Watertown Resilience Fund with an initial amount of $40,000 from the foundation and personal contributions of board members. The Community Resilience Fund has grown to over $110,000 thanks to this amazing community. These funds have been used to help our neighbors who have faced significant financial challenges due to the pandemic and supported them with everything from grocery gift cards to emergency rental assistance. 

But, we haven’t stopped there. In a time when everyone was feeling like they needed a little love but couldn’t be near so many of their loved ones, we started the “We  Watertown” campaign. So many people in our community LOVE Watertown and we want to spread the LOVE! Our yard signs are popping up all over town. You can request one by emailing: info@watertownfoundation.org. 

We hope you enjoy this video of some of our friends around town sharing their love of our community. 

https://spark.adobe.com/video/FmvStT0SZrUXi 

We are always looking for ways to support and partner with organizations and businesses in town. BLING Boutique in Watertown Square is our latest partner, selling beautiful “We  Watertown” stemless glasses and wish bracelets. A portion of the proceeds come directly back to the Watertown Community Foundation. Cheers to loving our wonderful town! 

Give where you live. Donate, volunteer, support a local business or just simply give love.