Government

Funds Approved to Update Part of Parker Building, Build New Home for Watertown Food Pantry

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The Parker Annex Building (Courtesy of City of Watertown)

Tuesday night, the City Council approved funds to renovate the Parker Annex Building to set up a new home for the Watertown Food Pantry, update and rehabilitate the building, and bring it up to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards. On June 24, the Council unanimously approved borrowing $5.778 million to pay costs of renovating the Parker Annex Building, the former school building that became an office building before being reacquired by the City in 2023. City Manager George Proakis the money will be combined with the $326,890 in ARPA and other funds set aside for setting up the Watertown Food Pantry in the Parker Building, and $104,000 (also approved Tuesday) to cover the cost above the project estimate. “We’re excited about this project. What this project accomplishes is it builds out the second floor for the (Department of) Community Development and Planning,” he said.

Around Town

Community Foundation’s Food Drive Delivers Cart Loads of Items to Watertown’s Two Food Pantries

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Tia Tison, Executive Director of the Watertown Community Foundation and WCF Co-President Lauren Coughlin Unsworth push a cart of food into the Watertown Food Pantry. (Courtesy of the Watertown Community Foundation)

The two food pantries in Watertown received a special delivery of supplies courtesy of donations made by the Watertown community during the Watertown Community Foundation’s Food Drive. The collection took place during May, which is the Foundation’s annual month of volunteering called Watertown Helps Out — or WHO. The food was delivered Thursday afternoon to the Watertown Food Pantry, located in the former United Methodist Church, and the Watertown Catholic Collaborative Food Pantry, located the Sacred Heart Church, made Thursday afternoon, said Tia Tilson, Executive Director of the Watertown Community Foundation. “We delivered food to both pantries, unloading roughly six full grocery carts at each pantry,” Tilson said.

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Brownie Troop Hosts Drive-Thru Food Drive in Watertown to Support Local Food Pantry

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Watertown Brownie Troop 84267 announced it will be hosting a drive-thru food drive to help out a local food pantry. See more information below. Our local Brownie Troop is hosting a Drive-Thru Food Drive to benefit the Watertown Food Pantry on Saturday, November 16, from 1-3 PM at First Parish Church in Watertown, 35 Church St. This event is an opportunity for people in the community to give back easily and safely. Donors can drive up and drop off non-perishable food items without even getting out of their car.

Around Town

Local Jam Maker Holding Pop-Up and Food Drive for Watertown Food Pantry

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If you missed Berry Mari and Belle at the Watertown Farmers Market, you can buy Hanna Opdahl’s jams and preserves at a pop-up and she will also be collecting items for the Watertown Food Pantry with donors being entered into a drawing for jam and spices. See details below. Berry Mari and Belle will be having a jam pop-up at Curio Spice Co., 2265 Mass. Ave., in Cambridge on Saturday, Nov. 23 (12-4 p.m.), and will be collecting donations for the Watertown Food Pantry.

Around Town

People Working Against Hunger in Watertown Honored by Community Foundation

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The honorees at the Watertown Community Foundation’s Celebrate Impact Event. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

Hunger is an issue faced by a growing number of Watertown residents. Recently, the Watertown Community Foundation put a spotlight on the work of several groups that have been trying to make sure everyone in town can feed their families and themselves. On Oct. 17, the Community Foundation hosted Celebrate Impact where they honored the people and groups who make up four pillars to feeding those in need in Watertown: food support, 24/7 access, food assistance, and food distribution.

Around Town

Watertown Girl Scouts Created Pet Pantries at 2 Local Food Pantries

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Watertown Girl Scout Junior Troop 70133 with Kathy Cunningham of the Watertown Food Pantry. The Troop created a Pet Pantry. (Contributed Photo)

The following announcement was provided by Watertown Girl Scout Junior Troop 70133:

By Olivia Nardone Cavanaugh

Members of Watertown Girl Scout Junior Troop 70133 in fifth grade are working to earn their Bronze Award, one of the highest awards in Girl Scouts, by making a difference in their community. The girls conducted observational research and decided they wanted to help wild and domestic animals in Watertown to stay safe and healthy through community education and awareness. For the project, the girls met with Animal Control Officer Samantha Gatchell to gather wildlife safety tips and designed and printed flyers to educate community members about how to treat wild animals safely.

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Celebrate the Heroes Behind Watertown’s Core Food Security Efforts

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The following announcement was provided by the Watertown Community Event:

On Thursday, October 17, the Watertown Community Foundation will host their annual fundraiser, Celebrate Impact, highlighting the continued urgency of food insecurity in our community and honoring the people behind Watertown’s core food security programs.

Honorees include the Steering Committee of the Watertown Community Fridge, Stephanie Venizelos of the Watertown Farmers’ Market; Kathy Cunningham and Carol Pennington, who each run one of Watertown’s food pantries; Olivia Fields, Kristen Monti, and Sarah Woods of the Watertown Housing Authority; and JD Donohue, owner of Donohue’s Bar and Grill. “Approximately 7,800 Watertown residents, or nearly 1 in 5 of our neighbors, need support to feed their families,” said Jen Nicholson, Watertown Community Foundation Board Member and Event Co-Chair. “Our honorees work and volunteer to put food directly into the hands of people who need it.”

“The Watertown Community Foundation works to connect Watertown residents to reliable sources of healthy food by supporting those local organizations whose mission makes this happen,” said Lauren Coughlin Unsworth, Watertown Community Foundation Board Co- President and Event Co-Chair. “We are delighted to celebrate the impact of our honorees and their organizations in making food available to people who need it.”

“When money can’t cover rent, medical care and food: hunger happens. The COVID pandemic highlighted the ongoing presence and urgency of hunger in the Watertown community.

Around Town

Watertown Food Pantry Receives Donation from Construction Contractor

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Chris Bertone and Tim Guiggio from Brait Construction delivered items to the Watertown Food Pantry on Aug. 12. (Contributed Photo)

Last week, the Watertown Food Pantry received a donation from a construction company working in a major project in town. Food Pantry volunteer Stacy Walsh said that donation was delivered by Chris Bertone and Tim Guiggio from Brait, which is in the contractor for the Watertown High School project, and previously worked on the Cunniff and Hosmer elementary school projects. “Brait Construction did a much needed food drive for the Watertown Food Pantry, for which we were extremely grateful!”