Around Town

Hunger in Watertown: Task Force Tackles Social Needs, Tries to Fills Gaps Left by State, Local Programs

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Jan Singer, left, the former Executive Director of the Watertown Community Foundation, discussed how the Foundation responded to food insecurity during the Pandemic with journalists Maya Shwayder and Charlie Breitrose. (Photo by Dan Hogan / WCA-TV)

As the numbers of people facing a scarcity of food, worried about losing their home, or paying for utilities rose at the start of the Pandemic, a group of people in Watertown was gathered to bring together their knowledge of how to serve those in need. The task force continues to meet regularly, and tries to figure out ways to fill the gaps and patch the cracks in the local, state, and federal social services programs.

This story is the third in a series by Watertown News, in conjunction with Watertown Cable Access Television, called “Watertown’s Hidden Problem: Food Insecurity Among Us.” (See part one here). The Task Force

Jan Singer, who was executive director of the Watertown Community Foundation when COVID-19 hit, said the Community Resilience Task Force came about when the Foundation got a grant from the Massachusetts COVID-19 Relief Fund aimed at providing assistance in key areas such as housing, childcare, and food security. Singer and members of the Foundation board quickly realized that they needed to gather the experts to help them direct the funds where they were needed most.

Around Town

Watertown Man Pilots Special Flight to “North Pole” to Bring Joy to Some Special Children

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Delta Capt. Steve Teager and the Delta North Pole Staff. (Courtesy Photo)

Watertown resident and Delta Airlines Pilot Steve Teager made a special flight recently to spread some holiday joy. Teager, who is a longtime volunteer at the Watertown Food Pantry, flew to the “North Pole” in Detroit to “bring joy to some very special kids and let them ‘just be kids’ for an afternoon!” shared Watertown Food Pantry Coordinator Kathy Cunningham. He was selected to be the Captain by Silverliners International, a charitable organization founded by retired Eastern Airlines flight attendants.

Around Town

Watertown’s Hidden Problem: Food Insecurity Among Us (First Part of a Series)

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Food on the shelfs at the Watertown Food Pantry, which has seen an increase in the number of people using its services since the start of the Pandemic. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

For many, Watertown is a destination for food and eating, with dozens of restaurants, markets small and large, and a farmers market through the warmer months. However, a significant number of residents have trouble affording to feed themselves and their families. The hunger problem in Watertown is often not visible, but those who provide assistance and services to people in need have noticed a recent increase in the number of people in town facing food insecurity, spiking during the Pandemic. And, while the COVID cases have dropped, the numbers of people going to Watertown’s two food pantries, or needing help to put enough food on their table has remained at about the same level.

Around Town

Watertown Scouts Collecting Food for the Watertown Food Pantry

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Watertown Scouts will be collecting items for the Watertown Food Pantry. (Courtesy of Watertown Scouts)

The following announcement was provided by Watertown Scout Pack 30 and Troop 30:

Help Scouts feed Watertown

Pack 30 and Troop 30 scouts are flyering their neighbors this week, hoping to collect bags of groceries from doorsteps Nov. 18. It’s part of a drive we call Scouting for Food, and we’ll collect tons of food for the Watertown Food Pantry, the largest one-day drive serving our community. Didn’t get a flyer?

Around Town

Watertown Food Pantry Hosting Father’s Day Razor & Shaving Cream Drive

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The following announcement was provided by the Watertown Food Pantry:

The Watertown Food Pantry assists approximately 125 families/250 individuals per week, for a total distribution benefit of approximately 13,000 persons across the year with their food insecurity.  

In addition to food assistance, pantry clients are in need of hygiene products, which are essential for healthy living, but not covered by assistance programs like SNAP and WIC.  Therefore, many are not able to purchase basic toiletries. In celebration of Father’s Day, the Watertown Food Pantry is seeking donations of razors and shaving cream in support of client’s hygiene needs until June 18th.    

Donations are being accepted every day at the Watertown Fire Station at 99 Main Street, weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Watertown Senior Center at 31 Marshall St.

Around Town

Community Foundation Hosting Food Drives to Help Watertown’s Food Pantries

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The following announcement was provided by the Watertown Community Foundation:

Our Watertown food pantries need your donations! On May 13 and May 20 Watertown’s food pantries are collecting nonperishable food items such as pasta, beans, tea/coffee, and canned goods to replenish stocks for those in need. The Watertown Community Fridge welcomes donations daily at the Belmont Watertown United Methodist Church, 80 Mt. Auburn St. Check out WATERTOWN HELPS OUT volunteer opportunities in May.

Around Town

Fitness Studio Hosting Mother’s Day Boot Camp Brunch Benefiting Watertown Food Pantry

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Get Lively: Health and Fitness will host its Second Annual Mother’s Day Bootcamp Brunch & Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on May 13. The following announcement was provided by Get Lively:

Mother’s Day Bootcamp Brunch for Watertown Women: Moms, aunts, sisters, friends

Free Community event celebrating our local women and the official grand opening of our Lifestyle Studio! Join us for a bootcamp style workout followed by coffee, brunch bites, and our official ribbon cutting! 

In lieu of class fee, please bring a new shampoo and conditioner. We will assemble gift bags over coffee to support women in need in our Community. Gifts will be distributed at the Watertown Food Pantry.  

Join us and please feel free to bring someone with you.

Around Town

Watertown Food Pantry Needs a Longterm Temporary Location

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One of the food pantries in town must find a temporary location while their current location is under construction. The Watertown Food Pantry currently operates out of the Belmont-Watertown Methodist Church on Mt. Auburn Street, but the church will be under construction for a year or longer. When the work is completed, the Food Pantry will move back in, but it does not have a home during the interim. In 2022, the Food Pantry assisted over 140 families per week, and served around 13,000 people during the year, according to Watertown Food Pantry Coordinator Kathy Cunningham.