The Watertown Public Schools PTOs, the Watertown Police and local businesses have teamed up to collect donations for food pantries in town after hearing about the need due to the Federal Government shutdown.
Donations of non-perishable and non-expired food are being collected at several locations around town. The drive started after people in town heard about the recent increase in use of food pantries, said Lauren Coughlin Unsworth, one of the organizers.
“The idea came up when we heard that the government shutdown was creating a larger demand our local pantries and that they had a great need for donations,”
Coughlin Unsworth is on the Lowell School PTO as well as the board of the Watertown Community Foundation and she teamed up with Watertown resident and owner of Get Lively, Jan Taylor. Taylor approached local businesses along with the Rotary Club of Watertown, and Coughlin Unsworth used her contacts in the schools.
“With the help Donna Tuccinardi at the Lowell PTO we were able to easily coordinate the schools – flyers go home (Thursday) in all the student’s backpacks!” Coughlin Unsworth said.
Elementary and high school students can bring items to their schools.
The drive is sponsored by the Watertown Community Foundation, Get Lively, Rotary Club of Watertown, Eastern Clothing, Ballroom in Boston, Boston Floor Covering, Cunniff School PTO, Hosmer School PTO, Lowell School PTO, Watertown High School PTO, and the Watertown Police Department.
See more details in the flyer below:
Food drive flyer – Community.pdf by Charlie Breitrose on Scribd