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. The event was held at Watertown’s historic Commander’s Mansion.
While food insecurity has always been an issue in Watertown, the need increased during the Pandemic, and more people are facing hunger each year, said Lauren Coughlin Unsworth, co-president of the Watertown Community Foundation Board.
“We know that rising costs in recent years have strained budgets for many of us, putting even more pressure on people who have limited income. Massachusetts has the highest rental cost in the country, 40 percent of Massachusetts residents report they cannot afford health care, food cost has risen 25 percent in the last four years. We know when money can’t cover rent, medical care and food hunger happens,” she said. “When costs rise more people need help. Here in Watertown approximately 7,800 res need support feeding their families — approximately one in every five of our neighbors.”
As an example, the number of families that the Watertown Police Department delivers Thanksgiving meals on behalf of the Sonny Whooley Foundation rose from 64 last year to an expected 100 in 2024, said Mary Ann Mulligan, co-president of the Watertown Community Foundation Board.
Several groups that have gone above and beyond to feed the community were honored at Celebrate Impact, one for each of the four pillars.
For food support, Watertown’s two food pantries were honored. Receiving the awards were Kathy Cunningham, director of the City’s Watertown Food Pantry, and Carol Pennington, who is director of the Watertown Catholic Collaborative Food Pantry located at Sacred Heart Parish.
“The City’s Food Pantry is open on Tuesdays and the Catholic Collaborative is open on Thursday mornings,” Coughlin Unsworth said. “Together, twice a week, they support approximately 545 people each month, no questions asked.”
During the times when the food pantries are closed, there is another option that provides 24/7 access to food, free of charge: the Watertown Community Fridge, located outside the former Watertown Belmont Methodist Church at 80 Mt. Auburn St.
“It offers completely anonymous support for those that may not be able to get to the food pantries when it is open,” Coughlin Unsworth said. “It was started by a group of volunteers in 2021, at the height of the Pandemic. The Community Fridge operates on the principle: take what you need, give what you can.”
The 2024 Community Fridge steering committee members were honored at the ceremony, including: Cynthia Churchwell, Steven Deude, Nancy Dutton, Ivy Maiorino, Will Twombly, Jamie Burke, Annmarie DeMeo, and Christine Niccoli.
When there are still gaps, there are food support programs such as SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) and HIP (Healthy Incentives Program).
“Stephanie Venizelos, the City’s Community Wellness Manager provided outreach and education to beneficiaries to make sure they sign up for these programs and know how to make them go further at the Watertown Farmers’ Market,” Coughlin Unsworth said.
The final group was groups who distributed food to those in need. A program linked residents at the Watertown Housing Authority with local businesses and restaurants.
“When a crisis hits a community, sometimes all of these programs put together aren’t enough,” Coughlin Unsworth said. “When COVID-19 came to Watertown, the Watertown Housing Authority built local partnerships with local businesses, like Donohue’s Bar and Grill, and created food distribution programs that called upon Roche Bros. and the Farmers’ Market to work together, along with other local restaurants. This program ultimately benefited 1,000 individuals.”
Honored at the ceremony were Olivia Field, Kristen Monti, and Sarah Woods of the Watertown Housing Authority, and JD Donohue, owner of Donohue’s Bar and Grill.
Watertown Community Foundation Director Tia Tilson noted that each of the honorees humbly suggested that someone else would be a better awardee than themselves.
“Thank you all of you for your service. We are so grateful for your work,” Tilson said. “We wouldn’t be here tonight without you.”
Addressing food insecurity has long been part of the Watertown Community Foundation’s mission, Tilson said, and the effort includes many others beyond those honored at Celebrate Impact.
“No single non-profit can work on these big community challenges alone,” she said. “Tonight, we recognize those key four programs that center on food insecurity in Watertown and their work is extending through partnerships through their colleagues at Wayside and the Watertown Public Schools, the Boys and Girls Club, our first responders, and those are just a few of the folks that work on food insecurity in this community.”
Read more and see videos about the work of the Celebrate Impact honorees at the website: https://www.watertownfoundation.org/celebrate-impact