Watertown Residents Can Help Neighbors Celebrate Thanksgiving in 2020

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.

Hundreds Donate to Food Pantry During Drive-Thru Food Drive

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.

Restaurant Hosting ‘Hops for Hope’ to Raise Money to Fight Breast Cancer

The following information was provided by Arsenal Yards:

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the new City Works in Arsenal Yards hosts Hops for Hope this October. Here’s how it works:

Throughout the month, City Works will donate $1 of every Bottlenectar beer sold to the Lynn Sage Foundation. Bottlenectar, a light bodied pale ale showcasing unique Huell Melon hops, is a special collaboration beer between Bottleneck and Goose Island.To match the donation, Goose Island will also donate $1 for every Bottlenectar beer sold.Guests rest assured that they are in a safe environment, supporting their neighborhood restaurant, and supporting breast cancer research

To date, Bottleneck Management, which owns and operates City Works Eatery & Pour House, has raised over $10,000 for the Lynn Sage Scholars Program! Might Hops for Hope be of interest for a feature with Watertown News, or any roundups on Breast Cancer Awareness Month that you might be working on?

Watertown Community Foundation Celebrates Reaching $100K in Resiliency Fund

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.

11 Watertown Residents Joining Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk, Registration Open

The following announcement was provided by the the Jimmy Fund Walk:

Eleven residents from Watertown will choose their own route on October 4th for the annual Boston Marathon® Jimmy Fund Walk presented by Hyundai. Participants are encouraged to walk wherever they choose: around their neighborhood, a local hiking trail, a treadmill, or anywhere else they are comfortable. Betsy Gartrell, Alexandra Kontes, Martha Krache, David Morris, Kate Morris, Garry Nolan, Kimberly O’Hagan, Brendan O’Hagan, Thomas Opar, Lisa Soo Hoo, and one Watertown resident, along with thousands of other walkers, will participate in virtual programming during the Walk that aims to recreate the most inspiring elements of Walk day. While the event will not physically bring walkers together along the famed Boston Marathon® course, it will unite the community to raise funds to support all forms of adult and pediatric care and cancer research at the nation’s premier cancer center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.  The event has raised more than $145 million for Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in its 30+ year history. “While we can’t see everyone in person this year, we are excited for the virtual programing which will give participants the opportunity to support breakthroughs in cancer care and research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute,” said Zack Blackburn, Director of the Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk.

Watertown Boys & Girls Club Hosting Charity Golf Tournament

The Watertown Boys & Girls Club will host the 43rd Annual Stephen P. Mugar Golf Tournament on Aug. 24, 2020 to raise money for the club. The Boys & Girls Club sent out the following information:

Our single largest fundraiser of the year! Whether you choose to play in the tournament, sponsor a hole or donate an auction item, you will have a hand in transforming the lives of young people in our community. The Mugar Family will match the tournament’s net profits up to $80,000, in memory of one of the Club’s founding members, Stephen P. Mugar!

Arsenal Yards Collects Hundreds of Items for Watertown Food Pantry

Some of the 750 items collected during the Arsenal Yards Neighborhood Pickup. They will go to the Watertown Food Pantry. The following announcement was provided by Arsenal Yards:

Last week, Arsenal Yards held a Neighborhood Pickup event, during which they invited members of the local community to drop off a donation to the Watertown Food Pantry in exchange for a tie dye swag bag full of perks from Arsenal Yards retailers, along with crafts and surprises from Arsenal Yards. There was an overwhelmingly great response for the food donations, with more than 750 items being donated, along with some cash donations. The team from Arsenal Yards delivered the donations to the Watertown Food Pantry on Tuesday, July 28 (photos attached), and would like to send a huge thank you to the local community and to all who came and donated for their generosity.