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

How Many People Face Hunger Discussed During Episode of Watertown Cable Show

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Inside Watertown co-hosts Bob Airasian, left, and Charlie Breitrose were joined by Tias Tilson (second from right) and Stephanie Venizelos. (Screenshot from WCA-TV video)

The number of residents facing food insecurity spiked during the COVID-19 shutdown, but even though the Pandemic has waned many people still are in danger of going hungry. The latest episode of Watertown Cable Access TV’s Inside Watertown focuses on hunger and food insecurity in Watertown. Guests Tia Tilson, Executive Director of the Watertown Community Foundation, and Stephanie Venizelos, Community Wellness Program Manager (including Live Well Watertown) joined co-hosts Bob Airasian and Charlie Breitrose. Tilson and Venizelos spoke about about how many people are using resources in the City such as the food pantries and the state’s food assistance programs, as well as ways that people can help out.

Charity

Watertown Chef Competing to Make Best Steak in Culinary Fight Club

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Watertown’s Chef Mike Fucci will battle fellow chefs to see who can grill up the best steak at the Culinary Fight Club in Newton, and the proceeds will go to fight hunger. The Culinary Fight Club will be held Monday, July 31 from 6-9 p.m. at Hotel Indigo Boston-Newton Riverside and will raise money for Fight2Feed and Three Squares. Fucci, who runs Chef Mike’s Catering in Watertown and is a winner on Food Network’s Cutthroat Kitchen, will compete against Jes Childers of Port Bistro, Arty Bruno of Grill 139, Douglas Rodrigues of North Square Oyster, Drew Blanckenberg of Cricket Cafe and Catering and Justin Rexroad of Clipper Tavern. The chefs will each attempt to make the perfect steak. Attendees can sample each chef’s creation and vote for their favorite.

Business

Lexus of Watertown Teams Up With Red Sox to Strike Out Hunger

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For the second year in a row, Lexus is teaming up with the New England Sports Network (NESN) to launch the Strike Out Hunger program in an effort to raise awareness and funds for hunger relief across Eastern Massachusetts. Strike Out Hunger is a fundraising campaign where Lexus donates $50 to The Greater Boston Food Bank every time a Boston pitcher strikes out the opposing team’s hitter. The initiative launches on Opening Day and runs through all games in the 2017 Major League Baseball regular season. The second annual Strike Out Hunger campaign follows a highly successful inaugural year in 2016, with Lexus donating $68,100 and 1,300 pounds of food to The Greater Boston Food Bank for 1,362 Boston pitcher strikeouts. The contribution provided more than 200,000 healthy meals to those in need across Eastern Massachusetts.

Charity

Public Can Help With Watertown Rotary Service Projects for Troops, Hungry Children

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The Rotary Club of Watertown invites the public to join them at two community service projects, one in May and one that is ongoing. 

Watertown Rotary President Lilia Weisfeldt sent out the following announcement:
Operation American Soldier – Tuesday, May 16 from 5:30-8 p.m.
This is a great community service project that is quick, easy and fun! We will be packing care packages that will be sent to American soldiers around the world to brighten their day. Pizza will be provided at 5:30 p.m. and we will be packing care packages from 6-8 p.m.
Please RSVP to Lilia Weisfeldt (lilia@ballroominboston.com) if you are interested in joining the packing party. This event is open to all ages so feel free to invite your kids, grandkids, etc. Food for Thought Bag Packing: Thursdays from 10:30-11:45 a.m.
The Rotary Club of Watertown’s Food for Thought program kicked off in January and we are still going strong!

Charity

New Rotary Club Program Provides Meals for Watertown Kids on Weekends

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A new program sponsored by the Rotary Club, called Food for Thought, is providing some Watertown students who might go hungry over the weekend with two breakfasts, two lunches and two snacks each week.  

During the week, these students can get free or discounted meals at school. About 30 percent of the students in Watertown are in the Free and Reduced Lunch program, said Watertown resident Lilia Weisfeldt, who came up with the idea for the program. “Over the weekend the kids don’t have access to the program and a lot of kids go without any food,” Weisfeldt said. “We give them a bag of food over the weekend so they can go back to school Monday not hungry and ready to learn.”