Around Town

Volunteers Lent a Hand at the Watertown Housing Authority During Watertown Helps Out

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The Watertown Housing Authority hostedannual Watertown Helps Out Day and got a hand from volunteers from C4 Therapeutics. The following announcement was provided by the Watertown Housing Authority. On May 14th the Watertown Housing Authority participated in this year’s annual Watertown Helps Out Day, put on by the Watertown Community Foundation. The Watertown Housing Authority took part in the 2025 Watertown Helps Out, organized by the Watertown Community Foundation. We’re so grateful for the volunteers from C4 Therapeutics who came out to work alongside WHA staff to pick up trash, recycle used bulk items, dispose of household waste, landscape, make our parking lots safer, and add cosmetic upgrades to our buildings.

Around Town

See Where to Donate to Watertown Helps Out’s City-wide Food Drive

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The City-wide Food Drive to benefit Watertown’s two food pantries will be held from May 12 – 21, 2025. The following information was provided by the Watertown Community Foundation. Drop off non-perishables at local collection sites to stock Watertown’s Food Pantries. FOOD DRIVE COLLECTION SITES

Watertown Parker School Annex (124 Watertown Street)

Watertown Police Department

Watertown Free Public Library

Watertown Fire Station (564 Mt. Auburn Street)

Watertown Public School Students: Look for the collection box at your school

Spread the word.

Around Town

Community Foundation Kicks Off Annual Watertown Helps Out on May 1

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The following information was provided by the Watertown Community Foundation:

Would you like to join your neighbors and give back to Watertown? With the support of local company sponsors, their employees, the City of Watertown, and people who live all over Watertown, the Watertown Community Foundation is organizing Watertown Helps Out for the 11th year. During a month of community service all through May, the Watertown Community Foundation will connect hundreds of volunteers to projects our local non-profits need help getting done. “Watertown Helps Out, affectionately called WHO, began in 2014 to bring the Watertown community together after the trauma of the Marathon bombing and the aftermath here in Watertown. What started as a single day of community service has become a month-long event involving hundreds of community and corporate volunteers who work together to help Watertown,” said Tia Tilson, Executive Director of the Watertown Community Foundation.

Around Town

Watertown Community Foundation Realigns Grant Programs to Focus on Impact

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The Watertown Community Foundation provided the following announcement:

As a result of a year-long strategic planning process, the Watertown Community Foundation (WCF) has realigned their grant program to focus on three key areas: Essential Needs to support Watertown’s most vulnerable residents; Community Engagement to increase access and engagement to community life and programs in Watertown, and Education and Youth Development. “During 2024, the board and staff of the Watertown Community Foundation participated in a year-long strategic planning process to look at how well our grant programs were working for the Watertown community. Where were they strong? How could they be better? What new areas needed our support?” said Lauren Coughlin Unsworth, Board Co-President of the Foundation.

Around Town

Four Honored at Charles River Chamber’s First Watertown Business Awards

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Charles River Regional Chamber President & CEO Greg Reibman (left) and the recpients of the Watertown Business Awards: Archy LaSalle (accepted by Liz Helfer, second from left), Max Ritcey of Ritcey East, Tia Tilson of the Watertown Community Foundation, and O’Some Cafe’s Ricci Cheng. (Courtesy of the Charles River Chamber)

People packed the backroom at Donohue’s Bar & Grill to honor a pair of local businesses, a non-profit and a longtime arts advocate during the first annual Watertown Business Awards. Tickets sales f0r the sold-out Watertown Night raised money for the Watertown Boys & Girls Club. The Chamber presented awards for Customer Service, Business Excellence, Community Leadership, and the Nonprofit Impact Award after receiving nominations from the public. The Customer Service Award went to Max Ritcey.

Entertainment

Mosesian Center for the Arts Receives Emergency Grant from Watertown Community Foundation

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The Mosesian Center for the Arts in Watertown. (Courtesy Photo)

The following announcement was provided by the Mosesian Center for the Arts Board:

The Mosesian Center for the Arts (MCA) received an off-cycle, emergency stabilization grant from the Watertown Community Foundation to offset the lasting impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. “Arts non-profits were hit hard during the pandemic. In an effort to build back after months of being shuttered, pandemic relief funds were used to create additional programming which also came with additional staffing. With the sudden and noticeable loss of the New Repertory Theatre, revenue did not keep up with the expanded programming,” explained MCA Board Chair, Shaunna Harrington.

Around Town

People Working Against Hunger in Watertown Honored by Community Foundation

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The honorees at the Watertown Community Foundation’s Celebrate Impact Event. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

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.

Entertainment

Watertown’s Got Talent Returns, See How to Enter the Contest

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Performers took to the stage at Arsenal Yards for the Watertown Community Foundation’s Watertown’s Got Talent. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

The Watertown Community Foundation will once again host Watertown’s Got Talent, and entrants can register now. Read more in the announcement from the WCF:

Who will be crowned Watertown’s Top Talent this year? We can’t wait to find out! Watertown’s Got Talent, hosted by Arsenal Yards to benefit the Watertown Community Foundation, is BACK for a third year!