Watertown Community Foundation Distributes $7,000 in Donations to Food Pantries  

Watertown, MA: November 10, 2025 –  

The Watertown Community Foundation received $7,000 in donations to support both of Watertown’s food pantries to date. Today, the Foundation distributed $3,500 each to the Watertown Food Pantry and Watertown Catholic Collaborative Food Pantry. Residents from Watertown, Belmont, and nearby communities contributed to our Fund for Watertown’s Food Pantries, as part of the Community Food Drive launched on October 31. These funds will be used to purchase and distribute food at each pantry.  

“Thank you to the Watertown community for your immense generosity and care for our neighbors during this time of uncertainty,” said Lauren Coughlin Unsworth, co-president of the Watertown Community Foundation. “The Watertown Community Foundation is honored to collect your donations and give them directly to our food pantries to purchase food for our neighbors. We are grateful for the critical work of all pantry employees and volunteers at the Watertown Food Pantry and Watertown Catholic Collaborative Food Pantry in providing these resources to people in need.”

“Last week, we provided support to 20 new families,” said Carol Pennington, Food Pantry Coordinator for the Watertown Catholic Collaborative Food Pantry. “We are so grateful to the community for their food donations and their financial support. You are helping keep our shelves stocked so we can meet the need knocking on our front door.”

Kathy Cunningham, Food Pantry Coordinator for the City of Watertown added, “We are beyond grateful to the citizens of Watertown who continue to support us, and never waver in donating generously throughout the year. During these trying times, when we are seeing increased numbers at the pantry, I personally would like to thank and acknowledge our volunteers for all their hard work, and our donors, without whom we would be unable to help all the families in Watertown who need our help right now. Thank you, Watertown!”

The Community Food Drive continues through December 2025 and is sponsored by the City of Watertown’s Human Services Department with support from the Foundation. It began in response to cuts in funding for the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). SNAP provides food benefits to low-income families to supplement their grocery budget so they can afford the nutritious food essential to their health and well-being. More than 1,600 Watertown families rely on SNAP each month. 

To participate in the Community Food Drive, you can donate unexpired, non-perishable food at a drop-off location or make a monetary donation on the Watertown Community Foundation website. If you are interested in providing emergency assistance to vulnerable Watertown residents beyond the food drive, we suggest donating to the Fund for the Most Vulnerable, in addition to other ways to give to support the Foundation’s Essential Needs grants. 

For more information on food assistance resources, visit Watertown’s Human Services Department or call or text Project Bread’s FoodSource Hotline at 1-800-645-8333 (counselors can assist callers in 180 languages).

————

About Watertown Community Foundation 

The Watertown Community Foundation advances and supports positive change for the people who live and work in Watertown through the transformative power of community giving. We envision a welcoming community where people of all backgrounds can thrive, connect, and contribute to the strength and resilience of our city. Started with funds from the sale of the Watertown Arsenal property in 2003 and powered by generous donations from Watertown residents and businesses, the Foundation has awarded more than $3,000,000 in grants. We are committed to convening local stakeholders, creating cross-sector collaborations, and breaking down barriers to bring people together to turn philanthropy into action. See our list of 2025 grantees here. For more info, visit our website and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

WCF Board of Directors: Lauren Coughlin Unsworth and Mary Ann Mulligan, Co-Presidents; Albrik Avanessian; Emily Barclay; Eileen Hsü-Balzer; Nathalie Highland; Heather Leary; Kathryn Madden; Christina Murphy; Jennifer Nicholson, Anthony Paolillo; Dwayne Parmley; Leah Pennino; Robert Shay; and David Siegel.