2021 Program Grants: Making Watertown an Age-Friendly Community
An Age-Friendly Community is one where older residents can be healthy and productive. The World Health Organization and the AARP have established specific goals for a community seeking to be age friendly. Grantees of the Marshall Home Fund provide programs and services that address many of these goals, as summarized below.
Social Participation
4 MHF grantees provide groups of older adults with accessible, affordable, engaging activities.
Ballroom in Boston: Line Dancing Classes Free weekly lessons for older adults and/or free or reduced pricing for other dance opportunities.
Church of the Good Shepherd: Watertown Families Together-Together Is Better A companionship program that brings together young families and Brigham House residents for the educational and recreational benefit of all.
Council on Aging: Summer Supper Program Grab and Go suppers provided by local restaurants, available outside the Senior Center.
Mosesian Center for Arts: Aging Creatively An opportunity to participate in visual, performing and literary arts programming through an incentivized volunteering program; art making; and free ticket distribution.
Health and Social Services
4 MHF grantees deliver direct health, mental health, and social services to vulnerable individuals.
Springwell:Elder Independence & Safety Fund Direct grants to Watertown seniors who are in need of small items or assistance in maintaining their independence.
Watertown Council on Aging:Emergency Assistance Block Grant Small direct grants for housing and health needs of older adults.
Watertown Community Development and Planning: Watertown Farmers’ Market SNAP Match and Volunteer Programs Programs that enable older adults to access fresh, healthy, and affordable foods at the Farmer's Market
Wayside Multi-Service Center:Block Grant Emergency grants for residents 55-60 years old who are facing a financial crisis.
Housing and Transportation
5 MHF-funded projects address housing and transportation needs of older residents.
Cascap:Installation of new front doorsat Marshall Place Provide a welcome and accessible entrance to this residence for older adults.
Metrowest Collaborative Development, Inc:Ready Renter Program and Affordable Housing How-to Workshops Workshops for older adults on downsizing and finding affordable housing. Weekly online housing clinics.
Watertown Fire Department: Fire and Life Safety Educational Series for Older Adults Workshops held in various community locations to provide valuable fire and life safety information, while highlighting fire department operations in a fun, engaging way.
Watertown CoA:Supplemental Transportation Program Subsidized taxi program for residents 60+ to local medical appointments and in emergency situations, in absence of other transportation options.
Watertown Recreation Department:Neighborhood Snow Shoveling Assistance Local students remove snow from sidewalks, driveways and stairs of older adults, so they can safely leave their homes by foot or car after a snowfall.
Respect and Social Inclusion
4 MHF grantees provide groups of potentially isolated older adults with tools to help them integrate into the community.
Carroll Center:Essential Skills Training and Low Vision Presentations Training for Watertown seniors w/ vision loss on completing daily living tasks easily with a few modifications/ Three Low Vision workshops.
Mass Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired: Technology Training for Seniors with Sight LossTraining to enable individuals who are blind or visually impaired to access technology--increasing independence, community engagement and wellness.
Perkins:Thriving with Vision Loss Older adults can access the resources of the Perkins Braille & Talking Book Library, increasing self-confidence and social engagement.
Project Literacy: English Language Instruction for Ages 55+ Twice-weekly classes for older immigrants alongside their peers of all generations, taught by professional English language instructors.
2020 Special Grants to Address Social Isolation
The social isolation imposed on everyone due to Covid-19 has been particularly difficult for older adults. In December, MHF provided minigrants to several of our program grantees to enhance their capacity to reach isolated, vulnerable older adults.
Mass Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired:Using targeted advertisements to reach older Watertown residents who are blind or visually impaired and encourage them to access MABVI services that most directly address social isolation—technology training, volunteer matching, and mental health support.
Project Literacy:Funding Master Trainers who provide workshops for Project Literacy's volunteer teachers, facilitators and tutors, with a focus on strategies for delivering services in a remote learning environment.
