Food & Nutrition

Congregate Lunch Program at Woodland Towers - Daily Hot Lunch

Springwell administers the federally funded Congregate Lunch Program at Woodland Towers, 55 Waverley Avenue. A $2 donation is requested. Call the Site Manager at 617-923-2769 one day in advance between 9 am and 10:30 am, Monday through Friday to reserve your space. Lunch is served at 11:30 am.

Food Stamps (SNAP)

The Massachusetts Food Stamp Program, now called the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) has been streamlined for seniors. Even if you've never applied for assistance, own your home and car, or have been ineligible in the past, here are some reasons to consider applying for SNAP:

  • During these difficult economic times, even a modest monthly SNAP benefit can help to offset some of your household expenses.
  • Using SNAP benefits is completely confidential. SNAP recipients use a card that works just like a debit card.
  • The application for seniors is shorter (only two pages) and fewer verifications are required.

To apply, call the Watertown Senior Center at 617-972-6490 or call toll-free: 866-950-FOOD (3663). Once you have applied, you will find out in 30 days whether you are eligible for SNAP.

Meals on Wheels

This federally funded home-delivered meals program is administered by Springwell for homebound elders and hospital discharges who find it difficult to prepare meals. A hot meal is delivered at lunchtime, Monday through Friday. Frozen meals for weekends and accommodations for special diet requirements are available. Please call Springwell at 617-926-4100 for more information.

Project Bread FoodSource Hotline

Call the hotline at 800-645-8333 or go to the Project Bread FoodSource website for information about free or low-cost food resources, and to receive an application for the Food Stamp program mentioned previously.

In addition, there are two food pantries in Watertown that are open to all residents.

Watertown Women, Infants and Children (WIC)

Who Can Get WIC

WIC is for pregnant women and every kind of family.WIC stands for Women, Infants and Children and is FREE to Massachusetts families who qualify.  If you’re a mother, father, grandparent, foster parent or legal guardian of a child or children under 5, you can apply for WIC support. Many families can get the support they need from WIC to keep their family healthy and eating well. Call us at (617) 575-5330 to find out if you’re eligible.

You Can Apply for WIC If You:

  • Live in Massachusetts
  • Receive TAFDC, SNAP or certain Mass Health (Medicaid)
  • Meet the WIC income guidelines. If you receive benefits from TAFDC, SNAP or certain Mass Health (Medicaid) programs, you are automatically income eligible.
  • Find out if you're eligible here.

About the Cambridge/Somerville WIC Program:

We help ALL families living in Massachusetts

The WIC program provides:

  • Healthy foods for pregnant women, infants and children
  • Counseling with trained nutritionists
  • Health education
  • Breastfeeding support and counseling
  • Referrals to health care and social services
  • Online nutrition education