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Over 10,000 served (and that's just in Newton)

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Over 10,000 served (and that's just in Newton)

Since late January, Liz Tavares and Alie Mahar with the Rotary Club of Newton have been coordinating deliveries of over 400 meals weekly to those facing food insecurity.
 
It was all part of our Nourishing Newton program, made possible through two grants secured by our state Sen. Cindy Creem.
 
All of the meals were purchased from independent Newton restaurants and distributed through Centre Street Food Pantry, the Newton Food Pantry, West Suburban YMCA, the Newton Senior Center, Welcome Home and the Arabic Baptist Church.
 
(That's Anthony Vega from Bocca Bella in the photo delivering meals to the Newton Food Pantry).
 
Last week, Liz and Alie and their teams completed the program's final deliveries, as we've spent down the final dollars from the grants.
 
All told, Nourishing Newton supplied more than 10,000 meals over two years and injected over $160,000 into Newton’s economy -- helping our independent restaurants retain staff and business during slow winter months, while also providing delicious and nutritious meals for food pantry clients. 
 
We're really proud of this program and so grateful to our partners at Rotary; the volunteers and staff at the food pantries; the restaurants who put their hearts into the meals; and to Sen. Creem. And an additional shout out to Chamber Operations Director Katherine Herer for coordinating this entire effort.
 
While Nourishing Newton comes to a close, we’re still running similar efforts in Wellesley and Needham and will launch in Watertown in the coming weeks.
 
(Watertown restaurants apply here if you'd like to participate.)
 
If you’re able help support extending this program financially in Watertown, Needham or Wellesley, go here. 100% of your contribution will go to local restaurants to feed residents facing food insecurity. Contributions are not tax deductible. Email me for information.
 
Can you host the Watertown Community Fridge?
 
Speaking of efforts to combat food insecurity, the Watertown Community Fridge needs to find a new home by April 20.
 
The ideal location would easily accessible in Watertown, have access to electricity plus parking for quick deliveries and pickups by personal vehicles.
 
If you’re a Watertown business or property owner that might be able to host this
important community asset, contact WatertownCommunityFridge@gmail.com for details.
 
Recovery is hard for health care jobs
 
Our hiring crisis is being felt across many sectors.
 
But for the health care industry -- traditionally one of the state's most stable sectors -- the consequences can be a matter of "life and death," writes State House News’ Chris Lisinski
 
"It is an industry that job-seekers right now tend to be steering away from for a variety of reasons," said Mary Sarris executive director of the MassHire North Shore Workforce Board.
 
“We need to help people become comfortable again working in the health care industry."
 
Health care and social assistance sectors lost nearly 20,000 jobs statewide between February 2022 and February 2020. Only hospitality -- with about 40,000 lost jobs -- saw a larger drop-off.
 
Worker burnout, competition for workers from other sectors, the effects of industry consolidation, and a growing segment of the state population who are elderly and in need of more care, are all factors.
 
Immigration is a major factor too: Since 1990, about 80 percent of the state's labor force growth cane from immigrants. But since 2017, international migration to Massachusetts is down 74 percent.
 
No one would tolerate this in the private sector
 
Our never-in-a-hurry Legislature sent a $1.67 billion midyear spending bill to Gov. Charlie Baker last night that we believe includes an extension of outdoor dining rules and to go-cocktails until April 1, 2023. 
 
Without this action, the state's outdoor dining provisions would have expired today. The totally unnecessary delayed decision was stressful and disrespectful to our restaurants and municipalities.
 
Building emission reduction resolution expected
 
Newton City Councilor Deb Crossley will be introducing a resolution on April 11 expressing the council’s support for establishing a BERDO program in Newton. 
 
Modeled on a similar program in Boston, Newton's program could require as many as 400 large buildings in the city to cut greenhouse-gas emissions to net zero by 2050.
 
Watertown’s climate action plan, currently in draft form, recommends a similar effort so they could be next.
 
The chamber will host a webinar exploring the challenges of making buildings more sustainable on April 27. Details.
 
Other need to knows  
 
  • LabShares has expanded into additional space at 55 Chapel St on the Newton-Watertown line and welcomed nine new companies to its private-suite-focused facility, which features an array of equipment aimed to support a wide variety of biotech projects. The new lab has more than doubled the footprint of LabShares.
 
  • On April 10, JCC Greater Boston is hosting a Concert for Ukraine. This will be an afternoon of music, activities, community, and a chance to raise money for the people of Ukraine. 100% of tickets sales and donations collected will go directly to their sister JCC in Dnepro, Ukraine and CJP’s Ukraine Emergency Fund. Buy tickets or just donate here.
 
  • The Watertown Boys & Boys Club Executive Director Renee Gaudette is stepping down after nine years in the position (Watertown News).
 
  • The Good Food Farm, a market farm in Ashby, MA run by former Newton residents, is offering home-delivered CSAs featuring vegetables, eggs, small fruit, and flowers to Newton and surrounding communities. They also offer a Mutual Aid Share which provides fresh produce to those who otherwise wouldn't have access to it. Learn more.
 
'My generation isn’t looking to make friends at work'
 
That’s the headline on a Globe Ideas section column by Katherine Hu, writing from the perspective of a Gen Z worker adapting to hybrid workplace after spending two years working remotely.
 
Hu says the pandemic has "shifted long-term thinking about the necessity of weaving together one’s work and social lives."
 
“It’s a healthier way to work,” she writes. “After all, it’s easier to gently reject a task that doesn’t fall within your responsibilities when you’re not friends with the person asking. It’s easier to negotiate a raise if you’re not friends with your boss. This isn’t to say that people shouldn’t seek community within the workplace or develop genuine friendships there. But clearer boundaries can help us better identify when we’re being overworked or not compensated fairly and make it easier to speak up when we notice these discrepancies.”
 
Gen Z (those born between 1997 and 2007) is the most racially diverse generation yet, even more so than millennials, and has strong opinions and unique experiences that will shape our future. To better understand what drives your Gen Z colleagues, future hires and customers, check out this recent study from Ernst & Young.
 
 
That’s today’s Need to Knows, unless you still need to know why Saturn’s rings are disappearing  
 
Enjoy the weekend. See you Tuesday.
 
Greg Reibman (he, him)
President
Charles River Regional Chamber
617.244.1688
 
P.S. Thanks to our panelists at yesterday’s chamber webinar about the state’s HireNow program and different pipelines for finding and training workers. Here’s the video in case you missed it (a members-only benefit):
 
 
VIDEO: Yesterday's HireNow webinar on demand via our member portal!
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