HELP US SAVE
​THE WALTHAM FIELD STATION

HOW CAN YOU HELP?

The time is NOW! The Mayor has taken the issue of acquiring the Waltham Field Station into Executive Session.  That means the City Council is actively debating the merits of acquiring the property and what their usage plan would be post acquisition.  Now more than ever, it is important that we voice our concerns and advocate for a plan that accounts for our organizational needs. 

We ask that you contact your local representatives, as well as the pertinent Waltham legislators listed below. We hope that community input will help to steer the negotiations henceforth and inform a solution that minimizes disruption to our programming. 

​Please use the contact information listed below.  Email, write and call........ your voice matters! 


  • General Guidelines: ​​​
  • Keep communications positive, focus on why the work of Boston Area Gleaners matters to you
  • Our biggest concern is maintaining access to grounds and utilities, this is our main "ask"
  • Note in your communications if you are a Waltham resident 
  • Share widely, especially with stakeholders in the Waltham area 

What to include in your communication:

Our main goal is to obtain a formal commitment from both UMASS and the City of Waltham that access to the Field Station grounds and utilities will be maintained through this transitional time and into the future.  This is what we would like to focus our communications around.  A facet of this "ask" is working to obtain alternative provisional office space on the property, but is less important than access to grounds and utilities. 

Relevant stats to include in communication at your discretion: 
  • Partner agencies in Waltham
    • Jewish Family & Children's Service
    • Bristol Lodge
    • Healthy Waltham
    • Waltham Salvation Army
    • Chesterbrook Community Foundation
    • Waltham Fields Community Farm Outreach Market 
  • Direct service to 49 partner agencies
    • Total distribution reach, more than 1,000 hunger relief agencies across the region
  • 75+ volunteer trips hosted at the Waltham Field Station in 2018 accounting for more than 300 volunteers hosted on-site 
  • 818,000 lbs produce gleaned in 2018 (3.3 million servings)
  • Boston Area Gleaners founded in 2004 out of the Waltham Field Station
  • 2.7 million pounds produce rescued since our inception in 2004 
  • 9,800% growth since our first season when we gleaned 8,240 lbs  


It can be intimidating to write a letter of this type.  You may feel nervous that you will say something wrong or not paint this issue in the perfect light.  That's okay, we are not expecting you to voice our official stance.  We have taken the time to write a press release in concert with other tenants that contains our official stance and we are managing the ever-evolving situation closely, including near constant communication with these representatives ourselves. 

The most helpful thing you can do right now is to speak genuinely, in your own voice, about why the Field Station and the work that happens here matters to you personally.  These legislators are aware of the situation, the history of the facility and what organizations are housed here at the Field Station.  What they need to hear is why it matters to the community that this facility is kept open.  

Therefore, a sample letter might be as simple as saying...... 

"I am writing to encourage you to protect and preserve the Waltham Field Station in its current use.  The work of Boston Area Gleaners is important to me because [_____________].  Since 2010, the Boston Area Gleaners has distributed several million of pounds of high quality, nutritious fruits and vegetables through its operation base at the Waltham Field Station. All of this nutritious food is distributed to thousands of food insecure families across Eastern Massachusetts. This is a service that would not easily be replaced and the Waltham Field Station represents an integral part to the successful functioning of Boston Area Gleaners."   

UMASS Officials 

Kumble Subbaswamy- Chancellor


Marty Meehan- UMASS President


James Julian- UMASS Executive Vice President 
Federal Legislators of Interest
Ed Markey- US Senator 
975 JFK Federal Building 
15 New Sudbury Street 
Boston, MA 02203 
(617) 565-8519

Elizabeth Warren- US Senator 
2400 JFK Federal Building 
15 New Sudbury Street 
Boston, MA 02203 
(617) 565-3170

Katherine Clark- US House of Representatives
701 Concord Avenue, Suite 101
Cambridge, MA 02138
(617) 354-0292
State Legislators of Interest 
Charlie Baker- Governor
Massachusetts State House, 24 Beacon St.
Office of the Governor, Room 280
Boston, MA 02133
 (617) 725-4005

Michael Barrett- Senator
​24 Beacon St. 
Room 416
Boston, MA, 02133
617-722-1572
 
John Lawn- Representative
24 Beacon St. 
Room 174
Boston, MA, 02133
617-722-2877
Waltham Mayor ​

​Jeannette A. McCarthy
City of Waltham Mayor’s Office
City Hall Second Floor
610 Main Street, Waltham, MA 02452
(781) 314-3100
​
Waltham City Councillors


It is our hope that by conveying how much we value the Field Station now, these representatives will be more likely vote in favor of a plan that supports the Field Station when it comes to a vote.

If you'd like to copy and paste all the councillors emails into one email please visit the link below: 
www.city.waltham.ma.us/city-council/pages/waltham-city-council-2018

​
Councillors at Large
Paul Brasco, Council President
(781) 209 2567  

Robert Logan, Council Vice President 
(781) 893-3572

Kathleen McMenimen 
(781) 894-1247


​Diane LeBlanc
(781) 526-1285 
​
Randall LeBlanc
(781) 373-2465 

Thomas M. Stanley 
(617) 529-4279 
​
Carlos Vidal
​(781) 899-2282



​
Ward Councillors
Dan Romard, Ward 1 Councillor 
​(781) 571-6053

Bill Fowler, Ward 2 Councillor 
(781) 899-3095 

George Darcy, Ward 3 Councillor 
(781) 266-8888
​
John McLaughlin, Ward 4 Councillor 
(781) 891-6486

Joseph P. LaCava, Ward 5 Councillor 
(781) 736-7836 

​
Sharline Nabulime, Ward 6 Councillor 
(781) 893-1406

Kristine A. Mackin, Ward 7 Councillor 
(781) 786-8569 

Cathyann Harris, Ward 8 Councillor 
(781) 697-4560 
​All City Councillors receive physical mail via:
City of Waltham Clerks Office
City Hall Second Floor
610 Main Street, Waltham, MA 02452
(781) 314-3100