Bonnie Bender started volunteering for the Newton Food Pantry nine years ago after retiring as an elementary school guidance counselor. Looking for ways to continue to be “helpful and supportive,” she starting working for the Newton Free Library as an English tutor, than began helping at the pantry, first by assisting clients with their weekly shopping needs, then…
Herb Plovnick started volunteering at the Newton Food Pantry in 2014 after retiring from his job as an internist with Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates. He helps with deliveries from the Greater Boston Food Bank on Monday mornings, with deliveries and set up for shopping on Wednesday mornings, and also helps with odd jobs such as assembling…
The NFP has over a dozen inventory partners that we rely on in order to provide our clients with a broad array of fresh and non-perishable food, personal care products, and household cleaning supplies. The Greater Boston Food Bank, our largest partner, provided approximately 70% of our inventory in 2017 for free or at a reduced cost. We…
Lisa Tieszen began volunteering for the Newton Food Pantry 10-12 years ago, initially as part of a social outreach opportunity for her church, Grace Episcopal. Lisa works at the pantry on Saturdays, and particularly enjoys overseeing the welcoming and training of new volunteers. She says, “I am inspired to see the range of people who…
Debby Horwitz has been volunteering for the Newton Food Pantry since 2002. Debby taught in the Newton public school system for thirty years, primarily as a first grade teacher, while raising her three children. Once she retired from teaching and had more free time, she decided to volunteer for the pantry as a way of…
Joe Schleifer has been volunteering for the Newton Food Pantry for 14 years. He manages the sorting and boxing room on Wednesday mornings, and works on Wednesdays afternoons as well, handing out dairy products and refrigerated meals. Joe has lived in Newton for most of his life, and “likes reaching out to help others, especially Newton’s senior…
Helen Jordan has been volunteering at the Newton Food Pantry since 2015. She serves as Wednesday morning Shift Coordinator, is in charge of picking up donated foods from Panera and Trader Joe’s each week, and also helps periodically with home delivery. Helen says she volunteers at the NFP because, “I have been blessed. I can’t bear people not…
Bon Koo has been volunteering for the Newton Food Pantry for the past year, and he spent ten years at a food pantry on the South Shore before that. He is a certified food safety consultant. Bon’s primary job at the NFP is Signup Genius Coordinator, which means he coordinates the volunteer shifts. He also assists with home delivery when…
Marilyn Broyles has volunteered for the Newton Food Pantry for the past few years. Shift supervisor Jeff Zabel calls Marilyn the pantry’s “go-to person on many issues regarding Wednesday closing” and says that she often helps by taking inventory on low-stocked items. She also put together the pantry’s beautiful new signs (seen here). This signage helps…
This month we celebrate the young adults who assist at the pantry on Wednesday mornings as part of our long-term affiliation with the Community Connections program, a Newton Public Schools program that provides opportunities for young adults with disabilities to develop independence, as well as vocational and life skills. Emma Wu has been volunteering at…
1000 Commonwealth Avenue
Newton, MA 02459
617-796-1233
The pantry is located on the basement level of Newton City Hall. Please enter on Homer Street side of City Hall. Look for our sign!
Wednesdays
1:30 – 5:30 PM
Third Saturday of every month
10:00 AM – Noon
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