Upcoming Closures!
The Newton Food Pantry will be closed on Wednesday, April 29 and Thursday, April 30.
After learning of Regina Wu’s personal journey and professional experience as the first Asian to lead the Newton Food Pantry, and having one conversation with Regina along with a detailed visit to the pantry, I knew that I had to contribute in some way. The mission of Newton Food Pantry aligns with my passion to provide service to others which runs deep in my personal and professional life. At the Newton Food Pantry, everyone is heard and everyone is welcome and having Regina lead and model such an amazing organization solidified my decision.
What does diversity mean to you?
Diversity to me is acknowledging and appreciating our differences but celebrating the many more ways in which we are alike. This is done by simply being who we are, being open to trying new things and asking questions, all rooted in respect. This was and simply will remain the way that I view life. Diversity has always been the fabric of my culture, therefore it’s all that I know.
As I often view diversity through a different lens, I have to keep it in the forefront of my mind that it’s not necessarily a shared vision. Born into a two-parent household where to date my parents have been married for close to 50 years, as an African American, I was raised with love and experienced inclusivity since my childhood. Growing up with White people as my neighbors and classmates, I never felt different getting out of my family vehicle walking into school, or entering my home. Other than the color of our skin, our lives mirrored one another, we even had the same dog. We didn’t care about the color of our skin; we cared about eating knishes dipped in mustard at lunchtime and playing with Cabbage Patch Kids (dolls) after school. Trust me, there were many more ways that we were alike than we were different.
How has being a part of the Newton Food Pantry board impacted you?
My decision to volunteer and eventually join the Board of Directors has been an amazing experience. The Board is composed of individuals with varied experiences and many talents. Most importantly, what we share in common is the passion and commitment needed to make the Newton Food Pantry an amazing experience for our clients. The results are evident in every decision made and in our client feedback.
How does the Newton Food Pantry approach diversity and implement it?
There’s mutual respect at the Newton Food Pantry because everyone matters! This is what diversity looks like (to me). However, for the hours in which I provide service to the Newton Food Pantry, our microcosm is what I personally desire; diversity is embedded into the fabric of the work that we do. Are our clients people that would have talked to me outside of the walls of our pantry prior to meeting me? Maybe/maybe not, but now…absolutely! As each client walks through our doors to receive our services, they know that I care how their day was and that I am going to try my best, along with the other volunteers, to keep the process flowing as smoothly as possible. During their wait, we discuss topics that vary from local news and the rising costs of eggs to the drastic change in weather overnight. If I drop something, a client can’t grab it fast enough to return it to me.
Why is diversity important to the Newton Food Pantry’s mission?
As part of our mission to alleviate food insecurity in Newton, we will always open our arms to community members regardless of: race, color, ethnic background, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, religion, political views, disability, age or national origin. While we may often hear these words, I can confirm that these words are implemented day in/day out. From culturally-relevant food to translated documents to volunteers that verbally translate as necessary, we are on the right path with so much more ahead.