Volunteer Spotlight: Lisa Keshet

These volunteers support two delivery initiatives for nearly 170 of our clients throughout Newton:

• A bulk delivery program where 20+ volunteers deliver bags overflowing with groceries and personal care items to 123 clients who live in one of seven Newton Housing Authority facilities.
• A home delivery program involving 24+ volunteers who provide food and friendship to 43 clients who are unable to come to our pantry due to medical issues.

The professionalism and sensitivity to the needs of clients is exemplified by volunteer Lisa Keshet, of Waban, a full-time real estate agent and mother of two sets of twins, who first started delivering groceries for the Newton Food Pantry with a personal touch four years ago.

Like her fellow home delivery volunteers, she’ll let us know ahead of time if her client has any special dietary concerns, drive over to the Newton Food Pantry to pick up the groceries waiting for her, and then head off to deliver food and companionship.

Bringing food to those who are unable to shop in our pantry is the continuation of a family tradition for Lisa. As a high schooler in White Plains, NY, she worked with her mom delivering fresh food to individuals in the Bronx who couldn’t shop for themselves.

“We never just delivered food,” she recalls. “We often spent some time visiting with our clients as many times they felt isolated and really appreciated a visitor who could listen to their concerns or just talk about whatever is on their mind.”

The cities may have changed for Lisa but not her commitment to bringing food and companionship to those who need it. And in following her mother’s footsteps, she sometimes is accompanied by her own children.

Currently, she makes deliveries every two weeks to a woman who is visually impaired. “I know she really enjoys sharing with me how she is doing. But I get a lot out of it, as well. It really is a wonderful feeling providing food and companionship to someone who really needs both.”