Client Spotlight: Oksana Grishchenko

It hasn’t been an easy road, resettling and starting anew. In the early days, while she was awaiting work authorization and struggling to pay the bills, a friend introduced her to the Newton Food Pantry. “What a relief it was, to know I could come and get free food and personal care items instead of depleting our small savings,” she says.

Eventually, Oksana received the documentation she needed to start working and was relieved to secure a part-time job as a grocery store cashier. Oksana feels hopeful she will soon be able to make ends meet on her own, but for now she is grateful that she can still receive assistance while she strives for financial security. With the wide selection of food available at the Newton Food Pantry, she is able to prepare all of the meals that feel like home — salads, borscht and other soups — and “there are always fun surprises like spices, breads, cheese and sweets,” she says.

Oksana’s gratitude has inspired her to serve as an unofficial ambassador for the Newton Food Pantry. She loves to pay it forward by connecting people with the help they need and offering assurances. “You can receive free, fresh food and the people who work and volunteer are very welcoming and helpful,” she says. 

Given all that they have been going through, Oksana is thankful to the Newton Food Pantry for making the lives of Ukrainian refugees easier. After fleeing with only what they could carry in suitcases, shopping together has provided more than just critical food assistance. It has also allowed them to form a small, supportive community — their home away from home.