Q&A with Janine Taylor, Volunteer Spotlight in Honor of Black History Month

I started as a greeter, then was subsequently trained as a shift leader where I check shoppers in and serve as the lead for the shift. In addition, I serve on the Newton Food Pantry’s governance committee. Selfishly, I love working as a shift leader as I get to be the one to share promotions or give out gift cards, birthday gift bags or snack bags for the kids. I love seeing the delight in peoples’ eyes.

 

How does it make you feel to interact with clients of your same identity or culture?

It brings me joy as I know they too are happy to see someone that looks like them or is from the same region. Sharing that common identity, I can tell them about fresh produce we have in stock they can use to make a particular cultural dish or we can banter about life in the Caribbean as they wait to shop.

 

How has being a part of the Newton Food Pantry impacted you?

I know it sounds a bit clichéd, but it literally fills my soul to be there and to be of service to the community. Everyone is always so gracious and appreciative of the volunteers. It also grounds me. I am only one generation removed from food insecurity. My grandmother was widowed in her 20s leaving her with four children. There were times they didn’t have enough to eat, and there was no community resource such as food pantries in the 40s and 50s in Trinidad. So having the opportunity to serve my community and serve in this important way means a lot to me.

 

Why do you think diversity is important in places like food pantries?

It is important that people see themselves reflected in those serving them and as we know, hunger/food insecurity does not discriminate. We see everyone at the pantry— from local college students to parents with their young kids to retirees. When clients see volunteers that look like them, speak their language or share other identities, they immediately feel comfortable, and it helps make what could be a challenging experience that much easier. I love hearing volunteers speak to people in their native language or excitedly tell them about a new promotion or program the Newton Food Pantry is running.

 

What is something that has made you smile when volunteering?

Just meeting new people—listening to their stories and then seeing them a couple of weeks later and having them delight in the fact that I remembered their name or asked about a loved one or situation that they shared prior. I love seeing people get excited about a particular promotion such as the gift cards that we gave away in November or the holiday meals we made available in December.

 

Are you involved in the Newton community or your home community in other ways? 

I am very involved in my community in the following ways:

Black & Blended Families of Sudbury, Founder (2021–present)

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Commission of Sudbury, Member (elected position) (2021–present)

Racial Climate Task Force of Sudbury, Steering Team Member (2020–present)

Framingham State University, Master of Human Resources, Advisory Board member (2019–present)

Association for Behavioral Health, Committee Chair (2021–present)Association of Developmental Disabilities Providers, Training & Conference Committee, Member (2019–present)