Volunteer Spotlight: Ephraim Ezekiel

London-born Ephraim Ezekiel retired from a career in computer science three years ago and has been stepping up to the plate for the Newton Food Pantry in increasingly important roles.

“I started looking for volunteer work shortly after I retired,” the long-time Newton resident explained. “Some people who retire just want to sit on a couch and watch television.  That’s fine, but that’s not me.

“I’ve always liked to help people and working at the Newton Food Pantry has given me a great deal of satisfaction. We’re a team, and we all work together to help those in need.”

Ephraim doesn’t particularly like talking about himself, but the work he is doing and has done for the Newton Food Pantry since he started making weekly food deliveries three years ago tells you everything you need to know about him.

Last year, he took over the critically-important job as volunteer coordinator of the Newton Community freedge, which provides supplemental food and personal items 24/7 to hundreds of people a week at its Nonantum location.

The freedge, which costs over $1,000 per week to run (food, electricity, snow removal) is an integral part of the Newton Food Pantry’s mission to alleviate food insecurity in the city.

“Ephraim does a masterful job,” says Regina Wu, M.D., president of The Newton Food Pantry.  “He is incredibly dedicated and always figures out a way to overcome any hurdle.”

And there are more than a few hurdles to overcome multiple times a week.

Ephraim is primarily responsible for coordinating the work of more than a dozen volunteer teams who go to our business partners — restaurants and grocery stores all over Newton — to pick up food and deliver it to the freedge.

“The team captains do a wonderful job setting up schedules and assignments for volunteers,” Ephraim explains.  

But someone needs to recruit volunteer teams, head over to Wegman’s to pick up food when the volunteer doesn’t show, and be ready to step in for any emergency.  Ephraim is that someone.

It isn’t unusual for him (when he’s back in Newton) to hop in his car, pick up the food himself, or do whatever is necessary to make the freedge operation work smoothly.

“It’s all part of the job, and I love doing it,” he says.

His dedication to the Newton Food Pantry hasn’t gone unrecognized. Ephraim was recently elected as the newest member of our Board of Directors.