Upcoming Closures!
The Newton Food Pantry will be closed on Wednesday, April 29 and Thursday, April 30.
It was during this time he started noticing long lines at the Newton Food Pantry, which was a stone’s throw from his house. “I decided to volunteer in the fall of 2020”, he says, “by working the Monday truck routes that came from the Greater Boston Food Bank.” Then, about a year ago, Hossein was presented with a unique opportunity. “The DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) Committee was forming, and I was asked if I wanted to join,” he says.
Hossein has first-hand experience being a stranger in a new land. “My parents spent years trying to get us away from the Iran/Iraq war, but couldn’t get visas for the entire family to leave together. In 1987, by pure luck, my mom, dad, sister and I were all granted visas to the U.S. They had been trying for almost 10 years,” he remembers. “When we arrived, we spoke very little to no English. The culture was very new, and it was incredibly tough for everyone. It was a hard move for my parents, but it was worth it.”
Being asked to join the DEI Committee felt like a natural step in his journey. In 2018, he and his wife decided to leave the city and set roots in Newton. “It’s a very culturally diverse city. There are people here from all over the world, and it still has the feel of a city,” he describes.
By this point in the pandemic, Hossein was keenly aware of how much his neighbors needed help, and how isolated those from other cultures must feel. “It’s critically important that we honor the unique backgrounds and cultures of our clients,” he says. It would be naive to just provide basic services when we have the knowledge and capability to provide assistance based on their cultural heritage. Being more sensitive to people who come from different backgrounds makes us human. The beauty of this country is that it’s a melting pot of the world. That’s what makes America great — all these cultures make us great.”
After a meaningful year helping to establish the DEI committee, and with his business thriving, Hossein is phasing out of the DEI work but continues to manage the Newton Food Pantry’s weekly Wegmans donation. His commitment to volunteering will always be shaped by his childhood experiences. “I saw the struggles my parents had to go through and the help they received from friends, family and colleagues. Without the community’s support, we wouldn’t be where we are today.”