Volunteer Spotlight: Rebecca Diamondstein

Ethan and Rebecca started volunteering together on Saturday mornings and eventually became Saturday shift leaders. When the pandemic hit, volunteers were called upon to help the Newton Food Pantry pivot to a safer operating model, and Rebecca rolled up her sleeves. In the wake of the pandemic, increased levels of food insecurity were apparent across Newton and the Newton Food Pantry’s Board of Directors began looking for innovative ways to provide food assistance to more people. Rebecca was asked to help the Newton Food Pantry take on the challenge of connecting with colleges and universities located in Newton to help determine how best to address hunger on their campuses.

As the Newton Food Pantry’s first College Liaison, Rebecca solidified the partnership with Lasell University to help establish the Lasell Dry Pantry, which celebrates its third anniversary this month. In her role, Rebecca ensures they have the support, resources and funding to operate their dry pantry, and takes pride in “doing everything from meeting with faculty and students to running to the Dollar Store to stock up on what is needed.” In January, Rebecca expanded the concept to William James College, launching a dry pantry on their campus on Wells Avenue. 

Rebecca has enjoyed the opportunity to partner with Newton’s colleges and universities, which “fits within our mission of trying to serve all of the Newton community, meeting people where they are,” she says. Beyond Lasell and William James, Rebecca’s outreach has also led the Newton Food Pantry to join forces with Boston College’s Public Health Club, which will host its 2nd annual Empty Bowls fundraising event this spring. Rebecca is the pantry’s newest Board member, sits on the Strategic Planning and Diversity Equity and Inclusion committees, and continues to work shifts in the pantry whenever she can.

Outside of the wonderful work she does for the Newton Food Pantry, Rebecca serves on the Board of Directors of the JCC Greater Boston, and as the chairperson of its Governance and Leadership Development Committee. She has also been heavily involved as a volunteer leader at her childrens’ schools, previously serving as PTO President of Mason Rice and currently as Secretary and board member of South Stage, an arts booster organization at Newton South High School. 

Rebecca finds it incredible that for 39 years the Newton Food Pantry operated entirely as an all-volunteer organization. “The recently hired staff make a huge difference to our productivity and growth, but what got us to today was a generation of dedicated volunteers and leaders who built the organization,” she says. 

And to anyone considering volunteering at the Newton Food Pantry, “know that there are ways to be involved no matter how much time you have to give…just do it!”