When Sophia Lee moved to the Boston area in 2022, she wanted more than just a new place to live and work. She also wanted to help support her community.
Having volunteered for years at a food pantry in Des Moines, Iowa, Sophia sought out a similar opportunity. She soon found the Newton Food Pantry, where she has been a steady presence during the Wednesday evening closing shift from 6-8 p.m.
Originally from Taipei, Taiwan, Sophia came to the United States at age 28 to pursue her doctoral studies at Penn State University. Now 52, she is a research scientist at a biotech company. She and her husband relocated to Brookline for work, but Sophia made sure that community service remained a central part of her life.
“When I was thinking about doing things besides work and my home life, I wanted to do something where I can talk with people, help people,” she explains. “I wanted something that was client facing and see that the time I’m giving really helps. I’m happy to help people get the food they need.”
Sophia’s skills extend beyond her dedication and warmth. As a native Mandarin speaker, she plays an especially important role at the pantry, where a number of clients are native Mandarin or Cantonese speakers with limited English proficiency. “It definitely helps when there is a need for a second language,” she says.
Sophia not only greets clients, but also answers their questions and helps them navigate the pantry’s offerings — ensuring they feel comfortable and welcomed. For Sophia, the experience is just as enriching for her as it is for those she serves. “It’s a really good opportunity to practice working with people with different backgrounds and different age groups,” she says. “We moved here only two years ago, and volunteering is a nice way of meeting people.”
She says what stands out to her most is the shared sense of purpose. “The motivation for a lot of people volunteering at a pantry is just helping people. It’s nice to work alongside people who all want to make life better for others.”