Volunteer Spotlight Liz & Barb
Repairing the World Together
For the past several years, Liz Kolodney and Barbara Sutton have been faithful members of the Food Pantry volunteer team. Barb began volunteering seven years ago, and Liz joined her five years ago. Since then, Thursday mornings at the pantry have become one of the highlights of their week.
What keeps them coming back? In their words, it’s the chance to be part of something so positive in their community. They love helping others, and they especially love the people they volunteer alongside. The pantry team, they say, is “amazing and generous,” and through their work here they feel more deeply connected to the community.
Barb laughed as she reflected on their experience and said, “Maybe this isn’t so selfless, because I get so much out of it myself.”
Liz and Barb are members of Temple Israel, where they serve on the congregation’s social action committee, Tikkun Olam—a Hebrew phrase meaning “repairing the world.” Thanks to their leadership and advocacy, the pantry recently received a large donation of food collected by the Tikkun Olam group in support of our neighbors here in Newmarket.
When speaking of their experiences volunteering here, Liz shared something especially meaningful: when they come here, they feel more than just welcomed, they feel like they belong. And, she said, that makes all the difference. “We feel very, very comfortable here,” they told me. Another reason they love volunteering? Our Food Pantry Coordinator, Sianna Niedzolkowski, whose kindness, consistency, and positivity set the tone for the whole team. As Liz and Barb put it with a smile, “Make sure you never let her go!”
In the photo below, you can see Liz (on the right) and Barb (on the left) doing what they do every Thursday morning; packing grocery orders for pantry shoppers who are unable to come in person so that we can deliver groceries directly to their homes.
The Food Pantry is open every Thursday from 1:00–6:00 PM, serving neighbors in Newmarket and Newfields who need a helping hand putting food on the table. If you would like to join this incredible volunteer team, you can fill out a Volunteer Information form HERE.
And if you know someone who could use a little extra support with groceries, please send them our way. Shoppers are welcome to walk in on Thursdays, or they can learn more and complete a Shopper Information Form on our website HERE.
Together, with volunteers like Liz and Barb and partners across our community, we continue the work of repairing the world, one act of generosity at a time and what a blessing and honor it is!
