Newton Food Pantry President Wins Community Service Award

NEWTON, MA – Regina Wu, a physician and volunteer president of the Newton Food Pantry, was awarded a $10,000 Myra Kraft Community MVP award.

The community service award from the Kraft Family and New England Patriots Foundation recognizes volunteers who go above and beyond for their communities.

Wu has been a longtime resident of Newton and has served as a volunteer president for the food pantry for the last three years.

She has been credited with doubling the size of the Newton Food Pantry, increasing the number of residents it serves, adding new programs and services, expanding its culturally-relevant food selection, and increasing the diversity of the volunteers, according to a news release.

She will donate the award to the Newton Food Pantry to support general operating expenses and expand the number of hours it will be open to serve clients.

“After years of getting to know our clients, I’ve come to realize that anybody is a step away from food insecurity. A health issue, a job loss, a pandemic – circumstances can change quickly,” Wu said in the release. “That’s why it is so important we welcome any Newton resident with joy, respect and compassion, no questions asked, and no proof of need required.”

She has served on the board of the Newton Food Pantry for 10 years.

“It is an absolute honor to serve as the Newton Food Pantry president and to get to know our amazing clients and volunteers – many of whom I call dear friends,” Wu said in accepting the award.

Patch has partnered with Feeding America since 2020 to help raise awareness in our local communities of hunger, a persistent national problem exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Feeding America, which supports 200 food banks and 60,000 local meals programs across the country, estimates that nearly 34 million people, including 9 million children — about 1 in 6 Americans — are living with food insecurity. This is a Patch social good project; Feeding America receives 100 percent of donations. Find out how you can donate in your community or find a food pantry near you.