By Gina Woelfel

On Sept. 24, the Medway Village Food Pantry proudly recognized 19 dedicated volunteers with the prestigious President’s Volunteer Service Award (PVSA), honoring their exceptional contributions over the past year. State Representative Jeff Roy presented each volunteer winner with a token of appreciation and congratulations at the event held at the Thayer Homestead in Medway. These committed individuals, ranging from teenagers to adults, contributed 5,938 volunteer hours, representing nearly two-thirds of the total hours worked at the pantry during that time. Their selfless efforts form the backbone of the pantry’s operations, which are entirely volunteer-led.

The Medway Village Food Pantry, open every Saturday morning, serves the community by providing food and other essentials to those in need. With no paid staff positions, the pantry relies on the commitment of its volunteers, many of whom arrive before 8 a.m. to ensure smooth operations for the hundreds of families they serve. In addition to their regular Saturday shifts, several volunteers assist with the pantry’s Weekend and Summer Grocery Programs at Medway Public Schools and help manage deliveries from the Greater Boston Food Bank.

This year’s PVSA recipients include eight new awardees and 11 repeat honorees. These individuals embody a commitment to service, volunteering not for pay but for the privilege of helping others. Their dedication reflects the spirit of humanitarianism echoed by Nobel Peace Prize winner Dr. Albert Schweitzer, who famously stated, “Even if it is a little thing, do something for which there is no pay but the privilege of doing it.”

Among the awardees, several teens (ages 11-15) stood out for their remarkable contributions:

Angel Laboy, a sophomore at Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical High School, earned a Silver PVSA for contributing 90.5 hours. A great listener, Angel plays a critical role as a food runner, ensuring clients receive the fresh produce, meat, and dairy they need.

Camille Moura, an eighth grader at Willow Hill School in Sudbury, earned a Gold PVSA for dedicating 100 hours. Camille excelled in the fast-paced environment of order management, keeping track of groceries, and ensuring clients received their items efficiently.

Oviya Sivakumar, a sophomore at Medway High School, earned a Gold PVSA for contributing 107 hours. Oviya took over primary responsibility for managing client orders and handling a task that previously required two people.

Young adult category - ages 16-25: 

Aadhavan Sivakumar, a junior at Medway High School, earned recognition with a Bronze PVSA for contributing 103.5 hours. Aadhavan assisted clients with their groceries, and along with his sister, Oviya, regularly stays after a long morning shift of serving clients to help restock our shelves.

Adults (ages 26+) were also honored for their unwavering commitment:

Sivakumar Natarajan, who contributed 103 hours, was recognized with a Bronze PVSA. Siva and his family became integral to the pantry’s operations, assisting clients in various roles, from produce selection to restocking shelves.

Jen Capalbo earned a Bronze PVSA for contributing 116 hours. She began volunteering on Fridays to help prepare the pantry and soon became a “regular” on Saturdays, cheerfully assisting with everything from distributing produce to managing toiletries and paper products.

Anna DeMartinis was recognized with a Bronze PVSA for her 116.5 hours of service. Anna has managed the pantry’s bread and bakery area for over a decade and continues to provide clients with a special treat each week. Anna is usually the last person each guest sees, and her upbeat attitude leaves a positive impression.

Jodie Garzon was recognized with a Bronze PVSA for her 189 service hours. She first volunteered in December 2022, quickly becoming essential due to her bilingual skills and warm communication with clients. In June 2024, she joined the board as Treasurer, playing a pivotal role in managing the pantry’s finances during its first year as a nonprofit.

Among the repeat honorees (Adult awards - ages 26+) were long-time volunteers who have played essential roles in keeping the pantry running smoothly:

Beth Martin earned a Bronze PVSA for contributing 100 hours, excelling in assisting clients with paper products, toiletries, and diapers. Her observations led to improvements in the pantry’s ordering system and gluten-free product distribution. This is her second PVSA, following a Bronze award in 2023.

Brian Adams, who earned a Bronze PVSA for 102 hours, has been a fixture at the pantry for years, managing five coolers of meat and dairy products. Brian comes in early each week to restock the coolers and took it upon himself to learn Spanish and Portuguese words for food items to better communicate with guests. Brian earned a Bronze PVSA in 2023 as well.

Roy Young was recognized with a Bronze PVSA for his 118.5 hours of service, which focused on improving the pantry’s outdoor operations, including traffic management and volunteer safety. Roy previously earned a Bronze award in 2023.

Blanca Choate was recognized with a Bronze PVSA for her 111.5 hours of service. A fluent Spanish speaker, she is crucial in registering clients and translating the pantry’s materials. In addition to coordinating volunteers, Blanca donates fresh produce and shelf-stable foods on behalf of her church and has been recognized as a national Daily Point of Light Honoree, in addition to earning a Bronze PVSA in 2023.

Jean Geneseo was recognized with a Silver PVSA for her 254 service hours. Initially helping with truck deliveries, Jean quickly expanded her role, assisting with fresh produce distribution, cleaning, and packing orders for local school programs. Known for her cheerful attitude and willingness to help in any way needed, this is her second President’s Volunteer Service Award, following a Bronze award in 2023.

Young Adult Awards - ages 16-25

Aidan Dietrich, a 2024 Medway High School graduate and current freshman at Providence College, earned a Bronze Level President’s Volunteer Service Award for dedicating 101 hours to the Medway Village Food Pantry from September 2023 to August 2024. Since age 8, Aidan has been volunteering to manage various tasks, including client check-in, traffic control, and delivering groceries to homebound clients. This is Aidan’s third President’s Volunteer Service Award, following a Gold in 2021 and a Bronze in 2023.  

Additionally, the five Medway Village Food Pantry board members were honored as a group, collectively contributing over 4,226 hours of service. These leaders ensure the pantry continues to thrive and serve the Medway community:

Martin Dietrich, Board Clerk and Head of Strategic Planning – 148 hours, Bronze Award

Ryan Tomastti, former Treasurer – 173.5 hours, Bronze Award

Michelle Reed, Director of Communications – 571.5 hours, Gold Award

Jennifer Tomasetti, Director of Operations – 1,180.5 hours, Gold Award

Susan Dietrich, Executive Director – 2,152.5 hours, Gold Award

These volunteers’ recognition underscores their essential role in the Medway Village Food Pantry’s mission to fight food insecurity. Their collective efforts ensure that hundreds of families receive the support they need each week, embodying the spirit of community service at the heart of the pantry’s operations.

As the pantry looks ahead, it is clear that the continued dedication of its volunteers will be vital to its success. This year, the volunteers honored with the PVSA exemplify the power of selflessness and the lasting impact of giving back to the community.