About Newton Neighbors
In March 2020, four women came together to launch Newton Neighbors Helping Neighbors, Newton's mutual aid network. One year later, in 2021, together with Welcoming Newton (a project aimed at building community and increasing access to information about our City), we incorporated as a non-profit organization: Newton Neighbors, Inc. Later, a food rescue and distribution program serving Greater Boston that was founded by a Newton resident during the COVID-19 crisis joined Newton Neighbors, enabling us to support our neighbors in other meaningful ways. Newton Neighbors, Inc is now a 501c3 non-profit organization. All donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law. Our EIN number is 86-1540488. If you wish to donate by check, please make a check out to Newton Neighbors, Inc and send it to 39 Berkshire Road Waltham, MA. 02453.
Our Mission
Our mission is to facilitate community connection, mutual aid, and access to resources and supports for all people who live, work, pray, play and/or learn in Newton, MA, and other local communities.
Our Core Values
1. Respect and appreciation for a diversity of backgrounds and beliefs.
2. Equity and Inclusion for all.
3. A culture of engagement (“I’m going to get involved”), collaboration (“we are going to work with each other”), and partnership (“we are going to work towards shared goals”).
4. A willingness to be flexible and adaptive to a changing environment.
5. Evidence-Based decision making
Our Tagline: Newton Neighbors: Helping, Welcoming, Connecting Neighbors.
Our Team
Newton Neighbors Board
Martha Bixby: Board Member, Community Building & Welcoming
Charlotte Dietz: Board Member
Lisa Goldstein Gordon: Vice-Chair
Ranjani Paradise: Clerk
Jennifer Pucci: Chair
Shalini Tendulkar: President
Shreeda Vyas: Treasurer
Newton Neighbors Core Team Members
Susan Vaughn: Vice President
Larissa Hordynsky: Communications Guru
Elizabeth Stolar: Freedge Team Co-Captain
Maria Soriano: Core Coordinator
Graham Voysey: Core Coordinator
Elyse Winick: Bulk Food Delivery Program Lead
And a huge thank you to past project coordinators:
Kiran Ahmad: Website and Graphic Design
Maura Bullock: Care Packages & Holiday Kits
Subin Jeong: Project Management
Allen Katzoff: Food Rescue and Distribution
Raissa Li: Evaluation
Sophie Schoeni: Communications and Project Management
Julie Swersey: Freedge Team Co-Captain
Bruce Wilson: Project Management, Newton Project Takeout Lead
