MEDWAY — Principal John Murray is pleased to announce that the Medway Village Food Pantry recently recognized three Medway High School students and a recent graduate with the prestigious President’s Volunteer Service Award.
The Medway Village Food Pantry is 100% volunteer-led and relies on volunteer contributions to serve its patrons. The award recognizes volunteers who dedicate a significant number of hours to the food pantry performing a variety of different tasks. The four MHS honorees were among 16 total volunteers recognized with the President’s Volunteer Service Award for their outstanding service this year.
“We are so proud of this group of individuals for their continued dedication, hard work and service to the Medway Village Food Pantry,” Principal Murray said. “Receiving this award is an indication of their positive attitudes and outstanding abilities, and we celebrate their commitment to their community.”
Brynn Sheehan was recognized with a Teen Award (ages 11-15), which honors teen volunteers who complete a minimum of 50 hours of service in a 12-month period.
Sheehan, a MHS freshman, earned a Bronze Level President’s Volunteer Service Award for dedicating 50 hours to the Medway Village Food Pantry from September 2022 through August 2023. She has helped take groceries out to clients’ vehicles and served as a “runner” by bringing groceries from around the pantry to the order management area. She has also assisted with distributing paper goods, diapers and toiletries, in addition to staying after a busy morning shift to help clean up and restock shelves. She was recognized for her excellent organizational skills and kind personality.
Lily Reed, a MHS freshman, was also awarded a Bronze Level President’s Volunteer Service Award. She dedicated 53 hours to the Medway Village Food Pantry from September 2022 through August 2023.
Reed has helped at the main pantry on Saturday mornings and at the school program on Thursdays by packing orders, restocking shelves, assisting with distributing paper goods, diapers and toiletries, and helping take groceries to clients’ vehicles. She was recognized for embodying a positive attitude and sharing her friendly demeanor with clients and volunteers.
Aidan Dietrich, a MHS senior, was recognized with a Young Adult Award (ages 16-25), which honors young adult volunteers who complete a minimum of 100 hours of service in a 12-month period.
He earned a Bronze Level President’s Volunteer Service Award for dedicating 139 hours at the Medway Village Food Pantry from September 2022 through August 2023. Dietrich has volunteered at the food pantry since he was eight years old when he asked for food donations instead of presents for his birthday. Over the last 10 years he has managed a variety of functions at the pantry, including client check-in, taking groceries to clients’ cars, and taking orders from clients during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the past year, he assumed responsibility for managing the flow of traffic both outside and into the food pantry, enabling pantry volunteers to serve up to 120 families in a 2-hour window. He also delivers orders for the school program, helps with restocking shelves and has assisted with delivering groceries to homebound clients. He was recognized for greeting clients with a smile while remaining focused on the task he is performing.
Christopher Tomasetti is a 2023 graduate of Medway High School. He also earned a Young Adult Bronze Level President’s Volunteer Service Award for dedicating 101 hours to the Medway Village Food Pantry from September 2022 through August 2023. Tomasetti is a vital part of the Saturday operation, keeping track of grocery orders while clients are shopping and ensuring everyone leaves with the proper bags of groceries. He was recognized for remaining calm even when the pantry is extremely busy, and for his ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously.
Both Dietrich and Tomasetti were also previously recognized in October 2021 — Dietrich with a Gold Level Award and Tomasetti with a Silver Level Award — for their extraordinary service during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Both continued to serve the pantry consistently throughout their high school careers.
All four individuals also received citations from the Massachusetts House of Representatives signed by Rep. Jeffrey Roy and Rep. Michael Soter.
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