Today we’d like to introduce you to Karyn Boosin Leit.
Hi Karyn, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I am the Executive Director of the Interfaith Food Pantry of the Oranges (IFPO), a community organization that provides our neighbors with reliable access to nutritious food, distributed with dignity and respect. Located in Orange, New Jersey, the IFPO serves residents of Orange, East Orange, and West Orange: people who work hard to make ends meet as the cost of living continues to rise.
The IFPO distributes hundreds of thousands of food items each year, including fresh produce, proteins, dairy, and pantry staples. In addition to food, we also provide essential items such as diapers, menstrual care products, and basic household necessities. We are empowered to serve nearly 700 neighbors each pantry day because of the Community FoodBank of NJ, which provides the vast majority of the food, and our dedicated team of volunteers whose support makes this work possible.
My work at the IFPO has been shaped by community and the importance of caring for one another. At the IFPO, we see how food insecurity affects families, seniors, and children. Every day is a reminder that food insecurity can be invisible. Many of the people we serve are working, raising families, and contributing to the community while navigating financial pressures that can make it difficult to cover basic needs. Helping to lead an organization that assists in meeting those needs is both humbling and deeply meaningful.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
We face a growing demand for assistance. In recent years, the IFPO has experienced record numbers of pantry visits as families struggle with the high cost of necessities such as housing, utilities, childcare, and transportation.
At the same time, the resources available to support food distribution can fluctuate. Maintaining a steady supply of nutritious food (especially fresh produce) requires careful planning, strong partnerships, and fundraising.
Another challenge is ensuring that we meet the diverse needs of the families we serve while maintaining a system that is both efficient and respectful. We work hard to create a distribution model that promotes dignity and choice, allowing clients to select foods that best meet their cultural, dietary, and household needs.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
At IFPO, my role spans leadership, operations, and relationship-building. I oversee our programs, work closely with partners and supporters, and stay deeply connected to what is happening during our Wednesday morning food distributions. It is direct service work, and that is important to me. Although I am the sole employee, I am aided by a deeply engaged, hands‑on board of trustees. It is a unique position as a leader of a nonprofit, and part of what makes us at IFPO special.
From a young age, I have felt a strong commitment to helping others. I am guided by the Jewish concept of tikkun olam, the responsibility to help repair the world through acts of service and social action. I often think of a teaching from Pirkei Avot (2:21): “You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to desist from it.” It is a reminder that meaningful change does not require perfection, but it does require action.
At the IFPO, we are known for how we approach service. We are deeply committed to providing not just food, but a thoughtful and respectful experience. That means offering fresh, nutritious options, maintaining an organized and welcoming environment, and continuing to evolve based on what our clients tell us they need. Across the country, more pantries are moving toward models that emphasize choice and dignity, because the experience can matter just as much as the food itself.
I am most proud of the IFPO’s ability to grow and adapt without losing our focus on community. As demand has increased, we have expanded. But we have not let our increasing size dilute our core commitment to showing respect for every person who interacts with the IFPO, whether they are long-time clients, people seeking assistance for the first time, or our own dedicated volunteers.
At the IFPO, we focus our attention on both quality and dignity. It is about more than just meeting basic needs; it is about how those needs are met. We want people to feel seen, supported, and respected. Those core value guides every decision we make.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
Effective community work depends on relationships. IFPO’s success is the result of partnerships: volunteers, donors, local organizations, and regional food banks all working together to support our neighbors.
Listening is critical. The families we serve often provide the most valuable insight into how programs can evolve and improve. Whether it is adjusting the types of foods we distribute or offering additional essential items like diapers or menstrual care products, these changes often begin with simply listening to what people need.
Dignity matters just as much as the services we provide. The way assistance is offered shapes the entire experience. By creating a welcoming environment and offering choice whenever possible, we ensure that every person who walks through our doors feels respected and valued.
Food insecurity is a complex challenge. But it is also an opportunity for communities to come together. Every volunteer hour, every donated item, and every partnership strengthens our ability to ensure that our neighbors have access to the food and support they need.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.orangesfoodpantry.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/orangesfoodpantry/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/InterfaithFoodPantryOfTheOranges/
