About six years ago, Dianne Romans decided she wanted to give back to the community she grew up in. Dianne has always loved the town of East Haven and was happy to buy her first home here eight years ago.

“I love living here and I love being by the water—it’s a great community,” says Dianne. “I was looking for a place to volunteer and thought the Food Pantry would be a good place to start. Growing up in an Italian family, food was always a big thing. No one in the United States should have to go hungry and I just want to do my part in our little neighborhood of East Haven.”

When Dianne started volunteering at the East Haven Food Pantry, which is located in the Christ and the Epiphany Church at 39 Park Place, she began by making up the bags that are provided to clients. She then started to fill orders for clients and helped them fill out the required paperwork.

Eventually, Dianne was sitting at the front desk, greeting clients, checking paperwork, and checking clients in. The past president of the Food Pantry recently resigned due to health issues and Dianne was elected to take over.

“I wanted to take on a different role and wanted a challenge,” says Dianne. “I talked to the other volunteers and they encouraged me so I submitted my name as president and was elected.”

While Dianne notes that the new role comes with more responsibilities—including “a lot” more emails and working with the newly appointed treasurer on the financial end—she is excited about the new role.

Dianne, who has worked as a paralegal at AT&T for the past 16 years, was confident in committing to her role thanks to the volunteers, many of whom have been there for several years.

“This is not a new program. Everyone knows what they need to do and they’re awesome,” says Dianne. “The volunteers know their jobs and that’s one of reasons I decided to run. I depend on them. It’s a group effort of all these great volunteers.”

Right now, Dianne and the more than 30 volunteers at the Food Pantry are working on Easter dinners. The staff’s goal is provide hams for Easter dinner and Dianne is in the midst of doing price comparisons. Looking ahead, Dianne is hoping to host a fundraiser for the Food Pantry.

While Dianne is happy to be able to help the residents of East Haven when they are facing trying times, one of her favorite parts about volunteering is the relationships she has formed with the other volunteers and the clients.

The Food Pantry isn’t the only place you can find Dianne volunteering. After her cat Charlie died when he was 15 ½, Dianne was “devastated.” Dianne then adopted Samantha, a pointer mix, who was the first dog she has ever owned.

“I decided to rescue Sam—Sam actually rescued me—and then adopted another cat, Ricky Ricardo,” says Dianne. “After my friend met Samantha, she suggested she’d be a perfect therapy dog.”

Dianne and Samantha completed a two-month training that awarded the team a two-year registration, which they will be renewing shortly. The pair visits hospice on Sunday mornings and Dianne is interviewing to get on the schedule for the pediatric ward at Yale-New Haven Hospital.

“It all started because I wanted to volunteer more, but I felt guilty leaving her to go do other volunteer things, so what better way to incorporate her than making people smile?” says Dianne. “She is there to comfort the patients, their families, and the staff.”

Dianne is happy to focus her efforts on volunteering. While the Food Pantry has a good number of volunteers, Dianne is quick to point out that there is always room for more.

“It’s great to be able to help people and I’ve met so many great people,” says Dianne, who thanks her group of lifelong friends who help whenever she asks. “I’m very fortunate. I have a great full-time job, a house, and have my mom and dad, so giving back is something that’s very important to me.”

For information or to volunteer, call 203-467-4668 or like “East Haven Food Pantry” on Facebook.