Patsy Coffin retired in 2016 but continued to keep busy by teaching with Literacy Unlimited…

The Power of Food to Change Lives
When Soman Karimi and her family were evacuated from Afghanistan in 2021, they faced the daunting challenge of rebuilding their lives in a new country. Initially taken to Qatar and then to Fort Dix, New Jersey, they were finally resettled in Maynard, Massachusetts. Soman, the only family member who speaks English, shouldered the responsibility of navigating their transition. Thanks to supportive neighbors and local resources like Open Table, they received the help they needed to adapt to their new environment. Open Table provided essential food support, which became even more meaningful not long afterward when it received a grant to diversify its offerings for Muslim refugees. This was a fortunate coincidence for Soman, who was hired as Open Table’s assistant program manager for the Afgan program, marking her first job in the United States.
Today, food remains central to Soman’s journey. After a year, the Open Table grant ended, but by then Soman was pursuing nursing studies at Middlesex Community College. This past August, she and her mother launched their own business, Afghan Food. Working from a rented kitchen at Acton’s Church of the Good Shepherd, they cook authentic Afghan dishes like kabobs, curries, and kabuli pulao, which customers order online and pick up weekly. The family’s entrepreneurial spirit has brought a taste of Afghan culture to the local community. Afghan Food has become popular for both regular orders and event catering.
Soman has turned the trials of her relocation into a success story that inspires others, showcasing how food can build connections and create new opportunities. Open Table is pleased to have had a part in Soman’s journey.
