One Year at Helm of Cheshire Food Pantry

Sarah Bogdanski Bourdon believes many people are surprised there’s a need for a food pantry in Cheshire. 

"People usually think if you can afford to live in Cheshire you must be okay," said Bourdon, who became the pantry’s executive director about a year ago.

But there is a need, because Cheshire has struggling families just like every other community in the state, she said.

Bourdon said the pantry serves about 100 families a month, all Cheshire residents. "We use the client choice model," which means the recipients get to browse the food pantry shelves and pick out what they want just like in a food store, she said.

Each client receives 10 pounds of food per person, per week, Bourdon said. "This is supplemental. We don’t expect our clients to make it on just what they get here," she added.

Bourdon has a master’s degree in social work from the University of Connecticut in West Hartford. Previously, she worked for many years on substance abuse prevention.

She is the only paid employee at the pantry, busy writing policies and procedures, fundraising and grant writing, making sure clients meet eligibility requirements, receiving donations of food and money, and building a network with other food pantries to share resources.

Bourdon had a baby in September, so the part-time position is perfect for her. "The other hours of the week I spend changing diapers and singing ‘Little Teapot,’" she said.

"I love it here. I work with a great group of volunteers who are very dedicated to making the food pantry better," Bourdon added.

"The community is incredibly generous here in Cheshire," she said. But the food pantry still needs donations to pay for rent and heat.

The pantry will hold its inaugural benefit dinner at the Aqua Turf Club in Southingon on March 9. The event has a sports theme dubbed "March Madness." Tickets are $75 per person, which includes dinner, a DJ and a benefit auction. For more information go to food pantry web site.

Editors note: The pantry is open five days a week, with morning appointments on Mon., Wed. and Fri., and afternoon and evening appointments on Tues. and Thur. To get more information on using the pantry, contact the town’s Youth and Social Services Department at 203-271-6690 or go to their website at: www.cheshirect.org/youthsocial