Culinary Arts Duo Sweetens Open Pantry Benefit

For 35 years, Springfield’s Open Pantry has provided critical assistance to area residents in need, from hot meals to groceries to transitional living facilities for single women and teen mothers. A fundraiser at Chez Josef in Agawam on Friday, January 15, gives others the opportunity to help these helpers, and features delectable sweets created by HCC’s Culinary Arts graduate Caitlin Basler ‘07 and faculty member Jill Burckhardt.

“They needed 300 desserts—I couldn’t have done it without Caitlin!” said Burckhardt, surveying trays of lemon-filled éclairs, white chocolate coconut truffles, pistachio cookies, and peanut butter brownies.

Basler, who earned a certificate in Culinary Arts and another in Food Service Management, was happy to pitch in. “Open Pantry does so much good, it was a pleasure to do something to help them.”

In 2008, Open Pantry’s emergency pantry provided groceries to over 27,000 people, half of whom were children, and its Loaves and Fishes Community Kitchen served 98,570 meals. For more information about Open Pantry or the fundraiser contact Kim Kennedy at (413) 746-6241.

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