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Date: 8/31/2022
CHICOPEE — Kimberly Caisse will now engineer day-to-day operations at Lorraine’s Soup Kitchen as the food pantry’s new executive director.
Lorraine’s Soup Kitchen and Pantry is a non-profit that provides pantry food and hot meals to local residents. Started by Lorraine Houle, the reach of the pantry and dinner programs continues to grow over the last 32 years.
Caisse was previously employed with Chicopee Public Schools for 20 years, working with special needs students as a paraprofessional. She also worked part-time for Multi-Cultural Community Services, helping adults with development disabilities, both as a counselor and in the office.
Caisse also enjoyed a history of supporting Lorraine’s Soup Kitchen throughout the years. Along with volunteering to serve food, Caisse worked alongside the food kitchen’s board to help create fundraising opportunities.
“I’ve always been a supporter of Lorraine’s for many years. … When this opportunity came up, it was calling me. I couldn’t pass it up,” said Caisse in an interview with Reminder Publishing.
After assuming leadership in the beginning of July, Caisse remains focused on helping Lorraine’s grow while maintaining the soup kitchen’s core mission. One goal Caisse has is to connect the soup kitchen with more organizations in the city.
“I think it’s really important to have connections in our communities. Something that I’ve wanted to develop is more outreach … individuals, businesses, schools, I just want to get Lorraine’s out there and let them know who we are and what we can do for them,” said Caisse.
The executive director notes that food insecurity is a growing problem locally and nationwide, as people are still dealing with the ramifications of the coronavirus pandemic.
“There’s so much of a need there,” said Caisse.
Lorraine’s Soup Kitchen attempts to address the issue through a variety of means. Along with the on-site food pantry that features canned goods as well as produce and other perishables, Lorraine’s also operates a mobile food pantry that addresses needs throughout the city.
“We also started our mobile pantry, so we go out to 16 different areas in Chicopee Monday through Thursday. … We just want to be able to provide that service to go out in the community and help,” said Caisse.
Caisse aspires for Lorraine’s Soup Kitchen to continue to leave a positive impact upon the community.
“I definitely want to keep the mission of Lorraine’s and helping people with food insecurity here and in surrounding communities,” said Caisse.
Readers can learn more about Lorraine’s Soup Kitchen at https://www.lorrainessoupkitchen.com/.