Small Food Pantry Set Up to Aid the Needy In Enfield

ENFIELD, CT — A nonprofit organization started three years ago by a 9-year-old has expanded its services to include installing small food pantries in seven communities in northern Connecticut, and the first such site has opened in Enfield.

Tiernan Cabot, now 12, founded Hartford Bags of Love in 2017 to assist homeless persons in their efforts to find work. The organization's mission statement reads, "One of the biggest hindrances to obtaining a job being part of the homeless population is not having basic needs to look presentable for an interview. Our goal is to provide "bags of love" full of basic essentials like toiletries, and work with our community to spread the love throughout Connecticut, and the world."

On the organization's website, Cabot wrote, "Our ‘bags of love’ include items such as a toothbrush, toothpaste, soaps, socks, and deodorant."

The effort to aid those in need has expanded to include multiple locations for "Free Little Pantries." Cabot wrote, "Due to the pandemic, many more people are dealing with food insecurity and we want to do our part to help those in need."

The first Free Little Pantry in Enfield opened Sunday at 244 Post Office Road, at the home of Tiffany and Chuck Ilioff. The roadside cabinet contains items such as raisins, pasta sauce, jam, chicken broth, olives and coffee. Also included are toiletries like disinfecting wipes.

A sign attached to the cabinet encourages visitors to "leave what you can, take what you need."

On Facebook, Tiffany Ilioff wrote, "We're so proud to be a part of this movement being led by Hartford Bags of Love to fight food insecurity in our community."

Other area Free Little Pantries have opened or are planned in South Windsor, Manchester, East Windsor, Vernon, Ellington and West Hartford.

Photo: Tim Jensen/Patch

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This story is part of Patch's new partnership with Feeding America. Patch has partnered with Feeding America to help raise awareness on behalf of the millions of Americans facing hunger. Feeding America, which supports 200 food banks across the country, estimates that in 2020, more than 54 million Americans will not have enough nutritious food to eat due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. This is a Patch social good project; Feeding America receives 100 percent of donations. Find out how you can donate in your community or find a food pantry near you.

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