Cougar Cupboard coordinator: pantry served 349 people this year after two‑year restructuring

Sandy Motika, the district staff member who runs the Cougar Cupboard food pantry, told the North Rose‑Wolcott Central School District Board of Education that the pantry has seen a substantial increase in demand this school year, rising from about 140 people served in 2023–24 (pre‑restructuring) to 349 so far this year.

"Two years ago, I was charged with this project of restructuring and reorganizing the Cougar Cupboard," Motika said, recounting changes that included facility upgrades, new shelving bought through a grant, and a closer working relationship with Food Link. She said the pantry earned Food Link's platinum rating for safety and sanitation this year.

Motika attributed the rise in usage to several external pressures: a government shutdown and suspension of SNAP benefits in the fall, an unusually long winter that increased utility and heating costs, and changes to SNAP work or volunteer requirements that reduced some families' benefits. "We were helping them bridge the gap with their family budgets to make sure that they can provide adequate sustenance to their families," she told the board.

She described the pantry's mix of sources: reduced‑cost purchases through Food Link, occasional direct retail purchases for items Food Link did not have, community donors and event collections, and grant funding. Motika reviewed recent grant support, including a Rotary grant she named during her presentation and a separate grant from an ESL Credit Union and the Wayne County CAP program that funded personal‑hygiene products such as soap and laundry pods.

Motika also described program operations: student volunteers (she named Cadence and Grace) and special‑education students who help pack backpacks; a plan to 'graduate' enrolled students from one building to the next so families remain in the program year to year; and ongoing efforts to expand fresh and frozen food options. She said the pantry has outgrown its current storage and is seeking space and organizational improvements to accommodate peak packing periods.

Board members thanked Motika for her work. Superintendent Poland noted collaboration across district staff and community partners that supports the pantry and related summer meal efforts announced later in the meeting.

Next steps Motika identified include rolling internal enrollment processes forward to reduce early‑season under‑enrollment, pursuing additional storage space, continuing to apply for grants, and piloting expanded hygiene giveaways with community partners.