By Pam Wright
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
When it comes to volunteering in the community, Susan Bientsman gets down to business.
A familiar face locally, Bientsman can be found every Wednesday morning serving food at May Court’s Queen Elizabeth II Public School breakfast program, Bientsman has been named Citizen of the Year by the Chatham-Kent Chamber of Commerce.
“If I can help, even if it’s just a little bit, I can do that,” Bientsman told The Chatham Voice in a recent interview. “If I’m available, I’ll do it.”
The energetic 70-year-old Chatham resident has been volunteering at the breakfast program for the past seven years helping provide nutritious food to around 160 children.
But she said there’s more to it than filling tummies.
“Some of the kids come for socialization,” Bientsman said, adding she helps teach some of them to say “please and thank you.
“I’ve had some kids come back later to say that they remembered me,” she added. “I tell them that I will treat them with respect but I expect respect in return.”
She hopes her example will carry a message of hope to youngsters who may be struggling.
“I just want kids to see there’s more to life,” Bientsman said. “I like them to see there’s hope for them.”
The Chatham May Court club food program isn’t the only initiative benefitting from Bientsman’s tireless efforts. She worked as an usher at the Kiwanis Theatre for more than 30 years and works charity events and bingos for various organizations including the Boys and Girls Club (formally Big Brothers Big Sisters.)
The plain-spoken straight-to-the-point Bientsman said she was shocked to hear she was receiving the award.
“I’m dumbfounded really,” she added.
Born and raised in Chatham, the Chatham-Kent Secondary School graduate said she didn’t always have an outgoing personality.
“I was shy and afraid of my own shadow,” she explained. However, she gradually came out of her shell after moving to Kingston.
Bientsman later returned to C-K to work in the dietary department at the Southwest Regional Centre from where she retired.
Bientsman, along with other award winners, will celebrate their accomplishments at the 136th annual Business Excellence Awards April 11 at the Everest Convention Centre in Chatham.
Dr. Maxwell Abraham of Abraham Orthodontics has been named Young Business Individual of the Year, as well as Young Entrepreneur of the Year.
The Entrepreneur of the Year Award goes to Tina Hodgson of Neighbourly Care. Neighbourly Care also got the nod for Business of the Year (large.)
The small Business of the Year Award goes to CKSX 99.1 FM. The radio station is also receiving the Corporate Citizen of the Year Award.
The Paper Bride/Style Co. has been awarded the Business of the Year award (medium), while the Business Individual of the Year award goes to Kaleena Cryderman of TekSavvy.
