Saunders & Associates is holding its 7th annual donation drive to support local food pantries. In the past, donations of nonperishable food were collected in each of the firm’s offices and distributed to food pantries throughout the Hamptons. Last year in light of Covid-19, the company created a GoFundMe page to collect monetary donations. Donations were matched by the company for a total of $60,000, to support local pantries in a year of the greatest need our communities had ever faced. This year, as Covid continues to affect our communities, the need is again very great. A GoFundMe page has again been created.
In 2020 the company donated to 9 food pantries; this year a 10th pantry has been added. Donations of nonperishable food will also be accepted in Saunders offices.
Local food pantries play an essential role in east end communities. The Hamptons is known for its affluent second homeowners and summer residents, but many members of the local year-round population face food insecurity. This is especially true in winter, as many jobs are seasonal, and the Covid-19 pandemic has made the problem worse. Local pantries are facing greater need than ever before.
We spoke with Darius Narizzano, board member and co-treasurer of the East Hampton Food Pantry. Here’s what he told us. “During the pandemic I was heartened by the participation and generosity of both our local community and our extended summer community. All the pantries benefitted greatly from their support, which was really needed. Now that Covid is less in the news, and vaccines are leading to fewer deaths, the need may no longer seem as pressing to the community, but it is. There continues to be tremendous food insecurity here, and our pantries continue to need donations. We are encouraged by the Saunders donation drive, students at the Ross School and others who are also holding food drives to support us. While donations of food are always welcome and helpful, monetary donations allow us to target the food stocks we most need, coupled with unique buying power as a food pantry meaning more bang for your buck. Continued community support will enable us to keep meeting the needs of neighbors at risk of facing hunger.”
For more info, visit www.gofundme.com/f/hamptonsdonationdrive
