The Food Pantry Farm of East Hampton will host their 2016 Farm to Fork Gala on Saturday, July 9th at the Topping Rose House in Bridgehampton.
This year’s gala is dedicated to the farm-to-table cooking process. Fresh, local ingredients will be transformed into delectable treats to be served throughout the evening, which will also include a live auction and entertainment.
All proceeds from the event will benefit the Food Pantry Farm. “I was among the group of people who founded the Food Pantry Farm and our intent at the time was to serve those in our community who needed help,” explained Founder John Malafonte. “Today, we continue to provide nutritious produce to the food pantries and bring members of the community together in a common purpose to offer healthful local food to those who need it.”
The Food Pantry Farm has helped many communities gain access to healthy food products and has raised awareness about hunger on the East End. “The outreach that Food Pantry Farm provides to the East End is a true and timely gift to our community,” added Board President, Marjorie Hays. “Adhering to sustainable organic practices, the Farm works hard to protect and promote the soil ecosystem and in doing so, offers the very finest fresh food to those in need while championing the environment.”
The non-profit organization’s mission is to grow and donate fresh, organic produce to locally based food pantries and other organizations, such as The Retreat, the Eleanor Whitmore Day Care Center, senior centers, affordable housing projects, the Montauk community garden and more, to make access to healthy, locally sourced products more readily available. They also hope to raise understanding and awareness about malnutrition on the East End. For each $1 donated to Food Pantry Farm, they cultivate and provide approximately $3-worth of fresh, organic produce to East End organizations.
The 2016 Farm to Fork Gala begins at 6 p.m. Tickets start at $225.
The Topping Rose House is located at 1 Bridgehampton-Sag Harbor Turnpike, Bridgehampton. To purchase tickets, visit www.eventbrite.com. For more information about the Food Pantry, visit www.foodpantryfarm.org.