Hamptons Non-Profits Holding Holiday Food Drives

The weekend before Thanksgiving, several East End non-profits will hold food drives to provide holiday meals to those in need.

The Bridgehampton Child Care & Recreational Center (551 Bridgehampton/Sag Harbor Turnpike, Bridgehampton, www.bhccrc.org), who in previous years served 70 individuals a month, but now because of COVID is serving 700 individuals weekly, is hosting a food drive on Saturday, November 21 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

“The Center is able to serve our community because of friends like you. In the midst, of a pandemic our community’s love has poured out to The Center,” Bonnie Michelle Cannon, Executive Director, Bridgehampton Child Care & Recreational Center, expressed. “Your help has allowed us to spread love back to our community and we want to continue to give back with our THANKFUL Food Drive. Let’s continue to give thanks and serve together to help ease the pain of food insecurity. Count your blessings and help us make the holidays better for our underserved families in need. We live in gratitude every day at The Center.”

Presented in collaboration with Acre Shoe Community Development Inc., a 501(c)3, family & peer support service organization, The Center is looking for donations of turkeys, hams, chicken, canned vegetables, canned yams, boxed stuffing, mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, canned or dried soups, dry beans, rice, chicken broth, corn bread mix, cranberry sauce, canned fruit, Jell-O, cake mix, and icing. The Center will distribute the “thankful celebration” via a “drive- thru” holiday food pick-up for families.

“We at Acre Shoe Community Development are extremely excited to have the opportunity to partner with an amazing long- standing organization that continues to go above and beyond for their families and individuals,” Kim Jones, Founder, Acre Shoe Community Development, shared. “The Center offers after school programs, to SAT prep, career development and training for students and adults and much more. I too started out at The Center and have watched it grow into a pillar of the community for all ages. We have all heard the slogan, if you see something, say something, well ASCD wanted to do something.”

The East Hampton Food Pantry (159 Pantigo Road, East Hampton, easthamptonfoodpantry.org) will hold the 9th Annual Harvest Food Drive on Saturday, November 21 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The Pantry is looking for donations of turkeys, chickens, cranberry sauce, boxed stuffing, canned vegetables, canned fruit, rice, beans, cake mix and icing.

Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center (WHBPAC, 76 Main Street, Westhampton Beach, whbpac.org) is holding a charitable food drive to collect donations for local food pantries through Wednesday, December 2. WHBPAC is also supporting the Marine Toys for Tots program this holiday season. Donations for both can be dropped off at WHBPAC’s box office.

Heart of the Hamptons (heartofthehamptons.org) is holding their Year End Giving fundraiser, formerly known as Turkeys Wanted. HOH is currently providing pantry essentials and a festive, nutritious meal for more than 1,100 households. Since the start of the pandemic, HOH’s food pantry distribution numbers have increased by 300 percent and they are serving 801 new families through the food pantry. Heart of the Hamptons’ turkey and holiday food distributions began on Wednesday, November 18 and will continue throughout December.

HOH’s is also presenting its 28th annual Holiday Star Program. Holiday Stars, which feature an item that is being requested to be donated, can be found at local businesses and churches, including 27 Hampton Salon, Dormition of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church of the Hamptons, First Presbyterian Church, Fowler’s Garden Center, Hildreth’s Home Goods, La Carezza, LoveShackFancy, Our Lady of Poland, Pellegrino’s Pizza Bar and Restaurant, Schmidt’s Market, Southrifty Drug, St. John’s Episcopal Church, The Basilica Parish of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, and United Methodist Church, after Thanksgiving. The unwrapped gifts should be brought to the First Presbyterian Church (2 South Main Street) by Thursday, December 10. For those unable to pick up a star, virtual stars may be requested by emailing [email protected]. Additionally, HOH’s Polar Bear Plunge will take place on Saturday, December 12. This year’s event will feature a Car Parade that starts at 9:00 a.m. and Drive-Thru at Coopers Beach from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Participants can host their own DIY Plunge, in the ocean, bay, lake or even kiddie pool, and send HOH a video of it by Saturday, December 7 to be included in the Virtual Polar Bear Plunge video that will be shared on Saturday, December 12.