The East Hampton Food Pantry has been a staple of the East End community since 1989. For more than three decades, they have been making a difference to families and individuals in need of their support. They have three pantries located in the East Hampton area—their main center at 159 Pantigo Road in East Hampton, a center at 2 Long Lane (the East Hampton High School), and one at 486 Montauk Highway in Amagansett. They are always looking for donations and volunteers to help at these centers weekly where hundreds of people in need visit for their share of items.
The Pantry was started by a group of locals who noticed a need in the community and felt compelled to do something about it and make more of an impactful difference than they could have initially imagined. The East Hampton Food Pantry talks about their development and how they continue to grow, mentioning, “From the basement at the Senior Center to wherever we could serve the hungry were our roots and volunteers who still to this day put their integrity and soul to help others in need.” The number of households in need of their services has multiplied massively over more than 30 years in operation, and it continues to grow each year.
With the holidays upon us, and the the winter months setting in, the mission of the East Hampton Food Pantry is more important than ever this time of year. They mention, “Every season brings challenges to our clients, and of course, winter is the roughest time of year. The food we provide can often mean families and individuals can pay for heat, medical care, and the ongoing needs of growing children.”
The Pantry helps to serve more than 300 families in East Hampton and Amagansett every single week. They also provide assistance to high school students. The community has many needs that are growing all the time and they aim to be able to continue to support individuals and families with their open collection and distribution centers. Their mission has always been simple, yet carried great impact: “To eliminate hunger in East Hampton, one meal at a time.”
Run with the support of board members and volunteers, the East Hampton Food Pantry always encourages locals to get involved, whether it be through food or monetary donations, time, or spreading awareness about the important mission. They hold several fundraising efforts throughout the year as well to raise awareness for their efforts and encourage more donations. The holiday season is the perfect time to become part of an essential organization like this and give to those who need the most support. For more information and to learn how to get involved, visit https://easthamptonfoodpantry.org.
