The Hampton’s ranks number three worldwide for priciest places to live in the world. With that level of wealth, comes the duty of our community to give back as much as possible. With so many organizations to volunteer with scattered across the east end, I chose to spotlight Hudon’s Helping Hands for Autism, an organization that focuses on supporting and educating families and individuals who are diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. In an interview with Hudson’s Helping Hands Vice President and Southampton local, Brittney Epley, we discussed the best ways to give back within HHH but also the east end.
Brittney Epley, mother of four young children and wife to Zach Epley, chronicled the beginnings of Hudson’s Helping Hands and her introduction to the organization. “Kristen Teodoro [founder of HHH] and I have been best friends since childhood,” Epley explains. Teodoro and Epley were pregnant together with their first borns and Epley recounts, “it was so great to join the world of motherhood with someone who I loved so much. Soon after our children were born our journeys as parents started to take different courses, as her son Hudson started to show early signs of autism.” Epley informed me that approximately 1 and 36 children are diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Hudson’s Helping Hands offers a community for the east end where families can come together to educate, empathize and support their neighbors and friends.
I asked Epley why she felt HHH was so important to the Hampton’s Community and she put it beautifully, “Instead of allowing the past social norms of autism and other disabilities to be a taboo topic or something that we look at with a negative lens, Hudson’s Helping Hands has shed a beautiful light on autism that makes you want to get to know someone who may be different than you rather than shying away.” Epley clued us in on the best ways to help out with HHH, noting the vast opportunities for people to volunteer at their events and pop-ups. Hudson’s Helping Hands hosts seasonal events and workshops, some at Children’s Museum of The East End, where volunteers are always needed to work at activity stations, care for children, set up and break down. The possibilities are endless.
Before joining Hudson’s Helping Hands, Epley was always looking for ways to volunteer in the Hampton’s community, working fund raising events at The Children’s School in Southampton, and serving meals during the holidays with her children at the Greek Church in Southampton.
There are plenty of places across the east end to volunteer your time, brain power, and compassion. If you or your family would like to donate, volunteer, or join Hudson’s Helping Hands for Autism, their next event will be held on September 8th at The Crows Nest in Montauk.
Tickets and other information can be purchased on their website HudsonsHelpingHands.org
