'Mission Possible': Food Pantry Fights Hunger In The Hamptons

EAST HAMPTON, NY — Local families in need won't go hungry this holiday season, thanks to the efforts of a caring community.

Food insecurity is on the rise not just across Long Island, but on the tony East End — and the East Hampton Food Pantry has launched an annual effort to help.

"Mission Impossible: Feeding East Hampton's Hungry," is this year's annual Harvest Food Drive, organized by the pantry.

"Food insecurity looms large when the holiday season approaches," organizers of the effort said. "Our numbers here at the East Hampton Food Pantry surge, as seasonal jobs wind down and the expense of groceries, gasoline and home heating empties slender wallets."

But in the face of abject need, East Hampton Town residents step up, bringing the adage, "It is better to give than to receive" to life, pantry representatives said.

On November 18, the Saturday before Thanksgiving, the East Hampton Food Pantry will host its 11th annual Harvest Food Drive from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the lawn in front of East Hampton Middle School.

Volunteers will be onhand to collect the canned goods and nonperishable items. "They’ll even carry it from the car for you!" a release said.

At the same time, just across Newtown Lane at Stop & Shop, volunteers from the pantry will be present with shopping carts, distributing lists of food items individuals can purchase and add to the carts.

And the giving doesn't have to be in person: Once again, the organization YouGiveGoods is hosting a virtual food drive for the East Hampton Food Pantry.

Click here to "go shopping." The virtual drive will run through November 14; food purchased from an available list will all be delivered directly to the pantry and "shoppers don’t have to leave the sofa," pantry representatives said.

Donations are tax-deductible. Shoppers can also look for flyers and ads with a QR code that takes them directly to the group's YouGiveGoods page.

Board member Reverend Connie Jones conceived of the pantry's first Harvest Food Drive, and has shepherded the effort since its inception.

"People love to come out to the drive each year," she said. "Compassion for others and giving are key components of a happy and fulfilling life. Participating in our food drive provides people with the chance to feed their neighbors and their hearts."

The mission of the East Hampton Food Drive, representatives said, is "to address hunger in the Town of East Hampton. Our goal is to maintain a center for collection, storage and distribution, to reach out to those in need, to raise public awareness and to encourage and solicit support from individuals, businesses, fraternal and philanthropic organizations, religious institutions and the like, through volunteerism and donations of food and/or funds."