Jul 13, 2018 3:20 PM
By Jon WinklerThe Springs Food Pantry recently received grants from East Hampton Town and Suffolk County. And while the funds helped, the pantry is still in need of money to feed the struggling residents of Springs.
The pantry, in which local volunteers pass out groceries every Wednesday at the Springs Community Presbyterian Church, operates entirely on donated funds. The organization recently received a $4,500 grant from Suffolk County and a $2,000 from the Town of East Hampton. Both grants were celebrated when members of the Town Board toured the pantry at the church on July 11 from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.
“It was enlightening to see an organization come together to form such a great product,” Councilman David Lys said on Friday. “It’s nice to be able to take fresh food and be taught how to produce meals. Meals are the backbone to a great family dynamic. If you’re worried about where your food is coming from, you can’t focus on a family dynamic. The food pantry allows people to focus on that dynamic.”
Despite the celebration, the pantry is still looking for financial assistance to keep its operation afloat. Pamela Bicket, one of the volunteers at the pantry, said last week that the pantry has a goal to raise $65,000 this year to be able to provide enough food for about 13,000 visits from Springs residents.
The pantry also has to pay $4,000 in rent to the church to hold the weekly operation. Ms. Bicket explained that the pantry can usually feed a family of five for only $25 worth of groceries, which would include 3 meals, milk, eggs, a type of fresh fruit and vegetable.
“One funding problem is that we’re seeing a greater number of people seeking food,” Ms. Bicket said. “Another problem is that the local group of donor families giving donations has gotten smaller.”
Because of the growing number of families in need and limited financial support system, the pantry has had to cut back on essential foods, including eggs, fruit and vegetables. This time of year is usually a calmer time for the pantry, as Ms. Bicket said that the pantry served about 45 to 50 families last summer. The winter is crunch time for the pantry, as Ms. Bicket said nearly 100 families were served this past winter. She added that 130 families are registered with the pantry, although some only show up once a month.
“I think some families go back to their home countries for more work in February and March,” Ms. Bicket said. “Other people are probably working two jobs in the summer while in the winter, they only have part-time work. Sometimes people come to use our pantry because they work when the East Hampton Food Pantry is open.”
The pantry has tried exploring other options to be more available to locals. Ms. Bicket said that the pantry volunteers have tried opening up later at night for people getting off work, but she said scheduling volunteers can be difficult. When asked if a smaller location might better serve the pantry, Ms. Bicket said the organization hasn’t really considered moving, since the East Hampton Food Pantry has had trouble finding a permanent home and it might be difficult for the pantry to offer as much food as it does in a smaller space. For now, the pantry has been expanding its fundraising efforts by sending its fundraising letter to more local small businesses.
“Monetary donations would be great,” Ms. Bicket said. “Our website offers donations through PayPal and every once in a while we request specific items.”
Mr. Lys suggested that the pantry contact local outreach groups for donations or advertising, including the Hamptons Marathon or Habitat for Humanity of Suffolk.
“We see a lot of riches on the East End, but we also see a lot of dire need to provide basic food for individuals ,” Mr. Lys said. “We need to provide for that need and offer a little more help.”
