Stony Brook Southampton will serve as a satellite pick-up location for Heart of the Hamptons (HOH) Food Pantry every Friday from 10am – 12pm beginning Friday, April 26, 2024 in the university’s Fine Arts Parking Lot. Presently, Heart of the Hamptons is located in the Basilica of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary R.C. Church in Southampton Village, but will be moving to their new location in Southampton Village once construction is completed.
Members of the HOH Food Pantry can come to Stony Brook Southampton to pick up a variety of nutritious foods, including non-perishable items like canned soup, cereal, pasta, canned tuna, peanut butter, frozen meat, dairy products and more. Each qualified family will receive three large grocery bags, which contain 40 meals for the week. Last year, Heart of the Hamptons provided nearly 350,000 meals to community members. This year, they are on track to provide 450,000 meals to families in need. Over the last four years, HOH has seen an increase of over 500% in members and requests.
In order to receive food, residents must register with HOH and show proof of a local address. The Food Pantry currently serves over 2,700 registered households (8,000 clients). They serve members from all communities within Southampton Town. A larger percentage of its client base in Flanders, Hampton Bays, and Shinnecock Hills will find this location convenient to their homes.
Stony Brook Conferences & Events Coordinator Laura Lyons spearheaded this initiative with support from Vice President for Strategic Initiatives Wendy Pearson. Pearson sees this as the first of what she hopes will become many partnerships with East End organizations. “The Heart of the Hamptons’ mission to alleviate hunger on the East End is deeply personal to me as it is to many of us. And as demand increases, particularly in our community, it’s crucial for Stony Brook Southampton to stand in support. We are honored to join this work in any way we can, including offering our space as a beacon of compassion in our community.”
Executive Director of Heart of the Hamptons, Molly Bishop “is incredibly grateful to Stony Brook University for their shared commitment in caring for our neighbors. Welcoming HOH to the campus is so special as it allows us to serve many of our clients close to their homes, illustrating our mission to provide the best services in the most thoughtful ways.”
For more information, please visit the Heart of the Hamptons to find the hours of operation, location, and for donation links.
About Heart of the Hamptons
HOH offers Food Pantry access to more than 2,700 households annually with the help of more than 200 volunteers and their Board of Directors. The Assistance Program services include a multi-faceted approach to crisis intervention, medical assistance funding, aid for seniors, school supplies, and summer lunches for school children. It also connects people in need with other resources available in the Southampton community. The organization looks to provide services with respect for clients’ privacy and dignity. Heart of the Hamptons works with the local schools, government and civic organizations, churches, and other food pantries to make sure the need is addressed wherever it arises.
About Stony Brook Southampton
Stony Brook Southampton, on Long Island’s East End, is home to the Lichtenstein Center (MFA programs, FoodLab, and Southampton Writers Conference), the School of Health Professions (graduate programs), and the School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences (Marine Sciences Center and the Semester by the Sea program).
