East End Food Pantries Brace For Second Wave Of Dire Need

EAST END, NY — With the number of new coronavirus cases continuing to surge upward, East End panties are bracing for a second wave of dire need.

All for the East End, a not-for-profit organization working since the start of the pandemic to address food instability, has raised more than $1 million and provided more than 60 grants to food pantries and other organizations addressing hunger.

But, members of the organization said recently, that amount is just a "drop in the bucket" compared to what will be needed to stem the proverbial tidal wave of need.

Board members at a recent community advisory meeting expressed concerns about the coming winter months.

“Across the board, pantry leaders are preparing for another increase in demand. As seasonal workers lose their jobs, unemployment runs out and more positive COVID cases force people to quarantine, it will become increasingly difficult for families not only to have enough food in the house, but to pay the rent and utilities,” Claudia Pilato, AFTEE board president, said. “And, because a pantry is a trusted place to go for help, many of the more established organizations provide both food and emergency funds. All of the pantries are committed to finding ways to get help where it is needed.”

Cathy Demeroto, executive director of Community Action of Southold Town, said more clients are out of work and need support not just with food but to pay rent and utility bills.

"Many donors are willing to provide funds to purchase food, but not for emergency assistance. We have a small fund set aside, but that money is going fast," she said.

Hilton Crosby, Executive Director of Heart of the Hamptons in Southampton said his organization provided food for 65,000 meals in 2019. In 2020, the pantry has already served 163,000, with 810 new families added to the client roster. And requests for help are pouring in, he said.

To that end, an annual fundraiser, the Polar Bear Plunge, will be held virtually this year.

Pamela Bicket, moderator of the Springs Pantry, said visits by those needing assistance are up 300 percent over 2019 and while currently, funds for food are available, the supply of necessary staples has been "erratic".

Tijuana Fulford, founder of the Butterfly Effect Project in Riverhead, is on the county call list when families are required to quarantine, she said.

“We are packing and delivering food to clients’ homes to encourage them to respect quarantine,” Fulford said.. “If they don’t work, their children don’t eat. At least we can alleviate their food concerns.”

Pilato said the initial goal remains: To help bridge the ever-widening gap created by the pandemic. And with COVID fatigue a reality, donations have dropped off "significantly," she said. “But we know that this community is up to the challenge.”

Many businesses are stepping up: Corcoran Cares has been encouraging its brokers to make donations to AFTEE during the holiday season, and Brunello Cucinelli, a clothing store in East Hampton, is hosting a shopping event from Nov. 27 to Dec. 3, with 10 percent of proceeds to benefit AFTEE, Pilato said.

"AFTEE will continue its outreach to assure that the money gets where it is needed as fast as possible," Pilato said.

To donate to AFTEE, click here.