Community News, April 2

With New York on “pause” for at least two more weeks, but more likely the month of April, much has come to a standstill — schools are closed, as are most businesses.

Governor Andrew Cuomo has ended all unnecessary construction for the time being and streets in our neighborhoods and downtowns are largely, and gratefully, quiet, although most driveways it seems have more than a few cars parked for the duration, including those leading to many homes that previously were on the market for months.

Despite what has been an unprecedented change in the way we live our lives, some things remain the same — while playgrounds are closed, beaches are open, so far, and outside of a few irresponsible parties, they have become a refuge for people practicing social distancing, an outdoor space large enough to keep a large breadth between you and your neighbor. Nature trails as well, although, as usual, March has ended and April begins with the promise of cloudy days and temperatures barely peaking beyond the high 50s at best, dipping into the low 30s at worst.

For those in Southampton looking for a socially responsible change of scenery, the Southampton History Museum is encouraging residents to relax on a bench and look at a collection of Southampton’s historic buildings at its Rogers Mansion Museum Complex on Meeting House Lane, or enjoy sunset through newly budded trees at The Halsey House Homestead on South Main Street. See perennial herbs begin to come alive in Emma’s Garden at the Pelletreau Silver Shop on Main Street or take a crushed shell walk through the marshland at Conscience Point Historic Site and Nature Walk in North Sea.

Another thing that has not changed, and we expect never will, is the way the East End community rallies to support one another. Businesses have evolved to provide the kinds of services people sheltering in place need, residents are finding ways to support nonprofits and businesses at risk, and there are more Good Samaritans than can be counted on this page, making masks to support our hospitals and emergency service providers as well as the children of our essential workers.

On Tuesday, the Eleanor Whitmore Early Childhood Center in East Hampton, which opened earlier this week to provide daycare for the children of essential workers in fields like health care, emergency services, transportation, farmers and food service, announced it would offer that childcare free of charge.

“This is for our urgent, essential employees,” said Executive Director Katy Graves on Tuesday. “We want them to know they have our support.”

The center is offering that service from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. To learn more, or to apply to have your child cared for at the center, email Ms. Graves at katygraves@ewecc.org or rmott@ewecc.org.

Meanwhile, in support of the Center, Sag Harbor resident Cindy Warne and her team have been crafting kid-friendly masks for children and adults who need them at the Childcare Center. “We have been getting such great support like that,” said Ms. Graves, “as well as people helping us provide food for our families facing food insecurity during these crisis times.”

Paul’s Italian American Restaurant on Hill Street in Southampton is also doing its part to support emergency service providers by offering a discount on food orders to those workers. Visit paulsitalianrestaurant.com for more information.

East End Cares and the Clamshell Foundation have announced an emergency “5 For Food” Campaign to support food pantries in East Hampton, Springs, Sag Harbor and Montauk, all facing an overwhelming demand for food amid the virus outbreak.

Christopher Barry, an EEC member who is spearheading the campaign with Kori Peters, president of the Clamshell Foundation, said “Covid-19 has left many in our community without jobs or alternate means of support. A rapidly growing number of the elderly, families and children are relying on local food pantries to survive during this time of uncertainty and challenge. We hope, by asking for just a $5 donation, everyone will be able to join in. Every dollar will go directly to provide emergency food to the East Hampton Food Pantry, Springs Food Pantry, Sag Harbor Food Pantry, and Montauk Food Pantry.”

Donations can be made on the home page of the Clamshell Foundation, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, at clamshellfoundation.org or by clicking on bit.ly/3dsdVKc. All donations are tax deductible.

Mr. Barry, a resident of East Hampton and Manhattan and a finance executive for A + E Networks, added, “East End Cares is gratified to be collaborating with the Clamshell Foundation and such an incredible team of volunteers who came together from various disciplines to support the 5 For Food campaign. With the community behind us, I believe that we can fill these food pantries and the bellies and hearts of our neighbors in need.”

The Southampton-based Heart of the Hamptons is also raising funding for local food pantries. Visit heartofthehamptons.org for more information.

John Kowalenko, the co-owner of Art of Eating, and Michael Derrig of Landscape Details, partnered to bring pallets of food from Long Island Cares in Hauppauge to the East Hampton Food Pantry, where Mr. Kowalenko is a board member. Mr. Kowalenko knew Mr. Derrig would help supply transport with his fleet of vehicles.

“I knew if I called Michael Derrig, he’d come through for me,” said Mr. Kowalenko. “He and the firm have always been incredibly generous with our community.”

Right now, according to Mr. Kowalenko, the need for food on the East End is growing faster than they can keep up with. Last week, one of the Landscape Details team picked up three pallets of food, which will help feed the more than 20,000 children, elderly and family members who rely upon this resource.

“We’re always glad to help out,” said Mr. Derrig “Now more than ever, our community has to stick together, even if we’re social distancing.”

To donate directly to the East Hampton Food Pantry, visit easthamptonfoodpantry.org or call 631-324-2300.

OLA of Eastern Long Island is also helping out, coordinating a large-scale, volunteer-based food sourcing and delivery response for families in need.

“OLA is assigning one volunteer per family to assist that family in sourcing and obtaining food for a week,” said OLA Executive Director Minerva Perez in a press release this week. “This is an ongoing effort. In many cases, volunteers are shopping for families. OLA is covering some of the grocery costs for most critical needs. We are serving close to 100 people on a weekly basis with this initiative. We have close to 30 volunteers who are Latino and non-Latino. We have received much needed private funds to help support this effort. Maria Bacardi, East Hampton local artist and singer, is one of our generous local supporters who is helping to make this possible. We have also received large food donations from the Triune Baptist Church in Sag Harbor. We are in this together.

“While OLA must focus on our region of the East End, we have also been able to connect volunteers to families in need as far west as Wyandanch,” she continued. “Additionally, OLA is advocating at the Suffolk County level on possible food crisis distribution plans that will coordinate with towns and villages on safe ways to distribute food should this crisis continue.”

For more information on OLA, call 631-899-3441, or email the executive director at mperez@olaofeasternlongisland.org or visit the OLA website olaofeasternlongisland.org.

In Bridgehampton, the Children’s Museum of the East End (CMEE) announced Tuesday that it has partnered with the Bridgehampton Food Pantry to provide groceries for families served by the museum who are experiencing food insecurity during the Covid-19 virus epidemic.

“Many families throughout the East End, particularly in the Spanish-speaking population, have been devastated economically during this health crisis,” said Leah Oppenheimer, the museum’s director of community outreach. “We’re incredibly grateful to work with Tom O’Brien, Eileen Zito and the Bridgehampton Food Pantry to address some of their immediate needs, namely ensuring everyone has enough to eat.”

An online survey of more than 50 families who regularly participate in the museum’s outreach programming found the overwhelmingly majority were out of work as local businesses shut down to help mitigate the spread of Covid-19. None of those who answered the questionnaire had ever sought help from a food pantry before.

“How can the Children’s Museum further its mission and promote learning through play, if families can’t even eat? This is truly an unprecedented time for the East End, and it requires all of us to think outside the box,” said Steve Long, the museum’s president. “I really appreciate Tom, Eileen and other community champions for helping CMEE serve local families when they need our help the most.”

For more information, visit cmee.org.

Nonprofits like CMEE are, of course, also seeking donations to keep their own lights on. The neighboring South Fork Natural History Museum on the Sag Harbor-Bridgehampton Turnpike is offering supporters the option of purchasing a discounted membership rate through April 1. Patrons can save 10 percent on an annual membership by visiting sofo.org.

There is also a desire to find connection, even when we are being told to stay away. Rabbi Berel Lerman with the Center for Jewish Life in Sag Harbor announced this week it would offer “Passover in a Box,” providing all the ingredients for families to host their own Seder at home, including a Seder Plate, Hebrew and English Haggadah, Handmade Shmura Matza, grape juice and the other food needed for the Seder plate. Orders can be placed by visiting CFJewishLife.com and will be available for pick up on Sunday, April 5, at the Center for Jewish Life, 24 Long Island Avenue in Sag Harbor. For more information, call 631-938-6202 or email info@cfjewishlife.com.

Project MOST, based in East Hampton, is also trying to forge connections through a new YouTube channel offering yoga with Alyson Follenius and dance classes with Anita Boyer, who has been offering daily classes on Facebook Live with her fiancé, graphic artist and actor Joe Pallister. For more information on Project MOST, visit projectmost.org. For the fabulous Anita Boyer, visit facebook.com/inflateabunny.

Local libraries from Montauk to Westhampton Beach are also offering online resources. Next week, we will begin a series on libraries in the age of social distancing, beginning with a feature on the John Jermain Memorial Library in Sag Harbor.

Bookstores like the iconic Canio’s Books in Sag Harbor are also available for book deliveries. Call 631-725-4926 or email caniosbooks@verizon.net for recommendations from Kathryn Szoka and Maryann Calendrille or to order some of its Simpson & Vail literary teas. Ten percent of all tea sales benefit national parks.

And we are here to provide connections as well. To share your stories, ideas, good deeds you are seeing in the community or just to say hello, email Express News Group co-publisher Kathryn Menu, who is also the editor of The Sag Harbor Express, at kmenu@expressnewsgroup.com.