Skip to main content

Sharing the Harvest

Wed, 12/30/2020 - 13:56
Share the Harvest Farm's staff and many volunteers helped answer the call from food pantries for fresh produce.
David E. Rattray

Share the Harvest Farm in East Hampton is among the East End farms that have donated high-quality produce to food pantries and have raised awareness about food insecurity on the East End. According to its food pantry partners, the number of families in need here has increased by 350 percent during the pandemic. 

"Hunger has long been a hidden problem in our community. The demand for what we do is at an all-time high," said Jess Tonn, the farm's executive director. She explained that the farm expanded its outreach to include additional food pantries, for a total of 11 sites over the main growing season. Its partners also include senior citizens centers, affordable housing complexes, and the Retreat domestic violence shelter. Over the summer and fall, Ms. Tonn said, the farm planted more winter crops to provide food during the colder months. 

All the while, the farm worked to balance the health and needs of its employees with the needs of people here in the midst of the pandemic.

Much of the heavy lifting this season was done by Rose Schellinger, the field production manager, and her crew. They had to adjust the staffing structure, implement new safety protocols, revise field plans, launch a delivery program, and develop relationships with the new food pantry partners. Ms. Tonn said she is also thankful for the farm's record number of volunteers this season. 

Villages

Tariffs Are Sobering News for Liquor Stores

It’s not clear when, or if, President Trump’s European alcohol tariff will ever go live. Nonetheless, the threat is looming over South Fork wine and liquor retailers, who have been forced to react to the uncertainty. 

Mar 27, 2025

East Hampton Star Shines at Better Newspaper Contest

Durell Godfrey, The East Hampton Star’s longtime staff photographer and a fixture at community events from Montauk to Southampton, has once again been named one of New York State’s top photographers. At the New York Press Association’s annual conference last week in Saratoga Springs, The Star’s newsletter also repeated in winning first place in the Best Newsletter category, capping a successful awards season for the paper. 

Mar 27, 2025

A Short Parade That’s Become a Big Success

For the first Am O'Gansett Parade in 2009, the organizers jokingly promised Clydesdales, Macy's balloons, and floats. With good humor and an enthusiastic response from the community, the very short parade has been an annual event ever since.

Mar 20, 2025

 

Your support for The East Hampton Star helps us deliver the news, arts, and community information you need. Whether you are an online subscriber, get the paper in the mail, delivered to your door in Manhattan, or are just passing through, every reader counts. We value you for being part of The Star family.

Your subscription to The Star does more than get you great arts, news, sports, and outdoors stories. It makes everything we do possible.