Meals On Wheels of East Hampton has an office on the second floor above Dreesen's Catering in the DeSanti building on Newtown Lane in the village. The entrance to the office is in an alleyway between Newtown Lane and Park Place. Started in 1983, this Meals on Wheels chapter is independently funded through donations, with a very small amount coming from grants. Volunteers prepare and deliver the food to those in need.
East Hampton Business Alliance is a non-profit organization representing and assiting East Hampton's business community. The organization was founded in 1991 and represents over 84 members who employ over 2,350 people in East Hampton. East Hampton Business Alliance works with business people and the government with the intent to protect businesses against regulations, policies and other matters that may threaten the local East Hampton business community. Visit the organization's website to learn more about their history and mission statement and call or e-mail with any questions, comments and concerns.
The Family Service League is a mental health and recovery clinic. It offers a wide range of counseling programs and services. The clinic deals with mental health issues, family problems, homelessness, senior care, vocational training and youth counseling.
Friends of Jimmy Ernst, a renowned abstract painter, formed the Jimmy Ernst Artists Alliance in his memory in 1984. A not-for-profit corporation with a membership of professional artists, it is now known as the Artists Alliance of East Hampton. The group hosts studio tours for the public, lectures and presentations, as well as community outreach programs such as workshops for high school students.
The Nature Conservancy on Long Island is comprised of three offices: The Center for Conservation in East Hampton, Mashomack Preserve on Shelter Island and Uplands Farm Nature Sanctuary in Cold Spring Harbor. The Nature Conservancy has been working on Long Island since the 1950s, but the Center for Conservation celebrated ten years of helping the East End preserve its natural beauty in 2010.
In 1999, the conservancy received the donation of a nineteenth century farmhouse on the former Hardscrabble Farm. The renovated 7,800-square-foot house is located on about five acres of agricultural land. The Center for Conservation is open to the public for lectures and events in its library. The native garden has trees, shrubs and perennials indigeneous to Long Island. The conservancy also has several "green" building initiatives, including a geothermal heating and cooling system and a solar garage.
The East Hampton Food Pantry collects and distributes food to area families and individuals who are in need. It serves over 300 families each week from its main location in the Windmill Village in East Hampton and its satellite location at Scoville Hall in Amagansett.
The Pantry gives out about two to three days worth of food in "a staple bag" that includes a variety of food on a rotating basis such as, rice, beans, peanut butter, jelly, pasta, and sauce, as well as fresh foods, like fruits, vegetables, butter, cheese, and meats. Food distribution is on Tuesday. Adults have to bring a photo ID that shows they live in East Hampton, as well as birth certificates for children.
The Montauk Observatory is a planetarium and nonprofit organization offering free year-round educational programs, including astronomy lectures and professional planetarium shows. The site has a state-of-the-art professional-grade telescope and offers a wide range of events and programs for residents to enjoy and learn about science. Programs offer amateur and professional astronomers alike the chance to view the skies; check the main Web site for a schedule of events or to make a donation. Membership in Montauk Observatory is completely free—just fill out the online application.
Thomas Moran Trust is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and restoring the East Hampton studio of artist Thomas Moran and the cultural heritage of the area. The organization hosts exhibitions, receptions and dinner events.
Project MOST is a nonprofit service for local school children interested in engaging in activities after release from school, from 3pm to 6pm, when it's estimated that over half a million children are without supervision. The activities offered include academic and elective opportunities in subjects like film, music, literature and athletics, and they are managed by caring, supportive adults associated with the Project MOST program.
Phoenix House provides treatment and support for individuals struggling with substance abuse and mental illness. Both outpatient and and residential programs are available. Visit the website to see how Phoenix House can help your or a loved one.
Elsa's Ark was founded in 1998 by Pat Lillis. The nonprofit runs a pet foster care program, and offers low-cost or free spay and neuter services. Elsa's Ark also cares for sick, injured and lost pets.
The Retreat was founded in 1987 as a non-profit licensed domestic violence agency. It provides a number of services to provide for and protect victims through prevention and outreach services, in order to help break the cycle of repeat and family violence.
Since 1992, The Retreat shelter has housed women and their children who are victims of domestic violence in a secure residence on the east end of Long Island. It can accommodate up to six families, and works with local, state, and national agencies to provide a safe haven, food, clothing, and support.
With administrative offices on Goodfriend Drive in East Hampton, The Retreat offers a 24-hour hot-line, legal advocacy, individual and group counseling, children's services, parenting education, residential housing services, and nutrition workshops. The Retreat Thrift Shop, located in the Bridgehampton Commons, helps support the organization.
In the Northwest Woods section of East Hampton is a true hidden gem. LongHouse Reserve is about 16 acres of gardens and art works. Founded by Jack Lenor Larsen, a renowned textile designer, art collector and author. The gardens surround Mr. Larsen's house which double as his private residence and the reserve's offices. Sculptures, plant collections, ornamental borders and decorations make for a magical tour. There is also an educational focus and programs. It never quite looks the same as the last time you were there.
Dr. Gail Schonfeld, an East Hampton pediatrician, founded the Pediatric Dental Fund of The Hamptons in 1995 to help provide affordable dental care for children whose families could not afford it. PDF has helped hundreds of kids through treatment and preventative care. A non-profit organization, an executive board oversees the fund. It raises money through the annual Giant Steps 5K Race in Amagansett.
The Ladies Village Improvement Society is the oldest organization in East Hampton. The society began in 1895 when 21 housewives came together to pay to have the dusty streets watered down and to clean up the old railroad station in the growing village. With more than 400 members today, the LVIS spends $60,000 each year caring for the village greens, including Town Pond, maintains a nature trail, plants and watches over trees, arranges for the display of American flags, and hands out scholarships. The annual LVIS fair, a favorite summer event, has been held for 114 years.
In 1987, the organization purchased the rundown Gardiner Brown House, which dates to 1740, renovated it and moved in two years later. Its headquarters houses the ever popular thrift shops, Bargain Books and Bargain Box Thrift Shop, which are staffed by volunteers who sell donated clothes, furniture, household goods, knickknacks and books.