is a grass roots community-based organization dedicated to filling the food pantries on the East End of Long Island.
John Kowalenko, owner of Hampton Event Management and The Art of Eating founded the organization "because there is an enormous demand for food from local East End families who are out of work and money, can’t feed their families and are met with lack of food when they go to the local food pantries"
The East End community banded together for the initial “Ladles of Love” fundraiser in January 2009, which succeeded with impressive numbers. Total funds raised more than $10,000 and the final weight of the food poundage including donations and leftover products from the event totaled 2,124 pounds.
The Summer Concert 2009 raised tremendous awareness to the problems and food shortages that plague the East End Food Pantry Network throughout the year. Media coverage was extensive and many residents and visitors to the Hamptons and East End who never knew there were food pantries here, have now become supporters and donors to the Food Pantries. Over 2500 pounds of food was donated to the East End Food Pantries this August from donations at the Concert. Monetary donations are still coming in and we will hopefully be able to distribute funds shortly.
Please let us thank The East Hampton Ocean Rescue Squad, The East Hampton and Montauk Boy Scouts, The East Hampton High School Students and all of the East End Food Pantry Volunteers.
Also our friends Dominic Stanzione, Simon Kirke, Alec Baldwin, Jim Lawler, Jim McConville, Joe Fisher, Claudia Pilato, Kevin Ahearn, Sunshine Lemme, Bill Leonard, Michael Craine, Jim Perez, Chris Cosich, Mike Behan, Eddie Johnny Qualter, Charlene Jacobs, Lori Kenney, Bill Wilkenson, Steve Haweeli, Lindsay Jaffe, Lynn Blumenfeld, Jill Fleming, Joe O'Haire, Rick Principi, Fred Steal, Andy and Lynn Hammer, Bruce Ronbeck, Steve White, Paul Roman, Amos Winter, Delvin Hempey, and if I have forgotten you, please let know.
A special thank you to Cheryl Stair and Kara O'Halloran.
THANK YOU.....
The Ladles of Love East End Food Pantry Benefit Concert goal was to raise awareness about the plight and challanges that our East End Food Pantries and Communities face, shortages of food, increased demand on each Food Pantry, supporting funds and subsidies shrinking or disappearing completely.
Our East End Communities came together on a beautiful Monday night in August to show it's support, listen to great music that was provided and donated by the fantastic groups that appeared, raise awareness and bring in food for the Food Pantries. Some people feasted in the VIP Tent at the Concert, some went without. Not planned, but it was a strong message. Not everyone has the means to eat well, sometimes just eat.
Our mission is just beginning. We will hopefully come together in the near future to carry the message and show the great community spirit that exists on the East End. Ladles of Love will happen again. To the musicians, restaurants, caterers, vineyards, breweries, volunteers, vendors, friends and family that came together and made this possible, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Respectfully,
John Kowalenko |
