Nobody needs to tell the people who run the Sag Harbor Community Food Pantry that times are tough.
Traffic there doubled last winter, making the pantry’s annual kitchen tour benefit to be held on Sunday, May 30, a crucial event for the charity. Regina Humanitzki, a volunteer at the food pantry who is coordinating the event, reported during a recent interview that the need for contributions, and attendance at this year’s kitchen tour, is a real necessity. “We used to have about 35 clients, but it’s more than doubled. Some weeks it’s over 70,” she said. Ms. Humanitzki said that she first came up with the idea for a kitchen tour a few years ago when she visited Sonoma, California, and went on a tour of kitchens to benefit the Sonoma Community Center. “It was fabulous,” she said of the tour. When she came home to Sag Harbor, Ms. Humanitzki and Lillian Woudsma, who runs the Sag Harbor food pantry, put together an inaugural “Neighbors Helping Neighbors” kitchen tour that has continued to grow each year. “Lillian asked restaurants to contribute. Cavaniola’s Cheese Shop is sending a platter of cheeses, the Dock House has given us clam chowder, Cromers gave us filet mignon,” said Ms. Humanitzki. “There’s a lot of food being served. As a result, the kitchen tour is sort of like a moveable feast. You would have your fill of food.”
In addition, Ms. Humanitzki said that many local bakeries and other restaurants&mdashsuch as The Golden Pear, The Bagel Buoy, Provisions, The Corner Bar, Amber Occasions&mdashhave donated food this year.