This holiday season is all about the spirit of giving. The East End offers a chance to support local business, communities, and the hospital, all of which have seen seen a difficult year. The Southampton Hospital Foundation has launched an initiative called Hamptons Holiday Shop, as a way to encourage residents and visitors to shop local.
Businesses from Westhampton to Montauk are participating in this effort to boost business for local retailers while fundraising for Stony Brook Southampton Hospital and the future East Hampton Emergency Department.
“We’ve had a longstanding relationship with Stony Brook Southampton Hospital. Every year Wölffer Estate Vineyard supports the hospital’s summer gala so we were thrilled when they asked if we wanted to participate in their first Hamptons Holiday Shop,” said Joey Wölffer, the co-owner of the vineyard and owner of Joey Wölffer boutique. “My fashion boutique that specializes in women’s clothing and accessories will also be participating and in addition, we’re offering a 10 percent discount to Hampton Holiday Shoppers.”
“Southampton Hospital has continued to be an integral part of our community and having a local restaurant for ten years now we have become a second home for all of the doctors, nurses, and year-round families,” said Gabby Karan de Felice, the owner of Tutto Il Giorno. “When the pandemic first started in March, our amazing chefs provided free meals to all first responders and healthcare workers.”
Gabby’s mother, Donna Karan, the owner of Urban Zen, also started a Uzit program where “she had health practitioners trained in palliative care and nutrition to help support those that were admitted to the hospital,” said Karan de Felice. “Since moving my family out East year-round Southampton Hospital has become our local hospital.”
Additional shops and restaurants participating include Hamptons Coffee Company, Hampton Jitney, Kirna Zabête, Alice & Olivia, The Monogram Shop, Bonne Nuit, Hampton & Dune Furniture & Accessories, J McLaughlin, Golden Pear Cafe, Ed’s Lobster Bar, Matriark, Tenet, Janet O’Brien Caterers and Events, Set Point Tennis, Elegant Affairs Catering, the Southampton Inn and Claude’s Restaurant.
“Businesses in our communities were hit hard by the pandemic, so we want to do everything we can to support the communities we serve,” said Robert Chaloner, the chief administrative officer for Stony Brook Southampton Hospital. “This initiative will also help the hospital raise funds and stay prepared and ready for any [COVID] surges that we may see. It will also push us further along in our campaign to build a new and much needed East Hampton Emergency Department.”
Proceeds from participating businesses in East Hampton will help raise funds towards the building of a new East Hampton Emergency Department.
“The East End community has evolved because people are finding it so important to help others during this time. It has become more about the ‘we’ than the ‘me’ as we have faced this crisis as a community,” said Karan de Felice.
To take part in this giveback initiative, shoppers must show an email from the foundation at checkout. A percentage of the proceeds from each purchase will go to the hospital.
“It’s important to shop local because it shows that our community is nurturing locally owned businesses,” said Wölffer. “It gives the neighbors a chance to connect, grow, and thrive together.”
“Shopping local supports the local business owners and entrepreneurs year-round, it is these people who help each other and hold our community up,” said Karan de Felice.
The goal is to continue the hospital’s mission to deliver first-class healthcare to residents and visitors to the area. Chaloner also urges the importance of shopping local this season.
“With the holidays nearly upon us, I know how easy it is to shop online at the push of a button, but this year especially, please consider whether a local business may fulfil your need just as well, if not better,” said Chaloner. “As always, we are relying on this amazing East End community to come together and help us support each other and I’ve no doubt that once again, they will come through for us.”
“With all of the obstacles and drawbacks this year, my friendships, family, and our East End community is where I find comfort through these difficult times,” said Wölffer. “I’m proud of my home, my people, and I am inspired by fellow entrepreneurs that have found ways to adapt by developing innovative ideas to continue to grow and partner with each other.”
The initiative runs through December 31, to sign up for the email, visit www.bit.ly/HamptonsHolidayShop. To see which retailers are involved in Hamptons Holiday Shop, visit www.bit.ly/HHSeventinfo.
