Just over a year ago the Village of Southampton formed the Business Revitalization Committee. The goal was to determine how Main Street and surrounding village businesses could overcome a lack of off-season business and combat seasonal vacancies.
An April 2020 event was planned to bring people to the village, but due to COVID-19, the committee, which was formed by former Village Trustee Kimberly Allen, had to pivot and attempt to find ways to help village businesses stay afloat.
As the 2020 holidays approached, annual village events that help bring off-season business, such as the Southampton Chamber of Commerce Parade of Lights, could not happen due to the pandemic. Through Roseann Gentile of the Southampton Intermediate School, the committee also identified that over 80 families in the school were in need.
As a result, the group created the Southampton Village Gift Drive as a way to come together to support small business and the community.
Members went door-to-door to village businesses asking if they would participate in collecting donations by placing a red-ribboned donation box in each store from Thanksgiving through December 20.
Over fifty businesses participated, many offering incentives to patrons like discounts to those who donated. Students also became involved by taking donations on the streets over weekends.
By December 20, the drive raised $10,000 in cash, checks, and gift cards, as well as bags of toys and clothing. A turkey was provided to every family by one of Union Burger Bar’s purveyors. Cookies for every family were provided by Southampton Inn and Claude’s Restaurant.