The Springs Food Pantry’s annual Chowdah Chowdown fund-raiser will return to the Springs Tavern and Grill on Saturday from noon to 3 p.m., featuring all-you-can-eat chowder and soup prepared by more than 20 local chefs, live music by Josh Brussell, a local singer-songwriter and pantry volunteer, a mocktail bar, and a 50-50 raffle with a cash prize. Tickets cost $50, and all proceeds directly support the pantry, which has already experienced a spike in demand with the end of the summer season.
“Summertime is usually when our numbers drop because our recipients are out, and that can be twofold — they’re actually making ends meet because they’re working, or they can’t make it to our pantry because they’re working such long hours,” Kira Brandman, the pantry’s operations director, said during a phone call last week. “Our numbers dropped below 300 families a week, which we were happy about. But two weeks ago we were back up to 365 families, which is very close to our all-time high in the spring. So it’s a little scary for us.”
The pantry sees this pattern each year, but demand increased drastically during the pandemic and has grown each year since. “I think we need to be mindful that people are still working now. Restaurants aren’t completely closed, people are still having their lawns mowed,” added Amy Leopold, the pantry’s events committee chairwoman. “As it gets closer to November, December, January, that’s really when people are laid off, when they’re not working at all, and they have to manage until the season picks up again.”
The fund-raiser has grown, too, and organizers are hoping for their biggest year yet to help meet the ever-increasing need. “The first two Chowdah Chowdowns were actually at the Springs Tavern, and now that the spot has expanded its patio it accommodates a much larger group,” Ms. Brandman said. “And I think one of the great things is that it’s not just clam chowder — there is fish chowder, there’s been lobster. There are always multiple vegetarian options, and different soups. So there’s a little bit of something for everybody.”
The roster this year includes chefs from the 1770 House, Almond, the Amagansett Seafood Store, Bonfire Coffeehouse, Bostwick’s, Estia’s Little Kitchen, Hamptons Foodie, House Masa, Lulu Kitchen and Bar, Performance Food Group, Red Horse Market, Sen, Silver Spoon Specialties, Smokin’ Wolf, Springs Tavern and Grill, Meeting House, Townline BBQ, and the East Hampton Sportsmen’s Alliance, along with the private chefs Derek Freedman, Lorilynn Bauer, and Peter Ambrose.
“We really love having the in-person event because the chefs get to come, they get to joke with each other about competing,” Ms. Brandman continued. “We have three different categories where we have all of the people who come vote for their favorites, and each year we award our chefs with a prize that is highly coveted. So it’s a fun time for the community to come out and support the pantry.”
“And 100 percent of the proceeds go directly to the families, go directly to the food that we’re purchasing,” Ms. Leopold said. “There are no salaries. The Tavern is giving us their space for free, which is amazing, and all of the chefs that participate are volunteering their time and their products to us as well. And people who can’t attend can always make a donation on our website — it’s really going to feed our people.”