Suffolk County Legislator Bridget Fleming presented Marit Molin of Water Mill with a Suffolk County Woman of Distinction award on Tuesday in recognition of her service to the community.
Ms. Molin is the founder and executive director of Hampton Community Outreach, which was born at the start of the pandemic to feed community members in need and help struggling restaurants stay in business. Her campaign in response to the economic shutdown brought in $250,000 in cash donations and $70,000 in food donations, enabling Hampton Community Outreach to deliver 5,000 cooked meals and 18,000 pounds of fresh produce in 2020. Since last March, the organization has also delivered groceries and medical supplies to 150 households biweekly and continues to do so.
An announcement from Ms. Fleming's office detailed Ms. Molin's background as a licensed social worker and practicing therapist, who raised money to provide therapy at no charge to the community, started a tutoring program to help children in need of academic support, and created the #ICARE kindness campaign to raise money to address various needs of marginalized people.
Ms. Molin is a leader for Girl Scout Troop #642, which consists of 11 girls who live on the Shinnecock Reservation. She also founded Hamptons Art Camp in 2018 to provide a creative, active, and fun environment for children from different backgrounds. Approximately 40 percent of campers attend for free.
The Suffolk County Legislator has presented the Woman of Distinction award annually since 2003 to mark Women's History Month.
"Marit has provided opportunities for girls and others to give of themselves to truly help their neighbors and community," said Legislator Fleming, who nominated Ms. Molin. "Her initiative brilliantly served a double purpose. It has fed the hungry and offered a lifeline to local businesses in tough times. Every restaurant that participated is still in operation."
