🔦 Volunteer Spotlight: Steven Sergiovanni
When Steven Sergiovanni first started noticing a long line of cars along Old Stone Highway on Wednesdays during the pandemic, he was curious. When he learned those cars belonged to local Springs families coming to Springs Food Pantry for supplemental food, he knew he had to get involved.
Steven began volunteering in 2020 and quickly became part of the fabric of the Pantry, from unloading trucks and organizing food on Monday mornings to helping launch two of our biggest annual fundraisers and building our social media presence. An art advisor and visiting professor at Pratt Institute, Steven brings his eye for detail, creativity, energy, and, as he readily admits, a tendency to be "very particular" to just about everything he takes on.
"Every Monday has been so special for me since volunteering. It sounds super sappy, but I leave my shift with this positive energy that stays with me throughout the day." — Steven Sergiovanni
How long have you been volunteering with Springs Food Pantry, and what first brought you here?
I started volunteering in 2020. Like many people, we moved to our house in Springs semi-full-time during the pandemic. For weeks, I had been seeing a queue of cars lined up along Old Stone Highway on Wednesdays and finally asked what was going on.
I was stunned to learn that all of those cars belonged to local Springs families in need of supplemental food.
What inspired you to get involved, and what keeps you coming back each week?
I could not not get involved. I contacted Springs Food Pantry and asked how I could help, and I think I started the very next day!
I felt an immediate affinity with the people I met. There was such warmth and camaraderie, and that really kept me coming back.
What volunteer roles do you typically help with at the Pantry? Do you have a favorite?
I started out working Monday mornings, unloading the truck that delivered our weekly canned goods, stocking shelves, and helping organize groceries for Wednesday distribution. I'm an organizer, so this was my calling!
Holly Reichart-Wheaton asked a few of us to help with fundraising, and we began planning our first Springs Garden Party. We're now coming up on our sixth year, along with planning the Chowdah Chowdown each fall.
At some point, I asked about Instagram and Facebook and how we could create a bigger social media presence for the Pantry. Literally that day, I took over social media. That's one of the great things about a 100% volunteer-run organization: if you see something that needs to be done and ask about it, chances are it's now up to you to make it happen!
I really love being hands-on and being able to see the results of the work we do.
What's one thing you've learned from volunteering at the Pantry that surprised you?
I've learned just how kind, generous, and accepting everyone involved with Springs Food Pantry is. It's truly a beautiful group of people.
Can you share a favorite Pantry memory or moment that has stayed with you?
For me, it's less about one particular moment. Every Monday has been special since I started volunteering.
It sounds super sappy, but I leave my shift with this positive energy that stays with me throughout the day. There's something about working alongside people who are all there for the same reason that is incredibly uplifting.
What do you wish more people understood about food insecurity on the East End?
Oh my gosh, I wish more people realized how many families in the Hamptons struggle just to make ends meet. We live in a place that's often associated with tremendous wealth, but that isn't the reality for everyone who lives and works here.
The level of need in our own community is heartbreaking, and I think many people would be surprised to understand just how close to home food insecurity really is.
Tell us a little about yourself outside the Pantry.
I split my time between New York City and Springs. I'm an art advisor and a visiting professor at Pratt Institute, and I live with my husband, Chris, and our dog, Jackson.
As for family traditions, there's one that's been part of my entire life: homemade pizza on Christmas Eve. Always.
Do you volunteer with any other organizations or causes in our community?
I've always been involved with nonprofit arts and community organizations. I previously served as Vice President of the Board of Visual AIDS, an organization that supports HIV-positive artists and preserves their artistic legacies.
I'm also involved with various nonprofit arts organizations. My husband and many of our friends are connected with The Retreat, so I help there when needed, and I've also supported God's Love We Deliver.
Giving back has always been important to me, whether through the arts, community organizations, or the Pantry.
What do you do professionally, and what do you enjoy most about it?
I'm an art advisor and visiting professor at Pratt Institute. My professional life has always revolved around art, artists, and helping people engage with art in a meaningful way.
I think there's actually a connection between that work and what I enjoy about the Pantry. I like bringing people and ideas together, organizing things, making them better, and then being able to see a tangible result.
What might surprise people about you?
Well, if you know me well, none of this will surprise you, but here are a few things:
I despise mayonnaise. It's disgusting. Sorry!
I'm also very particular about, well, pretty much everything. A friend of mine prefers to say I'm "selective in taste," which sounds much nicer.
And I think I may have a case of misophonia, but I'm still in denial.
If someone was thinking about volunteering with Springs Food Pantry, what would you tell them?
I would absolutely encourage anyone to volunteer. There are so many different ways to get involved, and it's incredibly rewarding.
But I'd also remind people that the Pantry needs financial support and donations just as much as we need volunteers. We simply can't do what we do without both.
In just a few words, what does Springs Food Pantry mean to you?
Joy.
⚡ Lightning Round
☕ Coffee or tea? Iced coffee, year-round.
🌅 Favorite thing about Springs? Louse Point.
🥕 Favorite Pantry item? Fresh fruit.
🌽 Favorite local restaurant, farm, or East End spot? The kale cheddar scone at Amber Waves. Obsessed.
📚 Favorite book, movie, or TV show? A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara.
💙 One word that describes Springs Food Pantry? Joy.
😊 One thing that always makes you smile? Jackson.
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