“Giving Back” had always been a part of our lives and we’ve brought that ethos to our home here in the Hamptons. We believe in giving back to our community, including …
- The schools
- The libraries
- The museums
- The historic societies
- The soldiers who defend us
- The first responders who protect us
Starting at the Beginning …
The Mill House Inn started its community support efforts right after we bought the inn in 1999.
As we began to acquire new furniture and furnishings, we donated most of the furniture and furnishings we had inherited to the East Hampton Ladies Village Improvement Society for their annual fair. LVIS rules East Hampton!
They borrowed two garages from the village to store everything until the event; one of their major fundraisers of the year. Several of our guests actually came back from the fair and proudly showed us their purchases — items we had donated to the cause!
Thanking the heroes of 9/11
After 9/11, we knew we had to do something to say “thank you” to first responders. We wanted our help to touch the tired, relentless, and often injured heroes who gave everything they had to our country.
So, we reached out through our local fire chief to some of the 9/11 first responders. He connected us with some of the bravest Firemen, Police, and ESUs working at Ground Zero.
We then invited them to stay and took care of everything.
- We worked with the Hampton Jitney to donate transportation.
- Della Femina’s and The Laundry (two of our favorite, unfortunately now former, great restaurants of East Hampton Village) provided dinners.
- The Mill House Inn provided R&R to a number of very fine, very tired heroes and their families.
One of our special guests invited me on a ride-along at Ground Zero and gave me a much-cherished cross made of steel salvaged from the World Trade Center (see the image above).
We loved hearing from our special guests.
- 1/21/2002: “A big FDNY thank you! Your support and generosity following September 11th will not be forgotten! A great place with warm beds and warm hearts! See you again on our 1st anniversary!” – Kaylene and Darren
- 2/12/2002: “May God bless you for your generous support toward the members and their families of the NYPD Emergency Service Unit in the wake of 9/11. This was truly a fabulous gift. Our stay was warm, restful, and much needed. We really enjoyed our time here and look forward to a return. Everything from our accommodations, breakfast and your company was spectacular.” Thank you very much. – Bill & Lisa, ESU 1, NY NY
- “Gary & Sylvia, Thank you so much for your generosity and hospitality, it’s been a great three days and we cannot thank you enough from all of us at Battalion 8, Engine 8 and Ladder 2 FDNY we thank you.” – Vincent & Christine
Needless to say, this experience inspired us to do even more.
We Support Local People and Organizations
Over the years we have worked with our local Volunteer Fire and Police Departments to help raise funds for them to continue to protect the community in which we live.
We also support a wide range of community organizations and services …
- One summer we gave all of the revenue from one of our suites to The Wounded Warrior Project..
- We have family and friends who served or gave their lives in our military and understand the importance of support at home. That’s why we help Soldiers Angels support our military with letters and care packages.
- We support ARF, our local animal rescue group because we are a pet-friendly hotel! They help pets find their “fur”ever homes and try to spoil animals as much as we do at MHI!
- We work with the East Hampton Trail Preservation Society maintaining the trails, so everyone can enjoy our beautiful area.
- We support the East Hampton Sportsmen’s Alliance because they strive to keep the core of the East End alive … hunting, fishing, and boating. Without the Alliance’s efforts, many children (and adults) would never experience the wonders of the great outdoors and see first-hand how some of our favorite foods make it to the tables of the area’s restaurants.
Supporting our History, Culture, and Families
We have a passion for all the things that make up life here in the Hamptons and we …
- Support the Heart of Springs, a new non-profit which works to support the historical district of Springs. Without community support, important parts of our area’s history will disappear.
- The library
- Ashawagh Hall
- The Jackson Pollock Museum
- the Blacksmith Shop
- The historical church (which houses the food pantry)
- Support Katy’s Courage, for pediatric cancer research at Sloan-Kettering, and Katy’s Kids which is a group for children to grieve the death of a parent or sibling through play, art, music, poetry and theatre.
- Assist the Star of the East Lodge Masons in raising money to create scholarships for local kids to experience Camp Turk in upstate New York.
- Support the Sag Harbor Partnership that is restoring the iconic Sag Harbor Movie Theater that was destroyed in the fire of 2016. The East End is home to an array of artists including independent filmmakers. The new theater will host the Hamptons International Film Festival along with arts and education programming. It will be a place where our local filmmakers can get their start!
- Work with The Retreat, providing shelter for local families escaping domestic violence.
- Walk for the Cure
Of course, we work with many Farm and Food education and sustenance charities, as well, but that is fodder for another Blog!
I hope we’ve inspired you to volunteer while you’re in the Hamptons, I’m sure we can arrange for you to walk dogs or cuddle with kittens at ARF! Or perhaps you would rather hack through brambles on the trails of the Northwest Woods …
The strength of our community is what makes the Hamptons so special — come and experience some soon. Call us or email us today to schedule your stay!
– Gary
