Hampton Classic Horse Show grounds becomes drive-in cinema, raises money for food pantries

East Enders took a trip back in time Saturday night as the Hampton Classic Horse Show grounds were transformed in to a drive-in cinema, hosted by Blade.

News 12 Staff

Jun 14, 2020, 2:36 AM

Updated 1,656 days ago

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East Enders took a trip back in time Saturday night as the Hampton Classic Horse Show grounds were transformed in to a drive-in cinema, hosted by Blade.
Dennis Suskind, president of the Hampton Classic, said while he was disappointed the horse show was canceled, he was happy the property was being used to screen Disney’s “Artemis Fowl.”
Social distancing was a top priority during the two-day event – pre-made snack boxes were delivered to cars and audio from the movie was played through car radios.
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One hundred percent of the proceeds, which reached well into six figures, will be donated to East End food pantries.
“What a lot of people don't realize is – we have an annual food insecurity problem,” said East Hampton Supervisor Peter Van Scoyoc. “We have a very seasonal economy here and in a normal year, our food pantries serve a number of families over the winter months.”
Over the last three months, the Children's Museum of the East End has served over 65 families each week. Springs Food Pantry saw a 100% increase in the number of people needing assistance in April.
“What is really unique is that a lot of the people that are coming to the food pantries were once donors,” said Connie Conway, of AFTEE.
“I've been spending the last 10 years out here on the East End. It's a very close-knit community. It's a community that's very much joined together at the hip. I'm just honored we were asked to do this,” said Dexter Goei, the chief executive officer for Altice.
Jonathan Steinberg, the president of Altice News and Advertising, called the event a “great night for families.”
Optimum of Altice USA also sponsored the event. Altice USA is the parent company of News 12 Long Island. 
News 12 reporter Caroline Flynn was at the event and posted about it in her Instagram story.