
This weekend, go fly a kite.
The 2nd annual Kites for Kids hits East Hampton’s Main Beach this Saturday afternoon to benefit the Eleanor Whitmore Early Childhood Center (EWECC).
The only licensed nonprofit childcare center on the East End of Long Island, EWECC (located at 1 Gingerbread Lane in East Hampton) addresses the dire need for affordable all-day childcare while offering high-quality, comprehensive early learning program for low-income families across the community.
On Saturday from 2 to 5 p.m. all are welcome to gather at Main Beach (101 Ocean Ave.) in East Hampton to fly kites that are decorated day-of by kids and volunteers alike. The cost to purchase a kite to decorate and fly is $10, while what Overlock calls “masterpiece kites” (kites pre-decorated by kids) will be available for sale for $100. There will also be bucket hats available, “for those individuals that need some extra sun protection,” Overlock says. The cost to purchase at bucket hat and kite is $50.
“The primary purpose of is to raise awareness for the center,” says Joan Overlock, director of development at EWECC. To purchase a kite, or to donate, click here.
Originally the brainchild of Tess Wachs, a volunteer at the center for the past three years, Kites for Kids saw about 1,200 participants last year. Wachs had originated the idea many years ago, when she initially helped spearhead Kites for a Cure, a fundraising event held in Southampton for lung cancer research.
“The idea of kite flying is very fun,” says Overlock, “so we adapted it to be geared toward young families and we’ve had great support from the mayor and the village.”

EWECC was founded in 1969, starting out as a Head Start program. Less than a decade later, it separated from Head Start and became East Hampton Daycare. Eventually in the 1980s, it fell under the leadership of late Amagansett resident Eleanor Whitmore, who helped facilitate the center’s transition to offering pre-kindergarten classes as well as year-round day care services.
Predominantly serving residents of East Hampton, Wainscott, Sag Harbor, Montauk and Sagaponack the EWECC currently has 100 children (with ages ranging from 18 months to 4 years old) enrolled five days a week for 10 hours each day (7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.). The cost is $300 per child each week. The center employs 28 people and holds eight classrooms. In addition to the enhanced early childhood education programs offered, each child receives two meals an two snacks each day. There’s at least one Spanish speaking employee in every class, according to Overlock.
“We want every child to be able to participate,” she says. “We want to keep the cost affordable for working families. This is more of a ‘friendraiser’ than a fundraiser.”
For more information call 631-324-5560.