If you ask anyone who has lived on Nantucket Island to describe it, the word you’ll hear most often is community. Located 30 miles out to sea, this small Massachusetts island stands apart from other year-round communities. Coming together to support one another is something Nantucket does exceptionally well. Whether it’s placing a warm meal on a neighbor’s table, donating sneakers to local children, or providing safe shelter during the winter months, Nantucket consistently shows up for its people.
There are many nonprofit organizations on the island dedicated to supporting year-round residents, including Nourish Nantucket, The Warming Place, Nantucket Boys & Girls Club, A Safe Place, The Harvey Foundation, Addiction Solutions, and Remain Nantucket. Each of these organizations shares a common goal: strengthening our community by lending a helping hand to those in need.
At Lee Real Estate, we value our role as active members of the Nantucket community and made it a priority to give back this year. This holiday season, we chose to support two impactful local nonprofits, Nourish Nantucket and The Warming Place.
Nourish Nantucket serves as an umbrella organization addressing food insecurity across the island. It supports and coordinates essential resources such as the Nantucket Food Pantry, Meals on Wheels, The Warming Place, Pip Send It Boxes, Our House, The Nantucket Family Resource Center, and other vital programs. Together, these services work to close the gap and ensure access to nutritious food for those who need it most.
The Warming Place provides a safe, welcoming shelter for individuals in need of overnight housing during the colder months. As the island’s only overnight shelter, it partners with local medical and social service providers to offer comprehensive care and support, ensuring guests receive not just warmth, but dignity and compassion.
In another innovative effort to support local food resources, The Nantucket Land Bank has launched a program utilizing the island’s deer population. With the addition of a new processing facility, a state record was set this year with 375 deer donated and processed for local food programs. Nantucket has the largest deer population in Massachusetts, which can negatively impact ecosystems, road safety, and local landscaping. This initiative offers a thoughtful solution to multiple challenges addressing food insecurity while responsibly managing the deer population. Early results have been promising, and there is strong hope the program will continue in the years ahead.
We are proud to be part of a community that thoughtfully and creatively uses its resources to care for one another year-round. If you’re looking to be part of a place where community truly comes first, we would love to help. Reach out to one of our agents to immerse yourself in and experience what Nantucket Island is all about summer, off-season, and all year long.
Photo Credit: Nourish Nantucket