Sara Topping - SHDEMS

SARA TOPPING FOR SOUTHAMPTON TOWN TRUSTEE

SARA is a deeply experienced water woman, an inaugural member of the Hamptons Lifeguarding Association (HLA) achieving national championship status in competition in her early years as a professional lifeguard. Now a mother of three with over a decade of experience in maternal health advocacy and education, Sara’s work as an ocean lifeguard, swim and surf instructor, coach, and climate activist, anchors her commitment to the position of Town Trustee. Dedicated to prioritizing and preserving our local maritime traditions, she hopes to demonstrate to her young sons the value of local activism by protecting our waters and shorelines and preserving access for generations to come.

““What I look forward to most in joining the Town Trustees is the opportunity to represent our community, our waters and our future. My goal is to care for this place and its people with love, stewardship and action- because I know that when we protect the health of our environment, we protect the health of our community.””
Sara

Sara Topping was born and raised on the East End and is deeply committed to preserving the community and environment that shaped her. Growing up in East Hampton she worked as an ocean lifeguard for many years and graduated from East Hampton High School in 2000. She met her husband Pete, a fellow local, while working at a surf camp together. Today, they live in North Sea and are raising their three children, who represent the 12th generation of Toppings, in Pete’s grandparents’ old home. Sara has spent her adult life serving the community. She co-founded the East End Birth Network in 2017, a nonprofit focused on maternal and infant health, and helped launch the Stork Co-op, a pantry providing donated baby supplies to families in need during the pandemic. She has also dedicated years to youth programs, including recently running the Junior Lifeguard Grom’s program with Southampton Village Ocean Rescue for 8-12 year olds at Coopers Beach.

Her advocacy began in 2008, when she joined the Climate Ride- riding her bike from New York City to Washington, D.C., to raise awareness to rising sea levels and coastal environmental issues on the East End by meeting with lawmakers to push for climate action. In 2017 it extended into her work in maternal and infant health where she worked to establish partnerships with local and state government officials, community organizations and health care institutions on the East End to bring awareness to the poor maternal and infant mortality rates on the East End and in New York State.

Sara is running for Southampton Town Trustee to ensure that the East End remains a healthy, thriving place for future generations. Guided by values of care, dedication, community, and environmental stewardship, she believes the Trustees’ work is essential to protecting both our people and our waters.