Happy New Year! January 25, 2012

Yesterday the CDR’s lunch and dinner guests were treated to special meals in honor of the Chinese New Year. Local restaurants Dragon East, Ho Sai Gai, Lion City Chinese, and Moon Star Restaurant helped sponsor the event. We thank them for sharing their delicious foods and decorating the dining room with traditional red lanterns.

A big thank you to our CDR Board Members as well who added the finishing touches to our dinner celebration…check out that table and those stunning outfits!

Last night was also the launch of our “Passport Program”, a collaboration with the Branford Early Childhood Collaborative. On the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month, each child between 3 and 8 years old is invited to come along for a journey to learn more about the world through books, crafts, songs and activities. Participants are given a “passport” and for each night they attend, they receive a stamp. Each child who collects 12 stamps will receive a small prize at the end of the 3 month program, and all are invited to a Global celebration at the end. Dinner follows the activities! Thanks to the BECC for bringing an innovative program to the CDR.

CDR Launches Home Delivery to North Branford Residents! January 19, 2012

Now in addition to our existing home delivery program in Branford, residents of North Branford will also be able to enjoy the CDR’s delicious and nutritious meals. Organized by Alice Lehr and a team of wonderful volunteers, frozen and cooked meals will be delivered to those unable to join us in the Dining Room. For more information, please contact Melissa Branch, mbranch@communitydiningroom.org.

The Guilford Savings Bank Stocks Our Shelves! January 6, 2012

The Guilford Savings Bank recently donated $5,000 to be split among 5 Shoreline foodbanks. The CDR was grateful to be one of the recipients and these funds will be used to keep our pantry stocked! Read more about the GSB’s generous donation here:

Consider a Year-End Donation to the CDR December 28, 2011

The Community Dining Room relies on community and individual support to provide all of our programs and services. We continue to see an increase in the demand from the Shoreline community for nutritious meals and we are now serving over 5,000 meals each month! Please consider a tax-deductible year-end gift to the CDR. Your generosity makes our work possible and is greatly appreciated. Here, the CDR receives a donation from Donna Yanick of The Goodman Ski Club, Branford.

Santa Comes to the CDR! December 28, 2011

The Christmas season began at the CDR with our Tuesday Family Dinner Christmas Party. The festivities started off with Lori Nicholson our piano player and singer performing Holiday tunes. What a lovely voice she has! All of our families enjoyed her festive songs. Dinner was also made special by the appearance of Santa bearing gifts for all of our children!

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Here are photos from our Christmas Eve meal. Volunteers Frankie Pisano and family, Andrew Simiola, Nancy Lynch, Anne Cerrone and new volunteer Joe Tore all helped make and serve a delicious Christmas Eve meal. We were treated to entertainment by Barb Mullen and her wonderful flute playing. We also had a delivery of home made cookies from the Shea Family. Thank you volunteers, as always we could not work toward our mission without your help!

Big News, Big Events, Big Donations, and Big Awards! November 30, 2011

The CDR will be featured on Nick News Sunday Night!
Tune in to Nick News on the Nickelodeon channel this Sunday, December 4 at 9:00pm to watch “What’s for Dinner? Hungry Kids in America” with Linda Ellerbee.

The CDR’s Executive Director, Pat Kral, will talk about the challenges many in our community face and how the CDR helps to make a difference. You’ll also hear from many children, such as 14-year-old Shaykia, who says she sometimes goes without meals so her little sisters will have enough to eat. “I just got used to the fact that I can’t eat everything like how I used to,” she says. Don’t miss this important program.

Holiday Shopping Expo to Benefit the Community Dining Room!
Get your holiday shopping done while enjoying tasty refreshments and a chance to win fabulous raffle prizes, including a trip to France! All proceeds will benefit the Community Dining Room. For more information, visit www.communitydiningroom/expo2011.pdf

CDR Christmas Feast — All Welcomed
The Community Dining Room (CDR) will serve a full, traditional Christmas feast on Sunday, December 25th, beginning at Noon thru 1:30. All members of the community are invited. Guests will enjoy a generous feast including turkey, ham, cranberry creations, mashed potatoes, and many other delicious, holiday dishes and desserts.” If you’re interested in contributing a favorite dish or even a gallon of cider or milk, please contact Pat Reilly at 488-2791. (Please leave a message.)

V.F. McNeil Supports the CDR!
Our amazing friends at VF McNeil Insurance have made a very generous donation to the CDR. Here, owner Paul Sturgess is pictured handing a check for $10,000 to CDR Executive Director Pat Kral. About this donation, Paul says “This money will help the CDR make up for a decline in donations and hopefully help them have a better start for 2012.” Please join us in thanking them, not only for this wonderful gift, but also for the many hours of hard labor they put in at the dining room!

The Branford Chamber of Commerce Honors the CDR!
The CDR received the Non- Profit Community Service Award for outstanding achievement!

Holiday Events at the CDR…Thanksgiving is Just Around the Corner! November 14, 2011

Here are some upcoming Holiday events and fundraisers! Can you believe it is almost Thanksgiving?

11/14-12/31: “Cram the Ram” with non-perishable food items to benefit the CDR. Sponsored by Branhaven Chrysler Jeep Dodge RAM, 348 West Main Street, Branford, CT. 06405. For more information, please contact mramcke@branhaven.com or 203-488-6351.

11/16: Trail Run at Sound Runner in Branford, 6:30pm. All runners are encouraged to bring Thanksgiving food items for the CDR including turkey, sides, and all of the fixings. For more info please call 203-483-8222.

11/24: CDR Annual Thanksgiving Feast! The CDR will serve a traditional Thanksgiving feast on Thursday, November 24, Noon thru 1:30. All members of the community are invited. Guests will enjoy a generous feast including turkey, ham, cranberry creations, mashed potatoes, peas with baby onions, pie and many other seasonal dishes. If you’re interested in contributing a favorite dish or even a gallon of cider or milk, please contact Pat Reilly at 488-2791. (Please leave a message.)

12/20: Family Dinner Christmas Party.

12/25: lunch Christmas Party from noon to 1:30.

A Mystery Veggie and a Lunchtime Jam Session October 25, 2011

Lunch today was, well, a mystery! Someone generously donated the largest (and strangest) vegetable we’ve seen here at the CDR. But, we bravely wrestled it onto the cutting board, sliced it up, cooked it, and made it into a delicious lunch. Do you have any idea what it might be? Our best guess is a heritage heirloom and zucchini squash combo?? Lunch was accompanied today by Al and Warren and a lovely jam session.

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Scary Nutrition! October 19, 2011

At last night’s Family Dinner, we had a discussion about nutrition to hopefully prove that eating healthy is not so scary once you understand how to do it!

Check out all of the smiling faces and the great costumes on the little ones who decorated our dining room and cooked and served our spooky dinner!

Scarecrows! October 12, 2011

Here are some photos from last weekend’s Make Your Own Scarecrow fundraiser. Remember the CDR will be at Bishops every weekend in October from 10am-5pm so it’s not too late to make your own!

The Greek Orthodox Youth Association came to help make Scarecrows last weekend. We thank them for all their help not only with our Scarecrow fundraiser but all they do for us throughout the year.Special thanks to Michele Belperron and to Adriana.