Chef and restaurateur Jared Schulefand opened one of Branford’s best-loved eateries, Home Restaurant, in the spring of 2012. Within just a few months, he hosted the very first large-scale community event at the restaurant, a November “Home for the Holidays” cocktail party to support Branford’s Dan Cosgrove Animal Shelter.

A dozen years later, Jared continues to open the doors of Home each November to welcome animal lovers and Cosgrove supporters to “Home for the Holidays.” The 12th annual fundraiser is set for Monday, Nov. 25, at Home Restaurant, 1114 Main Street, Branford, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

“I’ve always been a dog lover, and knowing what I knew about Branford, I’d always heard amazing things about what Dan Cosgrove Animal Shelter did for all animals,” says Jared of first becoming involved in the annual event. “Some of my first regular customers were [Cosgrove Shelter board members] Eunice Lasala and Laurie Van Wilgen, and I believe they were the ones who brought the idea to us. It was one of the first major fundraisers we held in our first year.”

Home is regularly open to the public Tuesday through Sunday and closed Mondays — except for one very special Monday, that is.

“Home for the Holidays is the only Monday of the year that I’m open,” says Jared. “I bring staff in and open up just for this event.”

Each year, Jared donates all of the food for “Home for the Holidays,” putting together delicious passed hors d'oeurves, and offers several drink specials. The festive holiday party also spills into the back room of the restaurant, which will be decorated with upwards of 50 amazing raffle baskets this year. The baskets feature goods and services donated by local businesses, restaurants (including Home), merchants, and others.

All event proceeds benefit Cosgrove Animal Shelter. To finalize food counts, the shelter offers only advance ticket purchases ($35 per person), which can be purchased online via Eventbrite.com. Search for Home for the Holidays Branford CT.

“We usually raise a good amount of money for the shelter,” Jared says. “We get at least 100 to 140 people, and we’re happy to give them access to the entire restaurant. We basically use our entire back room for raffle items, which get a lot of community support from a bunch of local businesses.”

As a partner of Pi Restaurant Consulting (Madison), Jared will also be contributing a raffle prize from Supreme Seafood Restaurant in North Branford, which Jared and his Pi partner, Robert Marcarelli (another prominent Connecticut culinary figure), purchased in November 2023.

“Supreme has been in business 34 years, and now we’re going on the 35th year,” says Jared of the popular restaurant at 999 Foxon Road. “I know a lot of people know that Supreme sold, and I would love people to know that my partner Rob Marcarelli and I are there now. He has the same mentality that I have at Home about the importance of community involvement, and we’re trying to expand that to North Branford.”

Jared said he’s been gratified to see so many comments on social media from Supreme customers who are delighted to see the new owners have upheld the quality and caliber of the seafood and offer time-honored favorites (including its highly regarded seafood Christmas platters); together with some new ideas.

“We’re trying really hard to keep their legacy going and build on it,” says Jared.

Supporting both the Branford and North Branford communities through his businesses is important to Jared. His support ranges from giving back to local Rotary Clubs, high school programs, youth and other league teams, the Cosgrove Animal Shelter, and many other groups.

“I think a lot of our longevity is due to being part of the community,” he says of Home. “The community supports us, and we want to give back. Obviously, the food and the service helps! And everybody knows me or my dad, who is behind the bar most nights.”

Jared also serves the Branford community as an appointed member of the Town of Branford’s Economic Development Commission.

“The whole shoreline is such an amazing community,” Jared says. “Even in times like COVID, we got such tremendous support from the community. People were coming in and buying gift cards or take-out to make sure we would make it through. I think they appreciate that we try really hard to work with the community and support them as much as they support us.”