Three important service programs supporting Branford and beyond will now have a bit more elbow room to operate.  Through the generosity of the Donald W. and Carla Grigley Memorial Fund at the Branford Community Foundation (BCF), a $22,900 grant given to the Patricia C. Andriole Volunteer Services Center will enable the  addition of a room to alleviate operational congestion, according to a press release issued Dec. 19.

Located at 30 Harrison Avenue, the center is home to services provided by Community Dining Room (CDR), Branford Food Pantry (BFP) and BHcare Clothing Bank.  Thanks to the grant, a room at the center will be expanded to accommodate CDR freezers, shelving and  food sorting; as well as space for seasonal clothing storage bins for the BHcare Clothing Bank. The new arrangement will also allow BFP to free up area elsewhere to increase its freezer space, according to Jay Webb, BFP vice president. BFP's operational space is located in the lower level.

BFP provides weekly groceries to Branford families in need, and full turkey dinners for Thanksgiving and Christmas. During the 2016-17 fiscal year, BFP helped an average of 179 families, about 500 people per month and over 250 different families for the year, according to information at www.branfordfoodpantry.org

CDR provides food, support and companionship to shoreline residents from East Haven to Old Saybrook including the towns of East Haven to Old Saybrook. Through its several types of meal service programs, CDR is currently serving over 4,500 meals monthly. More information is available here

BHcare Clothing Bank provides family clothing, linens, footwear and personal care items to anyone in need for a nominal yearly fee. The clothing bank accepts donations of items year-round. More information is available here

The Donald W. and Carla Grigley Memorial Fund is a designated fund to benefit the Branford Volunteer Services Center; an organization that Donald Grigley "felt embodied the spirit of the Branford community," according to information at www.branfordcommunityfoundation.org  His family established the fund in his memory in 2004; and amended the fund in 2016 to include his wife, Carla Grigley.

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