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Join The Celebration at Branford's Andriole Volunteer Services Center

As Branford celebrates its 375th anniversary, one the town's most notable citizens invites the public join her and the board of the Patricia C. Andriole Volunteer Services Center in a co-celebration of the town's big birthday and the center's 20th anniversary.

The Patricia C. Andriole Volunteer Services Center 20th Anniversary Celebration will take place on Thursday, April 11, from 5 – 7 p.m. at 30 Harrison Avenue. With proclamations and recognition from town and state leaders and refreshments, the event will celebrate the center, its many volunteers and the services provided among its two floors of space.

A hub of community service, the center is home to non-profits Community Dining Room, Branford Food Pantry and BHcare Clothing Bank and also provides space for the ever-churning fundraising book inventory managed by Friends of the Blackstone Library.

"It's been almost 20 years since we built this building," said Patricia "Pat" Andriole, who served 44 years as Executive Director Branford Counseling Center (which she helped to found) until her retirement, in 2013. In the spring of 2013, Branford re-named the center in her honor. Now, she heads the center's all-volunteer executive board.

As one who helped lead the effort to get the Town on board with the idea of building a center specifically to house volunteer services, Andriole said the vision of those involved in the effort, including then-First Selectman Anthony "Unk" DaRos, never wavered. That support has continued with First Selectman Jamie Cosgrove, she added. Local organizations committed sweat equity and contributions to help bring about the center, most notably, Branford Rotary Club, said Andriole.

"For years we had known we needed a space where people could come to eat, to get food to take home, to get clothing they needed. And also The Friends of the Library needed a space to put their books and get them ready for their annual sale on the green, which supports the library," said Andriole. "I did imagine it getting built, because I knew that the groups coming in were fervent about their mission. So I knew it would come together. Usually government and volunteers can work, but not that closely. And with this, it has been wonderful."

The Town-owned building is leased to board for a ceremonial dollar annually.

Andriole said, while the number of people who have been helped at the center is almost impossible to count, leaders of each entity in the center will do their best to summarize their organizations' success and growth; and share highlights at the 20th anniversary celebration.

One of the best outcomes of the building is overlapping assistance people who may come in for one service can receive, Andriole noted.

"What I really love about is each entity works well with the other, and that's so important," she said.