On Easter Sunday, April 17, Twin Pines Diner will have free, delicious take-out Easter dinners ready for pick-up by any East Haven military veterans, elderly residents or in-need community members who've called the diner to register for a free holiday meal by Friday, April 15.

The program, offered for the second year in a row, has once again been organized by East Haven attorney Andrew Amendola with sponsorship help from Twin Pines owner Jim Triantis and other community sponsors. The program will also deliver over 100 Easter baskets to East Haven kids in need, to be distributed through East Haven Public Schools.

In all, Amendola raised $4,000 in funding for this year's Easter effort. In addition to the support provided by Triantis and Twin Pines, program sponsors are Andrew Amendola, Kenny Horton of Horton Enterprises LLC, Lou Porrello, Albert DeLucia of Porto Funeral Home, Don and Jesse Herzog of East River Energy and Dr. Rajula Tandon.

Amendola also thanks East Haven residents Cheryl Cooper Tardif and Liz Franco-Spano for their Easter basket assistance.

Since November of 2020, Amendola has worked with Triantis and community sponsors to offer many hundreds of free holiday meal programs to local residents in need at holiday times of Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter. Amendola has matched that generosity by gathering the same amount of funding for holiday support for Branford vets, seniors and citizens in need, working with the Sousoulas family at the Parthenon Diner Restaurant in Branford.

Amendola said he organizes the free holiday meal programs "...because there's a need, and because I can...'to whom much is given, much is expected;'" adding that, at Easter time, no child should be without an Easter basket.

Including past Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter efforts, this year's Easter program marks Twin Pine's sixth consecutive holiday meal collaboration with Amendola. Triantis said he is happy to help those who receive the free dinners.

"I see the appreciation in their faces and in the way they talk to me," said Triantis. "So when Andy calls me, I always say I'm going to do it."

To help Triantis and the Twin Pines staff prepare hundreds of free Easter meals to take out, East Haven military veterans, senior citizens and residents in need are asked to call now (and no later than Friday, April 15) to register in advance. Call Twin Pines at (203) 468-6887, ask for the manager or owner, and provide your name, address and telephone number. Staff will confirm a time for pick-up so that fast service can be provided on Easter Sunday. Twin Pines Diner is located at 34 Main St. in East Haven.

Triantis anticipates providing between 250 to 300 free Easter meals. The diner is offering recipients a choice of Virginia ham, roasted turkey or roast beef. Each meal will come with sides of salad, potato, vegetable and dessert.

Well known to many in town, Triantis has owned and operated Twin Pines, a landmark East Haven diner near the Branford town line, for over 40 years. The bustling and beloved local business now serves over 4,000 loyal customers a week.

"Last year and this year is very, very busy," said Triantis. "And we didn't close down one day during the pandemic. Even when the restaurants stopped in March of 2020, we opened for just to-go. I didn't want any of my workers to lose their jobs, and I wanted to keep my customers happy."

Triantis said he feels good about giving back through the holiday meals program.

"You have to give, if you can," said Triantis. "My father always used to tell me, 'You give, always give, and God will find a way to give back to you.'"