Thanks to a committed group effort, Branford military veterans and Branford senior citizens, as well as those residents in town who may be experiencing need, can pre-register between Monday, Nov. 14 and Tuesday, Nov. 22 for a free, take-out Thanksgiving dinner for the holiday from Branford’s Parthenon Diner. This is the third year in a row for the collaborative effort.

Parthenon Diner’s delicious, free turkey dinners are once again being made available to Branford vets, seniors and residents in need thanks to a $5,000 sponsorship program that teams local community donors with Parthenon owner John Sousoulas and program organizer and donor Andrew M. Amendola, an East Haven attorney.

To arrange to pick up their Thanksgiving dinner, participants can submit their request between Nov. 14 and Nov. 22 (the earlier, the better), by calling the diner at (203) 481-0333 or by stopping in to register at the Parthenon Diner at 374 East Main St. Callers should ask for the manager or owner and provide their name, address, and telephone number for verification. The diner will provide registrants with details regarding when to pick up their meal for Thanksgiving.

Together with Parthenon Diner Restaurant, donors providing a total of $5,000 in financing for the Thanksgiving program include Amendola, Don Herzog and Jesse Herzog of East River Energy, Mike and Vin Giordano of Branford Building Supplies, Ryan Torello, and an anonymous donor.

Amendola also raised an additional $5,000 from additional donors to put on the same type of Thanksgiving program at Twin Pines Diner in East Haven, with assistance from Twin Pines owner Jim Triantis.

Amendola started the free holiday meal program at both diners during Thanksgiving in 2020. While it was instituted that year to assist during the pandemic; Amendola’s intent at the time was to make it the annual program which it has become. He also went on to develop similar programs at both diners for Christmas and Easter which have also continued through the years.

Amendola said he’s grateful to the diner owners and donors who have generously continued to support the programs annually.

“I’d like to thank the loyal donors for the past couple of years and hopefully they will continue to donate in future years, as this will be an ongoing event,” said Amendola. “I thank the donors and the diners for putting on a great dinner for these individuals.”

Even though restaurants are experiencing rising costs and navigating changes in supply – including turkeys, this year -- Sousoulas said there was no question he wanted to continue to work with Amendola to provide the Thanksgiving meals again this year, and give back to the community by helping to support its veterans and senior citizens.

“We feel that it’s really important for them to enjoy their holiday worry-free; and we like to give back, for all the years of support that we’ve had,” said Sousoulas. “We’ve been a part of the community now for 37 years, and we have great support from our shoreline community and our town of Branford.”