EAST HAVEN

The Branford-based Community Dining Room (CDR) plans to expand its food-based services across the shoreline to continue its fight against food insecurity. A major step as part of this effort is taking shape in the form of a collaboration with the Town of East Haven.

“Our collaboration with the Community Dining Room and being able to provide hot meals twice a month to the residents of East Haven is a tremendous step in the right direction to address food insecurity in our town,” said Mayor Joseph Carfora. “The community dinners that we will be offering does more than provide food, but also hope, dignity, and a sense of community. It is through collective efforts like this we can support those who need it the most.”

The kickoff event for the collaboration will be at the Bradford Manor House on Wednesday, Oct. 18. Dining services provided by the CDR will alternate back and forth between there and the former Vernon Hays School at 1 Maple Street starting in November. Michelle Benivegna, the director of administration and management, said the town is looking to make the former school building the main location, but will see how the process of starting out as a pilot program unfolds before that decision is settled upon.

Nonetheless, the school, which supports numerous recreation programs in town, is an ideal location to accommodate CDR services, said Benivegna.

“Hays School is an ideal location because it’s our building...It’s easier when it’s our space and Hays School, being an old school, that cafeteria area’s made really for commercial kitchen food service,” said Benivegna. “It’s more child-friendly; there’s a playground, there’s a covered area for picnicking outside in the front. We have a lot more flexibility there, so I can see it growing much like the partnership with the YMCA.”

The growth of the cafeteria space at the school could mean adding more tables, chairs, or anything else that the area can house.

The expansion by the CDR into East Haven would be a benefit to the “significant amount of families” in East Haven that are experiencing food insecurity, said Benivegna. She added that it is important to understand there is a stigma attached to being food insecure as a sign of poverty or even homelessness, when it may simply mean that there are some nights when everyday families are unable to put a meal on the table.

“There’s a stigma associated with it, which is not true,” said Benivegna. “It doesn’t mean that someone doesn’t have a roof over their head. It just means that someone needs help getting a meal.”

Some of those East Haven families who have experienced food insecurity are simply facing the same financial challenges many others are facing, such as rising prices for necessities such as food. The town’s food pantry continues to provide families with a variety of foodstuffs from its location at Christ and the Epiphany Church. However, Benivegna said when the time to cook a hot meal with ingredients from the food pantry may sometimes be unattainable, there is the additional benefit of CDR’s services being brought directly to East Haven residents in providing access to that hot meal.

“[The CDR] really does an amazing job. They set the tables with cloth tablecloths, and they make it like a restaurant experience, which is nice. It elevates it,” said Benivegna.

The town is taking even more steps to address hunger, with Mayor Carfora joining the Mayor’s Alliance to End Childhood Hunger earlier this year.

The expansion by CDR and collaboration with East Haven may also open up volunteer opportunities for town residents, especially those who are already members of civic organizations such as the Rotary Club and the East Haven Auxiliary Wing. Members of the Board of Education, who have supported this collaboration, will also be volunteering some nights at the cafeteria, as well, said Benivegna.

“The other thing that it gives an opportunity to is it creates a connection between our volunteers, that will be serving the dinners, with our community members,” said Benivegna.

Benivenga said that East Haven residents helping out their fellow residents provides an opportunity “to know your neighbor, to have a conversation, [and] also to get some more exposure for our civic groups in town.”

The town is already thinking seasonally about the dinners, as it will offer a Christmas Eve dinner featuring Santa and presents.

The CDR provides services beyond hot meals twice a month, said Benivegna. At its two locations will be a social services component, featuring a table with supportive information on resources for other forms of food assistance such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (better known as SNAP), along with fuel assistance and the handing out of infant and feminine hygiene products.

“I plan on partnering with the FRC [Family Resource Center] here in East Haven to provide free children’s clothing,” said Benivegna. “There’s also a craft component for the kids to…make something and take something home with them that evening.”

The CDR is an organization open to all shoreline towns, each of which can learn more about its services by visiting www.communitydiningroom.org or on social media on www.facebook.com/CommunityDiningRoom06405. Additional questions can be directed toward Carfora’s office. Benivegna said the town is also looking to establish its own website and social media account on the services they become more acclimated to them.

“I think the more you learn about the Community Dining Room and who they serve and the amazing volunteers that they have, we’re really blessed to be able to have this opportunity to offer it here in town,” said Benivegna.