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11/03/2023 11:59 AMThanks 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. 13 and Monday, Nov. 20 for a free take-out Thanksgiving dinner for the holiday from Branford’s Parthenon Diner. This is the fourth 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 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 Street. Callers should ask for the manager or owner and provide their name, Branford address, and telephone number for verification. The diner will provide registrants with details regarding when to pick up their meal. Meals may be requested to pick up on Wednesday, Nov. 22 (prepared for heating up at home) or as a hot meal on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 23 (pick-up available until noon).
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 that 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.”
Sousoulas said it is a privilege to be a part of the effort.
“It’s very rewarding, in the sense of helping the community and people who are in need,” said Sousoulas. “I always see that there are many people that are very appreciative—people send me cards in the mail. It goes a long way to know that you’re helping people to feel better during the holidays.”