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‘More than a Meal:’ CDR Helps Families Battle Increasing Costs

Judy Barron knows the impact of rising prices. As the executive director of the Community Dining Room (CDR), Judy has seen how the continually increasing cost of food, basic items, and services has impacted area families. As a result, the Branford-based nonprofit has been working to spread the news that its services are available to foster a well-nourished shoreline community, including Guilford.

“People need to save every dollar that they have to be able to utilize to pay for other needed necessities,” Judy says.

Established in Branford in 1985, the nonprofit CDR now provides services that support the communities of Branford, North Branford, East Haven, and Guilford.

Judy says CDR is working to partner with other organizations in these communities to provide services that extend beyond offering hot, nutritious meals.

“That’s important to us that we’re not only recognizing the food insecurity—we’re feeding the body—but we want to feed the soul, as well, and be able to give those individuals the basic needs outside of just food,” says Judy. “We will partner with the other agencies and bring those services together with a meal to be able to sit and see what we can do to help them.”

Supporting shoreline residents in other areas of basic needs speaks to the tagline of the CDR, “More than just a meal.”

Battling food insecurity is merely one part of the services CDR can provide since the struggle for families to put food on the table every night can be an indicator of other difficulties, says Judy. Specifically, there are families who are part of the Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed (ALICE) population within the shoreline. ALICE residents fall into the awkward position of being above the Federal Poverty Line but still struggling to make ends meet.

“People who are...in the ALICE population, we’re finding those individuals are working during the day, so that is a struggle to be able to get to those appointments and services during the day, and maintain work for employment where you need to be,” says Judy.

CDR can help, even after the work day is done, by offering to connect, feed, and inform residents during weekly Family Dinners. The free, delicious dinners are served every Tuesday and Thursday from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at CDR, located at 30 Harrison Avenue in Branford.

Judy notes another effort CDR instituted as a way to support area families living within the ALICE threshold was initiated years ago in Branford: Community Dinners on the Green. Organized to help provide free family meals once a week in the summer to lessen the burden for area ALICE households, it has grown into a favorite community-building event.

This August, CDR held its inaugural Community Dinner on the Guilford Green. The event welcomed the community to enjoy a combination of free meal offerings with dinner from Guilford’s Cilantro’s Specialty Foods and dessert sponsored by Mary’s Culinary Classes. DJ Flip presided over fun and games for kids.

To help introduce CDR to more members of the Guilford community this summer, CDR also worked with Guilford Parks and Recreation to create some special events in town. In July and August, CDR hosted free dinners with Naples Pizza of Guilford during Guilford Parks and Recreation’s Concert at Jacobs Beach. CDR also set up free kids’ activities at the concerts.

CDR gratefully recognizes the many businesses, restaurants, organizations, and individuals who collaborate to contribute food, services, and monetary donations that help this nonprofit with its mission. Tax-deductible donations of any amount can made to CDR anytime online at communitydiningroom.org

To help keep its pantry stocked, residents can help by considering organizing a food drive with their neighborhood, school, church, team, organization, or others. At CDR’s website, a link to CDR’s Program/Outreach Coordinator is available to assist interested individuals with further information. CDR also updates its website with a Healthy Food Donation List for those who wish to contribute items and deliver them to the Branford location.

In addition to serving up Family Dinners every Tuesday and Thursday, CDR opens its welcoming dining room doors daily in Branford to serve a hot, nutritious lunch to shoreline community members seven days a week. Lunch is served every Sunday through Saturday from noon to 1 p.m.

All guests are welcome. There are no income guidelines or questions asked, says Judy.

“You do not need to provide any information. You just need to be present, show up, and we are here to help,” says Judy.

Senior Staff Writer Pam Johnson contributed to this article.