What are you looking for?

If you are interested in volunteering with the Community Dining Room, please sign up for our mandatory Volunteer Orientation on Monday, January 12th at 5PM. This will be held in person at 30 Harrison Ave. in Branford or via Zoom. Please email volunteercoordinator@communitydiningroom.org to RSVP

Every Wednesday Senior Center in East Haven we host a Family Night meal dedicated to families with kids to enjoy a free meal and kid friendly crafts from 5-6:30PM. Volunteers can help set up, serve, clean or do crafts from 3:45PM-7PM. With more additions coming in 2025! *Volunteer Orientation required for all new people interested*

Community Dinners on the Green is the highlight of our Summer programming. Reaching hundreds of families in our community with free food, games and crafts for kids! Each day has a different theme and food from a local restaurant. Volunteers will help by unloading the van, setting up tables and food, providing food service, making crafts and popcorn, cleaning up, and loading the van. Tuesdays in Branford on the Blackstone Library lawn and Wednesdays on the East Haven Green, both from 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM. *Volunteer Orientation required for all new people interested*

We are looking for volunteers to help sell lumineer kits for the 2025 Harbor Lights in Branford! From 9AM-12PM on Saturdays and Sundays from November 13th until December 14th we need two volunteers to help sell the kits. Volunteers must participate in our Orientation before getting started!

Our Homebound Delivery service brings meals to participants every Monday, Wednesday and Friday between 11AM-12PM in Branford and North Branford! The packer will put the correct number of fruit, dessert, bread and frozen meals into each drivers box. Numbers are provided for you! Simple task with a big impact! We are currently search for packers on both Mondays and Wednesdays! 9:30AM-11:30AM. *Volunteer Orientation required for all new people interested*

Our Homebound Delivery service brings meals to participants every Monday, Wednesday and Friday between 11AM-12PM in Branford and North Branford! Volunteers can help deliver a pre-determined weekly route in Branford or North Branford. Routes vary between 3-7 stops and physical hand-off to participants required! Weekly commitments and substitutes needed! We are in search of a weekly Monday driver for route 3 in Branford! *Volunteer Orientation required for all new people interested*

Local stores such as Branford Stop & Shop, Big Y and Guilford Bishops donate food weekly on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays! These procurements help fuel our kitchen and are a reliable staple for our organization. Volunteers can pick up one of our weekly donations between 9AM-10:30AM and drop off at the CDR before 11AM. Weekly commitments and substitutes needed! *Volunteer Orientation required for all new people interested*

This volunteer opportunity is open to individuals 18 years old and beyond. Striving to maintain your independence can be challenging, especially if you find yourself without a nearby family or you’ve leaned on your friends one too many times. In those moments, it’s easy to allow yourself to feel isolated, but if you ask, there may be someone in your local area who can offer a hand to help. That’s where the Neighbor Helping Neighbor program comes in, offering infrequent or episodic support to someone who just needs a little help to maintain their independence. It could be a weekly check-in call, a monthly ride to the bank, or picking up some groceries and carrying them into the house

Every Thursday from 3-5PM we run a cooking club! This group helps make and package meals for our Homebound Delivery Program and Weekend Meals for Seniors. We have a huge need for more meals! Volunteers must attend Orientation before getting started

Van drivers go to our retail donors (grocery stores) to pick up donations, bring them back to the Food Pantry and help unload them. Hours are varied but are primarily Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and/or Friday mornings. You do not need to commit to all these days. Van drivers will begin by riding along with one of our current drivers to learn the routes and procedures. Estimated time involved: 1-2 hours per day. Requirements: valid CT drivers license, the ability to lift heavy boxes (possibly 50 lbs.), and the ability to make a commitment to a regular schedule.

We provide a daily lunch meal from 12-1PM Monday through Sunday. Guests can dine-in or take-out a free meal!Dishwasher will arrive around 9:30AM and help run dishwasher, man 3-bay sink and help take out compost, recycling and garbage. Volunteering until about 1:30PM to help clean up after the meal.*Volunteer Orientation required for all new people interested*

Assist clients as they "shop" at the food pantry and help with set up, packing boxes for delivery to homebound clients, and clean up. 3 shifts available: Tuesday AM, Tuesday PM and Friday AM. Some Spanish is always a bonus! Some lifting involved. This is an primarily inside work but willingness to help outside (under cover) with additional client shopping is appreciated.

We provide a daily lunch meal from 12-1PM Monday through Sunday. Guests can dine-in or take-out a free meal! Volunteers can help prep, cook, and serve for our daily meal. Arriving at 8:30AM and staying until 1:30PM to clean up after service. Weekly commitments and substitutes needed! Looking for a weekly volunteer on Fridays! *Volunteer Orientation required for all new people interested*

Every other Saturday at the East Haven High School cafe we will be serving breakfast from 9-10:00AM for families. We are looking for volunteers to help prep, cook and serve from 8AM-10:00AM every other Saturady morning starting September 13th for our new program! *Volunteer Orientation required for all new people interested*

On Sunday, December 14th, we are looking for volunteers to help us wrap gifts for kids in need. We are getting tons of donations of presents and will need nimble fingers to help us wrap. We will supply all of the wrapping material (although donations are always welcome) All volunteers must participate in our Volunteer Orientation before participating

Help with managing food supplies: loading/unloading our truck, sorting donations, stocking shelves. Possibly ride along on pick ups, assist clients with groceries. Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds. Hours are early (7/7:30 AM) on Tuesday and/or Friday mornings for about 3 hours. Some outside (under cover) work.

We provide a daily lunch meal from 12-1PM Monday through Sunday. Guests can dine-in or take-out a free meal!Volunteers can help prep, cook, and serve for our daily meal. Arriving at 9:30AM and staying until 1:30PM to clean up after service. Weekly commitments and substitutes needed!*Volunteer Orientation required for all new people interested*

The Branford Food Pantry is a 100% volunteer organization with the goal of providing supplemental groceries to Branford families in need.Currently we serve approximately 250 families every month. We are open on Tuesday (morning and evening) and Friday morning.  During opening hours volunteers assist clients with their food choices, intake donations, stock shelves, help clients with the groceries, prepare and deliver groceries to homebound clients. Outside of hours, our volunteers pick up donations from a variety of sources, sort donations, stock shelves and prepare for opening.We are always looking for volunteers willing to make a commitment to regular hours.

Founded in 1985, the Community Dining Room (CDR) is a private, not-for-profit organization providing food, support, and companionship to our shoreline neighbors. We serve the south-central Connecticut shoreline. ​ The Community Dining Room is committed to providing meals to the community and supporting basic human needs. Our vision is to see a well-nourished community. We strive to promote public awareness of the impact of hunger and isolation in our society. We are dedicated to helping our guests with their practical needs through referrals and fellowship. ​ All new volunteers are required to participate in a Volunteer Orientation, please contact Volunteer Coordinator to sign up and get started!