Kiwanis Serves Veterans a Superbowl Feast

By Dan Gilbert

Kiwanians from the Weston, Bridgeport, and Norwalk Kiwanis clubs laid out and served a buffet on Super Bowl Sunday, February 8, 2026, for the 38 male veterans residing at Homes for the Brave and provisioned the game-day meal for the 10 female veterans at the PFC Nicholas A. Madaras Home.

Weston Kiwanians prepared or purchased food for the feast and delivered it to the Norfield Congregational Church in 0-degree weather on Sunday morning to a team of members for transport to Bridgeport. Bridgeport Kiwanians delivered beverages, and Norwalk Kiwanians delivered individual snack bags directly to the two homes.

At Homes For the Brave, Weston Kiwanians reheated spiral ham, roasted chicken, chili, mac and cheese, baked beans, rice and red beans, and pulled pork. Tasty treats included cake, cookies, brownies, chips/salsa/guacamole, soda, and a mixed green salad with tomatoes. As they have since 2011, after serving the veterans, club members washed the dishes and headed home.

In the photo at the top of this post, from left to right are Kiwanis kitchen team members Frank Ferrara, Steve Thomas, Harry Spencer (president), Barbara Gross, Dave Burns, and Dan Gilbert.

Harry Spencer and Dan Gilbertcontributed the photographs below. See them at full size in the event album.

Many thanks to all donating food, including Billy Arce, and Kiwanians Reed Ameden, Susan Baron, Jennifer Barron, Louise Brady, Theresa Brasco, Dave Burns, Joan Clayton, Frank Ferrara, Dan Gilbert, Barbara Gross, Dan Lerner, Harvey Luft, John Moran, Samantha Nestor, Harry Spencer, Steve Thomas, Bob Uzenoff, and David Weber.

Shout-out to Steve Thomas and Barbara Gross for organizing this event, and to the delivery and serving crew: Dave Burns, Frank Ferrara, Dan Gilbert, Steve Thomas, Barbara Gross, and Harry Spencer.

Applied Behavioral Rehabilitation Institute, Inc. (ABRI), doing business as Homes for the Brave, is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit with a mission of providing housing and services to individuals experiencing homelessness, especially Veterans. By operating one permanent and four transitional supportive housing programs in Fairfield County, Connecticut, ABRI aims to help individuals return to productive and meaningful lives. ABRI staff work with clients to create personalized goals to help them achieve stable income and housing and increase their self-determination.

Homes for the Brave is a 42-bed transitional housing program available to male Veterans and non-veterans who are experiencing homelessness. The program provides housing, case management, and vocational services.

The PFC Nicholas A. Madaras Home, Connecticut’s first and only community-based transitional home exclusively for women veterans experiencing homelessness and their young children.

Weston Kiwanis is dedicated to helping build a vibrant, sharing Weston community. Club members gather at the Norfield Congregational Church parish Hall at 8:15 a.m. on Saturdays, with meetings running from 8:30 to 10 a.m. All are welcome.