(Courtesy photo) Representatives of Hudson's newly combined Papa Gino’s and D’Angelo Grilled Sandwiches restaurants and Corpus Christi Food Pantry & Assistance display an enlargement of the $2,100 check the restaurants donated to the agency last week. From left are Tom Belanger, Papa Gino’s general manager; Parker Bragdon, Papa Gino’s employee; Susan Dignan, director of assistance at Corpus Christi; Joan Willnus of Corpus Christi; Maryellen Keigher, Corpus Christi director; and Papa Gino's employees Dotty St. Peter, Nick Lovett and Tiff Murray.

HUDSON — As an expression of gratitude and commitment to the community, the parent company of Papa Gino’s and D’Angelo’s Grilled Sandwiches celebrated last week’s grand opening of their new combined restaurant in Hudson by donating the first day’s sales to Corpus Christi Food Pantry & Assistance, a Nashua-based agency that assists residents of Hudson and other surrounding communities.

The restaurants, in the plaza at 77 Derry Road, pledged $2,100 to Corpus Christi, according to a spokesman for New England Authentic Eats, the restaurants’ Dedham, Massachusetts-based parent company.

The newly combined restaurants are located in the renovated space where Papa Gino’s operated for a number of years.

“It’s an honor to bring these two neighborhood favorites together in Hudson, a community we’ve been lucky enough to serve for over two decades,” Deena McKinley, Chief Experience Officer at New England Authentic Eats, said at the presentation ceremony.

“We look forward to our guests joining us in welcoming D’Angelo back to the neighborhood alongside the Papa Gino’s they’ve enjoyed since 1998,” McKinley added.

She said the company is “always looking for opportunities to make a real, positive impact for our communities, and we’re grateful to be able to give back to Corpus Christi, an indispensable community organization working to serve those most in need in this neighborhood.”

Corpus Christi director Maryellen Keigher said the donation will bolster the nonprofit agency’s hunger and homelessness prevention programs at its 3 Crown St., Nashua, headquarters.

The funds, Keigher said, will be used to purchase groceries for the food pantry, which assists people facing food insecurity, particularly products such as eggs, butter and milk.

Also benefiting from the donation will be Corpus Christi’s assistance program, which serves as a short-term safety net for those facing homelessness by funding basic needs.

“As our neighbors struggle to make ends meet and consistently get food on their plates, this donation helps us to support those in dire need of assistance,” Keigher said. “Far too many local families are living paycheck to paycheck, and we are doing everything we can to ease their burden through food assistance, emergency funding and community resources.

“This generous donation from Papa Gino’s and D’Angelo will go a long way to help those most in need, and to fend off hunger and homelessness in our community.”

Dean Shalhoup may be reached at 594-1256 or dshalhoup@nashuatelegraph.com.

Newsletter