Gail Flores: Spicing Up Senior Programs

Jalapeno Heaven owner Gail Flores likes giving back to her community and especially enjoys spicing up Canoe Brook Senior Center programs with her flair for fundraising.

Gail runs Jalapeno Heaven with her husband Hector, who oversees its Mexican menu and is the "flavor" of the Branford restaurant, she says.

"When we first opened, there weren't many Mexican restaurants around. Mexican food is fun, it's festive, it's a little bit corny and tacky. We've been here 19 years now and we have a very good, solid clientele who come from everywhere," says Gail.

Gail firmly believes part of Jalapeno Heaven's recipe for success includes supporting local programs, starting in her hometown. The Flores family has lived in Branford for 27 years, but Gail also grew up in Branford. Her dad and sister owned Cindy Ellen's Café here, where Gail learned quite a bit about the restaurant and catering business.

"About 10 years ago, I was trying to drum up business (for Jalapeno Heaven). At Cindy Ellen's, we used to do novelty nights. I went to Canoe Brook and suggested doing something for the seniors."

The budget-friendly nights, featuring specialized fare, were a hit.

"We started out doing it every couple of months, then it became once a month," says Gail, who also organized festive seniors' carnival nights with games and prizes, because "I like to see them get up and enjoy themselves."

A few years ago, Canoe Brook Activity Coordinator Nancy Cohen told Gail the seniors' Medical Transportation program needed a financial shot in the arm. The program doesn't charge a fee for transportation to medical appointments (in 2010, 16 volunteer drivers put a collective 43,000 miles on the program's three cars, transporting 440 people). The town pays for the cars, but donations pay for maintenance and gas. According to Cohen, donations started going down about five years ago.

"Many of the companies and organizations who donated to the program either stopped donating, or the monetary amount decreased significantly," says Cohen. "So, in order to save the program, we spoke with Gail, who had done pasta fundraisers in the past, and she happily agreed to help us out. It's now something that the seniors and the community look forward to."

April 25 will mark the fourth year for the Branford Medical Transport Pasta Dinner fundraiser. Gail oversees the cooking in the Canoe Brook kitchen, assisted by the Branford High School (BHS) Rotary Interact Club and football team.

"I work a lot with the football team, because one of our waitresses is married to the football coach. He's like a good family friend, and he gets the kids involved in the community," Gail says. "The Interact Club does a lot, too."

Last year's dinner, including its raffle and donations, raised about $5,000 for Branford Medical Transport.

Gail also helped establish (and still supplies, at a discount) another annual fundraiser in nearby Durham .

"A high school teacher came to me [several] years ago. Her students always travel to a Spanish-speaking country, and she was looking for a fundraiser. I taught her kids how to make fajitas and quesadillas for a fundraising dinner. They booked 50 or 75 people that first year. Now, it's known as the Durham Fajita Fest-they book 200 people a year."

Gail loves being a part of her community and says helping local causes is a win-win.

"I decided when we opened, if people came to us for help, we'd always give gift certificates or food. You contribute by helping their cause and, by giving people a chance to try your restaurant, they might become customers."