It was 25 years ago that the Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center opened at the end of Chase Street.

Today, what the center and the new addition that houses the Robert A. Granato Senior Center do to help the people of Stonington, North Stonington, and Westerly is staggering.

Over Thanksgiving and Christmas the center and its small army of volunteers feed more than 2,000 people and distribute toys to children.

In 2009 its emergency food pantry provided enough food to 1,727 people for 121,950 meals. That food was valued at $464,000. Meanwhile its weekender backpack program provided food for 132 children on weekends when they do not have access to school lunch and breakfast programs.

In 2009, the center served 1,937 meals to 82 seniors while nearly 300 seniors took part in a variety of activities at the Granato senior center, ranging from board games and exercise programs to creative writing and line dancing.

The center's vans provided free transportation for 105 seniors in 2009 and made 5,978 trips, racking up a total of 43,353 miles.

Last year the center helped 116 people with applications for fuel assistance, offered free clothing to 1,567 more, and distributed baby supplies such as diapers, formula, and food, to 396 families.

The center also provided job search assistance and free tax return assistance for low- and middle-income people that produced $125,441 in refunds for 74 people last year.

"We still do human services and senior services so our mission has not changed," said Vicki Anderson, the center's executive director.

On March 27, the center hosted its 25th anniversary Giving and Growing Gala at the Mystic Aquarium & Institute for Exploration. The fundraiser is integral to PNC's budget.

"We may be a small agency," ANderson said, "but we have a big mission that includes feeding the hungry, taking care of seniors, and helping struggling families survive these difficult economic times."

While the center has a small paid staff, it could not do the work it does without its volunteers who last year donated 12,440 hours of service. An average of 82 different volunteers work at the center each month.

j.wojtas@theday.com