Firefighters Wednesday prepped, cooked, then delivered more than 80 Thanksgiving meals to senior citizens in Ansonia, Derby and Shelton.
The meal drop offs were coordinated with TEAM Inc’s Meals-on-Wheels program, the Derby Housing Authority and volunteer fire departments in Ansonia, Derby and Shelton.
The meals were prepared at Paugassett Hook and Ladder Co. 4 on Route 34 in Derby, where members hope they’ve started a new Valley tradition.
“We like to give back to the community, especially around Thanksgiving, and this is something new to do,” said Linda Goodman, the commissioner’s newly-appointed public information officer.
How’d this come about?
Derby Fire Commissioner Mike Kelleher said Laura Wabno of the Derby Housing Authority called him and asked if he knew of anyone delivering meals for city seniors during the holiday season.
“We have a tremendous amount of volunteer power here, and a licensed kitchen,” Kelleher said. “Why couldn’t we do it?”
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Kelleher reached out to Ron Boucher, TEAM’s service coordinator for the Meals on Wheels program, and Wabno at the Derby Housing Authority to get a list of names.
The Meals on Wheels program deliveries food to people who are at least 60 years old and are homebound, Boucher said.
Paugy fire Captain Tom Biggs put the turkeys in the oven Wednesday about 9 a.m. Delivery time was slated to start at 4 p.m. — though the Derby Fire Department was called to assist Ansonia at a fire at about 3:30 p.m. — such is the life of volunteer firefighters.
About 85 to 90 deliveries were expected to be made.
“You can’t beat these guys,” Boucher said. “They’re all here for one reason: to help the community.”
On Thanksgiving the volunteers will be assisting during the Commodore Hull road race. On Friday members are scheduled to raise money during a “boot drive” in front of the fire house and the House of Bones on Route 34.
“This is a great community weekend for this fire company, in particular this weekend,” Goodman said.
A total of 83 meals were scheduled to be cooked and delivered with 23 going to Ansonia, 24 to Shelton and 36 to Derby, according to the Paugies. The food — turkeys, mashed potatoes, stuffing, rolls, cranberry sauce and the like — was donated by the fire department’s community outreach program.
