Photo by Sophie Sonnenfeld
Jenny Marroquin hands out snacks at community day event.
DERBY — Pastor Dennis Marroquin and members of his New Beginnings Church of God held a ‘community day’ on Anson Street in downtown Derby Saturday evening.
Marroquin and about 20 volunteers grilled hotdogs, gave out chips and drinks, and handed out backpacks full of school supplies to more than 50 neighbors and families who stopped by the event. The items were free.
The event was an attempt to keep the community strong in the face of the many challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Derby is an economically distressed city.
Anson Street, Lafayette Street, Hawkins Street and the surrounding roads are densely populated and blue collar. The neighborhood also has a federally-subsidized housing complex for seniors. The 2016 ALICE report from The United Way found that 40 percent of Derby residents live above the federal poverty line but don’t have enough money to meet the basic costs of living.
Grecia Galvez, who has lived in the neighborhood for four years, brought her infant daughter, Lucia, to the community day. Galvez said she tries to come to most community events in Derby, but hasn’t left her house much during the COVID-19 outbreak.
As the weather got warmer and COVID-19 cases began to decline in the state, Galvez said she started bringing her daughter outside more to meet people — while following social distancing guidelines.
Barbara Pisanelli has lived in the neighborhood for more than 39 years. She attended an event Pastor Dennis’ church held last year. But, since COVID-19 arrived in the state, Pisanelli said she has been staying home.
On Friday, Marroquin stopped by Pisanelli’s house the day before to personally invite her to the event. “It’s a great event because it brings everybody together,” Pisanelli said.
Elizabeth Bowen and her daughter, Kristina Ovalle, are members of Marroquin’s church. They also live in the neighborhood and volunteered at Saturday’s event.
Soon after Bowen and Ovalle moved into the neighborhood about 11 years ago, they met Marroquin and joined the church.
“We like to do a lot of things for the community. We like to make sure people know that we’re here for anybody if they just want to talk. Or just come by and join us that’s all we ask,” Bowen said.
Photo by Sophie Sonnenfeld
Bowen said that COVID-19 can’t destroy community spirit.
“It may be a virus, but it’s not going to stop us from praying, it’s not going to stop us from doing what we’ve got to do. We’re here to support the neighbors and help the community as best we can.”
Wanda Mulero is from Bridgeport and has been a member of the New Beginnings Church of God for eleven years. She said she felt it was important to volunteer at the community day event to keep people together and remind them they are not alone.
“We need to let people know that the church is here for them and not to be afraid. It’s important for people to understand they need some foundation about spirituality because they need that especially now,” she said.
Saturday’s event also gave Derby police officers the chance to make inroads into the community.
Derby police officers Johnathan Tirado and Ariam Rivera came to the community day event to meet with neighbors and even played a water balloon tossing game with some kids. Rivera said he lost one and won one game.
“With everything that’s going on it’s always good to show them that we’re not just here to arrest people and it gives us an opportunity to say ‘hi’ and talk with them and to see a different perspective than what the media always portrays us as” Rivera said.
Tirado said the officers visit the schools almost every day and so they are familiar with all the kids in town. “We’re a small department so they get to know us. Even the kids that get in trouble sometimes, we have a good relationship with them.”
Tirado who is from New Haven and Rivera who is from Bridgeport. Both have been officers in Derby for three years.
Marroquin said every year he and members from his New Beginnings Church of God on Elizabeth Street in downtown Derby typically hold two or three community outreach events at different locations across Derby. In early June Marroquin organized a unity rally on the Derby Green in response to national protests following the death of George Floyd.
“We want to get back in the community and have police relationships with the community and want to build confidence amongst the kids as a way of getting the community back and really comfortable not only with the police, but also with the church and to just come out and have a little fun!” Marroquin said.
Marroquin said he didn’t want COVID-19 to stop their efforts and said they all tried to keep their masks on and follow the protocols to protect against the virus. “It’s a different lifestyle, it’s a whole different deal, but something that can’t change is our hearts and our love for eachother. Everything else can change- we can wear a mask, we can keep distant, but if our love is consistent everything is going to be okay.”
