Community Corner
Stamford EMS, Stamford Paramedic Association & Our Lady of Grace
Organizations Team Up To Deliver Complete Thanksgiving Dinners To Stamford Food Bank
A whopping 870 pounds of turkey and 1,500 pounds of cranberry sauce, green beans, mashed potatoes and other canned and packaged side dishes were delivered by ambulance to the Food Bank of Lower Fairfield County yesterday, compliments of a team effort by Stamford EMS, Stamford Paramedic Association and the families of Our Lady of Grace School in Glenbrook.
“We are thrilled to partner with the Stamford Paramedic Association and Our Lady of Grace School on this effort,” said Patricia Squires, Stamford EMS Chief and C.E.O. “It is the third annual holiday donation from all three organizations, and in the true spirt of Thanksgiving, we came together to make full dinners for those in need.”
According to the Connecticut Food Bank, 11.6% of Stamford is food insecure. The U.S. Department of Agriculture defines food insecurity as inadequate or uncertain access to food.
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The donations from the families of Our Lady of Grace School are a portion of the total provisions that the school community gathered. A sizeable contribution of food was designated to support five families within their own school community that are food insecure.
“We live in the middle of prosperity, but still within our community there are those who routinely go without. Whenever possible we should give back, and we’re fortunate to have the Food Bank to help us make a contribution to the people we serve,” said Pete Kessler, President of the Stamford Paramedic Association, Local 684, a unit of IAEP.
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Providing additional community support, the turkeys were purchased at a special deep discount from Stop & Shop - Ridgeway. “Anything we can do to help the community and those that are less fortunate, we do what we can,” said Girvan Williams, General Manager.
The turkeys and other provisions will be distributed to soup kitchens, emergency pantries and shelters across the region. The Food Bank of Lower Fairfield County is in need of 8,000 turkeys, those interested in donating should contact the food bank at (203) 358-8898.
