Firefighters Cook, Deliver Thanksgiving Meals

By Matt McFarland

NAUGATUCK VALLEY (CNN) -- A group of volunteer firefighters in the Naugatuck Valley spent Wednesday cooking up a traditional Thanksgiving feast to make sure seniors in need, don't go without Thursday.

Firehouses are known for their kitchens and some pretty good cooks.

"As you can see, we're not shy about pushing back from the table," firefighter Chuck Stankye with Paugasset Hook and Ladder Company said. "We enjoy cooking."

The turkeys, the 30 pounds of mashed potatoes and stuffing were cooked up on Wednesday at Derby's Paugasset Hook and Ladder Company were made for seniors, who without it wouldn't get a Thanksgiving.

"It's all people who either don't have anyone coming to them, or can't get out of the house for the holiday," Tom Biggs with Paugasset Hook and Ladder Company said. "They might not get a Thanksgiving dinner, they might eat Spaghettios or a soup in a can."

For the second year in a row, these firefighters swapped out their fire helmets and turnout gear for aprons and oven mitts. They bought all the food, cooked it and delivered it themselves.

"It's great for them to see us more in a helpful way, not just I'm not feeling well, my house is on fire, the CO alarm is going off," Biggs said. "It's much better than us coming at their worst time."

Typically when fire trucks roll up, it's a tough job, a tough situation. But these firefighters said Wednesday's house call where they know it's going to end with plenty of smiles.

The Derby firefighters are not just cooking for Thanksgiving. They'll be cooking again for Christmas.

"It feels so good, to be able to give out to these people that have nobody," Stankye said. "Just for five minutes and that one little meal, just to show them they're still part of this community and not forgotten."

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