Thanksgiving Dinner Compliments of Greenwich Firefighters

Photos: Greenwich Firefighters deliver Thanksgiving dinners at Armstrong Court; #2: resident Erika Roberto with Firefighters Whitney Welch and Shawn Morris. Credit: Barbara Heins.

In keeping the tradition they began in 1973, crews from the Greenwich Fire Department performed their annual Thanksgiving dinner rescue on Tuesday.

The band of firefighters fanned out in the Armstrong Court housing complex on Hamilton Avenue and the Wilbur Peck complex on Davis Avenue to distribute Thanksgiving dinner baskets. Six families in each complex, selected by the Greenwich Department of Social Services, were treated to all of the fixings needed for a festive dinner on Thursday.

The widows of six firefighters also received boxes, according to Firefighter Matt Romeo who coordinates the annual effort that’s paid for by Greenwich Firefighters Local 1042.

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Armstrong Court resident Erika Roberto was appreciative of receiving the box laden with a turkey, pie, sweet and regular potatoes, canned vegetables, gravy, stuffing, dinner rolls, coffee, milk and butter.

“I am so happy. Now I can cook for my kids,” Roberto said as Firefighters Shawn Morris and Whitney Welch helped unpack the box. “My six-year-old son is looking forward to dinner.”

Roberto already has a jumpstart on the holiday season. Her apartment is decorated for Christmas and the tree stood sentinel in the living room.

“Thank you so much for your help,” she told Welch and Morris.

Other firefighters making dinner deliveries included Dan Byrne, Mike Varanelli, Chris Zaleta, Russ Paltauf, Chris Povella, Lt. Tom Lenhart and Deputy Chief Keith Millette.