JFD rescues Thanksgiving for those in need

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The smile of satisfaction on Cherra Wheeler’s face spoke volumes about the extraordinary acts of giving and caring that went on inside the Johnston Fire Department Headquarters kitchen Monday morning.

Wheeler’s smile, though, wasn’t because the scent of freshly-cooked food created a certain hunger among the on-duty Firefighters and a half dozen or so visitors.

“I love doing the shopping for today,” said Wheeler, a captain in the JFD's Rescue Division. “It’s getting my daughters involved and helping them understand how fortunate we all are and that there are people out there who need help putting food on their family tables.”

And help, thanks to each of the 88-member Johnston Fire Department surfaced Monday morning in form of a record-setting 38 Thanksgiving baskets, replete with a turkey and all the fixings.

Monday marked the eighth time in as many years that members of the Johnston Association of Firefighters Local 1950 have banned together to make sure families in need will have a Thanksgiving dinner this Thursday.

“This is our Thanksgiving,” Wheeler offered while hugging her daughters – Callie, 5, and Eva, 18 months – in the JFD Headquarters kitchen. “Everyone here [at the Johnston Fire Department] contributed to the success of this year’s Turkey Basket donation.”

Wheeler, who has coordinated Local 1950’s annual “grand act of giving” as someone called Monday’s food basket donations, explained that each firefighter donates $10 and that adds up to $880 for the JFD Rescue Captain to do her annual shopping.

“This really helps us fill a need at Thanksgiving,” offered Dina Needham, who runs the ongoing and Food Pantry at Winsor Hill Elementary School. “The baskets we received here today will be added to what we collect for families in need.”

Likewise, JHS Assistant Principal Donna Pennacchia, Guidance Director Debbie Liccardi and Karen Pezzullo from Nicholas A. Ferri Middle School all agreed as Firefighters like Cory Woolley, Donnie Roberts and Anthony aRusso helped those women load the baskets into their respective vehicles for their respective confidential distributions.

In all, the above named schools – as well as Thornton and Brown Avenue Elementary Schools – received Thanksgiving baskets Monday that as Wheeler emphasized included a turkey, vegetables, potatoes and stuffing and of course, dessert.

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