A special tradition returned to Plympton, with the Police, Fire, and CERT cooking up Thanksgiving meals for seniors at the Upland Club.
“They really go above and beyond, even in their responses to the senior housing, on any of the calls,” said Janine Eaton, the Resident Senior Housing Coordinator.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Fire Chief Steve Silva said the departments delivered meals to homebound seniors and those who could not afford Thanksgiving meals.
But nothing could match more than 50 residents sharing laughs and great food in-person on Wednesday.
“I felt they were so isolated the past couple of years,” Eaton said of seniors in town. “To have them to be able to have this opportunity to come out, and have the fire and the police work together to hold this event, it was unbelievable. It’s really appreciated. It was delicious too!”
Pat McDonald had an extra reason to be thankful for the first responders in town.
“They mean everything to me,” said McDonald. “If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t be here.”
She had a medical emergency just after leaving her driveway, but was rescued by the Fire Department, and was medflighted to a Boston Hospital.
“They’re just great people,” said McDonald. “They’re always around, they do weekly tours, and they come around to check on us.”
Doug Reese, a retired volunteer firefighter, and 53-year resident of the town, says the town departments all work well together.
“It’s comradery too,” said Reese. “These guys all have a lot in common, but they’re focused on taking care of the town, taking care of the folks, and that goes an awful long way here. This is not the city, this isn’t where everything is Helter Skelter. ‘I don’t know your name, what’s your name?’ Then you forget it five minutes later. In here, these people don’t forget. They do not forget. In good times and bad times, and ups and downs.”
The Police, Fire, and CERT team cooked from 6 a.m. to get the meals ready. The delicious spread included turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, desert, and much more.
Patrolman Matt Terenzi was among those helping out.
“I’m really glad that we were able to do it. Everybody seemed to love it. We had dessert, I saw the smiles on their faces. I’m glad that people were able to get out of their houses,” said Terenzi. “With COVID the last two years, we haven’t been able to put on an event like this. I’m just glad we had the turnout that we did. With the Fire Department’s help, we work really, really well together. It’s a great community. The training that we do, and working together – it’s just an awesome place to be.”
Silva says they all work together to serve the community in times of emergency, and events like yesterday.
“It was the great reset, in a lot of ways. The past few years, as everyone knows, has been, well, we’ll call it interesting, for no better term, but it’s taken its toll on a lot of people. Not just physically, but I think psychologically too. There was a feeling of isolation, there was that lack of community in many respects,” said Silva. “Sadly in some of these people’s lives, it was lack of family too.”
“To see almost 50 people here today, come together, just listening to the conversation, seeing the happiness, it was absolutely worth it,” said Silva.
