Firebirds Fill The Void For Thanksgiving

With smooth sounds of Maze featuring Frankie Beverly jamming in the background, Private Troy Adams was busy stuffing plastic bags at the Dixwell Fire Station on Goffe Street with all the fixings needed for a stellar Thanksgiving dinner.

Given that Adams (pictured) had worked last night and just gotten off Thursday morning, he’d probably more than earned some sleep, but there’s no place that he, or his fellow New Haven Firebirds Society members, would rather spend time. ​“I’m from New Haven, born and raised,” he said. ​“This is the stuff I like to do — help the community.”

Thanksgiving is a holiday that is often celebrated with family and feasting. Every year for the last 15 years the New Haven Firebirds Society has made sure that families in New Haven enjoy it without the stress of worrying how to afford it. That means working with the students of Edgewood School for a canned good and non-perishable foods drive, and raising funds to purchase turkeys.

Firebird President William ​“Billy” Augustine said this year the organization, which is a chapter of the International Association of Black Professional Firefighters, is on pace to give away more than 200 turkeys and all the trimmings.

Augustine said the need seems greater this year. ​“Food costs go up and people don’t have the money to buy,” he said. The turkey giveaway is just the first in a series of giveaways that the Firebirds participate during the holidays. The Firebirds annual toy and coat drive is coming up Dec. 7.

South Windsor-based company TicketNetwork served as a corporate sponsor this year and contributed $1,000 to match the $1,000 that the Firebirds raised with the help of Jackie James, director of the city’s Small Business Service Center.

“The Firebirds are great and they do great work in the community,” James said.

Lt. Gary Tinney, first assistant director for the International Association of Black Professional Firefighters, said oftentimes people assume that everyone who needs help is receiving assistance and that’s not the case. He said Firebirds learn about the needs of their community when they’re out responding to calls and try to keep up with people they know who need help, especially the elderly. Tinney said events like the turkey giveaway and toy drive are things that Firebirds chapters across the country do for their communities.

“We try to fill in the void,” he said.

The Firebirds had some special help this year stuffing bags and handing out turkeys. Members of the New Haven-based Pi Lambda Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. jumped at the chance to participate in the giveaway, said member Bridget Bostic.

Tina Edwards (pictured to the right of Mayor Toni Harp) said that she really appreciates the Firebirds generosity, especially at this time of the year. ​“I think it is very nice of them to do this for us,” she said. ​“They really help us out and they sure do save lives.”