You can take Rebecca Sweeney out of Newhallville, but you can’t take Newhallville out of Rebecca Sweeney. The police lieutenant, who’s now in charge of the Downtown/Wooster Square police district, came back to her old stomping grounds Wednesday to make Christmas brighter for Newhallville kids.
Sweeney (at left in photo) did it by continuing a tradition she started when she was the neighborhood’s top cop: an annual holiday toy giveaway.
The giveaway filled an empty warehouse-like room at Science Park Building 4. Dozens of parents came with kids in tow to pick out presents. One of them was Dennis Grimes (pictured with his daughters, Denia Williams and Deshonda Grimes), who described himself as a single father of five, living on unemployment, “which makes it harder.”
“She should be chief!” he said of Sweeney.
“With the economy being bad as it is, a handout like this is not bad,” he said. “It really brings the joy and the main reason of Christmas — of giving, and smiling and having pizza and coming together and feeling safe.”
Melinda Tuhus Photo
Gifts covered the floor behind a bank of long tables, waiting for eager hands to claim them. Lt. Sweeney (pictured writing a ticket with this father’s children by age and gender) built up a network of friends, acquaintances, businesses and non-profits (including Literacy Volunteers of Greater New Haven) when she ran the district. They all contributed to the joy Wednesday.
“It’s usually a substantial gift, as you can see,” she said. “If they are smaller ones, we kind of package them together, and we always do pizza — that’s a big hit.” She added that one mom has 11 kids. “She’s our number-one family that we always take care of.”
Mark Stroud of New Haven government’s Livable City Initiative (LCI) brought in some of the ten party-size pizzas donated by Karma, a new joint on Chapel Street across from 360 State.
Johnny Jones III, who’s 5, was delighted with his pick.
This little girl said the make-up kit was for her sister.
Some parents said these were the only presents their kids would have this year.
Ebony Jones (pictured) has three kids. “It means a lot to me, because I really didn’t have much money this year,” she said. “It’s really helpful. It really doesn’t matter what it is, it’s just the children having something to open and being surprised. That’s the point of it…it’s the thought that counts.”
This was the fifth year Sweeney organized the event.
Another job well done by Lt. Sweeney. Thanks for having such a big heart, you didnt have to but you did and the community thanks you for it.