nothin Deltas Deliver Firebirds That Home Cooking… | New Haven Independent

Deltas Deliver Firebirds That Home Cooking They’ve Been Missing

Maya McFadden Photo

Firefighters gather for meal firehouse style.

After a year in a pandemic, New Haven firefighters enjoyed a group meal — a welcome reminder of the large shift meals they enjoyed in their firehouses pre-pandemic.

The lunch took place Saturday, as the Firebirds Society was celebrated Saturday for their life-saving work, particularly during the pandemic’s peak last year.

Deltas with Firebirds at Saturday celebration.

The celebration took place at the The Knickerbocker Golf Club on Sherman Parkway. It was sponsored by the New Haven Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., for its annual Regional Day of Service.

You have not stopped, and we see you,” said Chapter President Paula Irvin.

This year the sorority’s eastern region chapters focused their recipients on frontline workers and Black-owned businesses.

The Deltas celebrate the annual March event to highlight and honor community members that make a difference in others lives. Due to the pandemic the chapter did not sponsor a recipient last year.

60 fit-for-a-firefighter meals.

The Firebirds were celebrated with a grab and go lunch gathering from New Haven-based Black owned Eat Up Catering. 

Eat Up Catering owner: Kristen Threatt and Brian Burkett.

Eat Up LLC Catering owners Kristen Threatt and Brian Burkett delivered 60 plates of their soul food to the event. The duo celebrated not only the Firebirds but their own two year business anniversary Saturday.

The firefighters picked between a plate of buffalo chicken wings, macaroni and cheese, and cabbage or garlic herb chicken, rice, and cabbage.

The pandemic affected not only the firefighters’ workload but the firehouse atmosphere too. Large group meals were restricted. Firefighters have had to bring meals from home. The firefighters couldn’t cook meals at the firehouse for their shift or eat in large groups.

Chapter President Paula Irvin: Thank you for keeping us safe.

Saturday’s home-cooked meal gave the firefighters the fuel to keep going,” said Irvin.

During the pandemic the fire department dealt with an increased call volume.

Battalion Chief Johnny Cooper said in his near 23 year career at the NHFD, he had never dealt with so many calls.

Captain Troy Frost said responding to calls at senior homes like Bella Vista required the firefighters to provide physical support as well as emotional support because of the pandemic’s increase in elderly isolation.

Captain Wayne Ricks Jr. agreed with Frost.

When you get there, you realize it’s not only a medical issue they’re having,” said Ricks.

It’s become necessary to offer our manpower and to put a smile on their face,” Frost added.

Frost and Ricks said working with homeless individuals at the pandemic’s peak was difficult, as well. Many of them don’t know how to get the service they need when they’re not feeling good, so they don’t know who to call but us,” Frost said.

Firebirds President Ernest Jones said the pandemic made a firefighter’s job difficult because we had to do things at a distance,” he said. But all we know is to adapt and overcome.”

The Dixwell and Newhallville fire truck paid a visit to the celebration, giving the truck crew a quick break to grab a to-go plate before heading back to work.

We do a lot of giving, so it’s nice to receive,” said Jones.

Captain Kendall Richardson recalled having to wear several forms of PPE at the start of the pandemic. For each call the firefighters had to wear a face shield, a Tyvek suit, gloves, shoe covers, and a fire mask with Covid-safe filter. Then all the equipment had to be disinfected upon their return to the firehouse.

The firefighters had to respond to each medical call and treat it like a potential Covid case to keep safe. It’s like going into the unknown,” Richardson said.

Firebirds pack extras to deliver to those on duty.

After the gathering the Firebirds got back to work.

Frost delivered 12 meals to a family in Newhallville with ten children.

The group each packed up the remaining meals and arranged to deliver them to their fire brothers and sister on duty and in need of a comfort meal.

Tags:

Sign up for our morning newsletter

Don't want to miss a single Independent article? Sign up for our daily email newsletter! Click here for more info.


Post a Comment

Commenting has closed for this entry

Comments

Avatar for Heather C.