The St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Shop and Food Bank at 237 Roosevelt Drive sent word they needed more hams to give to families in advance of Christmas.
Derby Town Clerk Marc Garofalo, who coordinates monthly food drives for St. Vincent de Paul, posted a message on his Facebook page Dec. 19 saying the pantry was short a whopping 40 hams just three days before the pantry’s annual “Christmas Give Out.”
People responded — and then some.
“It was very exciting,” Garofalo said. “We were able to meet the goal in less than 24 hours.”
Members of the Derby Storm Engine and Ambulance Corps went to ShopRite on Pershing Drive and purchased 15 hams for the food pantry.
“A few people noticed the post of Facebook last night so the officers talked and quickly made the decision to do it,” Storms member Brian Mezzapelle said Tuesday.
On Wednesday, a crew from Valley Emergency Medical Services traveled to the Big Y in Ansonia to buy 20 more hams for St. Vincent de Paul.
In addition to the emergency responders, random members of the public stopped by the Roosevelt Drive pantry with hams, too.
Garofalo wasn’t surprised by the community’s response.
“It is just a classic example of how great the people of Derby and the Valley are about helping our neighbors,” Garofalo said. “I definitely was psyched about how quickly it happened. Facebook and social media are great for getting the message out to those in the community.”
