Holiday tradition gets safety makeover
Boys & Girls Club Thanksgiving meal distanced this year
GREENWICH — The Boys & Girls Club of Greenwich traditionally hosts a buffet- style Thanksgiving meal for the club kids to celebrate the holiday together at the club’s Horseneck Lane headquarters.
But due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a few changes were made.
Late Tuesday afternoon, parents of 100 club kids who take part in the afters- school program were invited to do curbside pickup of a turkey, cornbread, stuffing and other side dishes, and halves of two holiday pies, one pumpkin and one apple.
“We’re looking to feed a lot of
club kids with this,” said Don Palmer, vice president programs at the Boys & Girls Club of Greenwich.
The Club usually feeds 400 kids but scaled down the event due to public health needs.
“We still wanted to make this real special for our kids and send them home with food,” Palmer said. “We want them to know we’re thinking about them — and we care about them and their families. Even though it’s going to be a lower number, it’s still a great day for the kids and the club.”
The Club wants the kids that the whole is there for them, particularly when times are difficult, Palmer said.
“You’re always thinking about the kids and what’s best for them,” he said. “This is something we wanted to remain special even during this time when there’s a lot of stress in families lives with COVID. ... We want to make sure the kids know the club is there for them. When you send them home with food during the holidays, it’s a good feeling. We wanted to keep this tradition going.”
To make the meal happen, the Boys & Girls Club worked with community partners, including
Boston Market, which supplied the turkeys, and Acme grocers, for the pies.
First Selectman Fred Camillo, Chief of Police James Heavey, Fire Chief Joseph McHugh and Superintendent of Schools Toni Jones joined the makeshift assembly line to package the food with the help of the club’s board. The volunteers wore gloves and masks and followed all safety protocols.