New Haven police are getting in the holiday spirit of giving back by carrying on the legacy of the late alderwoman and activist Mae Ola Riddick.
This week is the third annual Thanksgiving Holiday Giveaway organized by New Haven Police, the Mae Ola Riddick Foundation (MOR) and Kingdom International Economic Development Corporation (KIED).
“We’re really kind of in a desperate situation,” Lt. Patricia Helliger said, “we really need some help here.”
At the police substation in the Dixwell neighborhood on Charles St., volunteers were busy Monday bagging the canned goods needed to prepare a Thanksgiving meal.
“We put the trimmings, the cranberry sauce, the stuffing and everything like that,” Lt. Helliger said.
With three days to go until the holiday, police say they need of more donations, especially turkeys, to feed two thousand families.
“We like to get everyone as a community to give, to come here to give whatever they can so that people who are more disadvantaged can benefit from that,” Lt. Sam Brown said.
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“To me this is all about community based policing you got to make sure that we look out for folks that are in need,” Lt. Helliger said.
Families picking up their groceries Monday had the surprise of meeting former NBA All-Star Dale Davis who was there to help pass them out.
“It is our responsibility, whatever we can do to help out in tough situations, in tough times,” Davis said, “and Thanksgiving is all about giving.”
Police will continue collecting donations of turkeys and canned goods on Tuesday from noon until 7 p.m. at the substation at 26 Charles. St.
