On Monday, the Town Hall parking lot was the scene for a massive turkey give away organized by a non-profit organization called D2C, short for Dedication to Community.
Retired Greenwich Police detective Vincent O’Banner, who is now involved with D2C as Director of statewide programs for Connecticut, said the turkey giveaway was just one of many efforts to create sustainable relationships between law enforcement and community.
O’Banner, who retired from Greenwich Police in 2014 after 27 years said an overriding goal of D2C was to create sustainable relationships, and that the turkey giveaway would continue later in the day in Bridgeport.
O’Banner said the turkeys were made possible by donations to D2C, and the idea is not only to help those in need, but to build relationships between police and communities.
“We have this pandemic going on, as well as negative relationships between communities and police. Right now we’re focusing on getting that better, and help people in need. People are losing their jobs. People don’t have money for food. We’re just trying to do our part.”
Retired Greenwich Police Detective Vincent O’Banner who is currently Director, Statewide Programs – Connecticut for D2C, which is short for Dedication to Community
As for the impression many people have that everyone in Greenwich is wealthy, O’Banner said, “We know otherwise.”
“I worked here 27 years, and even when I was on the job, I used to do the same thing,” he recalled. “I collaborated with Human Services, and they tell us the people who really need the help.”
First Selectman Fred Camillo said the pandemic is exacerbating difficulties for many families.
“It’s a time of year that always reminds us that not everybody has a roof over their head. Not everybody has food on their table. We’re reminded of it at Thanksgiving, and at Christmas,” he said. “There’s a lot more people every year in need than you think and this year it’s much worse. People have been hit with loss of jobs.”
“It’s a reminder of the times we live in and the present state we’re in,” Camillo said. “This type of goodwill goes a long way.”