The Torrington Police Department figuratively “adopted” six Torrington seniors this Christmas, collecting items and cash from generous community members and delivering the gifts to the seniors.
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TORRINGTON – The Torrington Police Department figuratively “adopted” six Torrington seniors this Christmas, collecting items and cash from generous community members and delivering the gifts to the seniors.
TPD Chief Matt Johnson said the team likes to do something special each Christmas season to help them embrace the spirit of giving during the holidays. This year, the team reached out to the Senior Friendship Center, asking if there were any individuals who might benefit from a little extra holiday cheer. After contacting the individuals, TPD put the wish lists on its Facebook page, asking the community’s help in gathering the items and any cash that might go towards helping them.
“Those are legitimately folks in our community that sometimes are making choices such as, ‘Do I pay for medicine this month, or do I pay for food?’” Johnson said. “Some of them are in though spots, so it feels good to get the chance to pitch in and help there.”
Many of the requested items were simple, such as slippers, pajamas, snow boots, hand lotion and a ham for Christmas dinner. Community members responded with zeal, bringing in donations of requested items and cash for the recipients.
“It’s just another amazing reminder of the community that we live in,” Johnson said about the community response. “When you put that stuff on social media, sometimes you wonder if anybody will listen or respond or even think about it, and we got great response and a lot of folks were excited about it and a lot of folks chipped in to help.”
TPD was able to collect enough to give each recipient a meaningful Christmas and to donate the rest to go to the Senior Friendship Center as credit for meals or transportation for these individuals. The dancers at 28th Avenue Dance Studio helped wrap the presents and delivered them back to TPD the day before Christmas. Main Street Market donated the ham to the requesting couple along with a gift card for groceries.
On Christmas Day, Johnson, TPD officer Matt Maestas and Sgt. Joel Sandlian delivered the gifts. They were met with smiles and words of gratitude as they went from house to house.
“I think those folks kind of heard from us initially about their Christmas wish lists, didn’t give it a lot of thought after that and then we showed up on Christmas Day and got to surprise them with some fun stuff and spread a little bit of cheer,” Johnson said.
Christmas Day is traditionally a day of giving. Gifts are given and food is shared with loved ones. Not everyone in Torrington has family or friends to be with, especially in the midst of a global pandemic. TPD officers have found satisfaction and fulfillment not only in their jobs, but in being in a position to gather community members to fill needs on Christmas Day.
“I probably felt as good about it as [the recipients] did,” Johnson said. “It was fun.”
