Holiday Tradition Brings Howell Community Together

On the day before Thanksgiving the Southard Firehouse was once again filled with officers from the Howell township Police Department for what has become an annual tradition during the holidays here in town.

The local chapter of the PBA started handing out meals to residents close to 20 years ago in a combined effort with the Howell Senior Center. By the time the day was done the officers had distributed more than 150 meals around Howell bringing not only a holiday meal but also a smile to the residents they serve and protect on a daily basis.

Carol Zur, the Director of Senior Services said the idea for the started simply as a way to feed some older residents who they were not providing food for during the holidays. “We have meals on wheels and serve lunch at the Senior Center but there were four days when seniors did without,” she said. “We started brainstorming this together and it just grew and grew.”

What started as feeding just over 50 residents has tripled in that time and Det. Chris Nagy, who serves as PBA president said it is a special time for everyone involved. “For us it’s the start of the holiday season,” he said. “It gets everybody geared up and ready to go.”

The officers load their patrol cars up with bags of food decorated by students at the nearby Taunton School and donate the meals in their full uniforms. When they arrive at the houses on their route Nagy said they always receive a warm welcome. “The people can’t thank you enough. You’re not showing up for a first aid call, you’re showing up with a bag of food. Most of the time they have interactions with us it’s not for such a happy thing.”

Zur said it is not unusual for her to visit a recipient of the food several months later and see the bags still displayed proudly as a reminder of the special holiday treat.

Nagy said the day is about more than just the officers handing out the food. All the meals are provided by volunteers who drop the goodies at the Southard house to be delivered. “Everybody’s involved, the whole community,” he said.

Local businesses also get involved including Kirk’s Florist providing flowers in each of the bags. Hal Ornstein of Affiliated Foot and Ankle Care, and one of the original people involved in the day said it is a testament to the town and the officers. Describing the day as “awesome,” Ornstein added, “As somebody who has been in the community for 23 years and has a lot of police officers as patients their orientation to community service is literally second to none.”

Ornstein said the first few years started with meals being made by his patients and he has enjoyed seeing it grow from there. “It’s beautiful,” he said.