Town Employees Support Hamden Citizens in Need

Hamden town employees and school crossing guards donated more than 70 Thanksgiving turkeys to the Hamden Food Bank Tuesday.

Their union, AFSCME Local 2863, will also provide $500 worth of Stop & Shop gift cards for post-Thanksgiving distribution through the town’s Community Services and Elderly Services departments.

Monies for the turkeys and gift cards came from town employees, both unionized and non-union.

According to Local 2863 Vice President Joe Cirillo, the union has been donating turkeys and gift cards for the last eight years.

“This is certainly a pet project for me and something our union members are proud to do around the holidays," he said. "It gives us joy knowing that people who are in need can enjoy a nice Thanksgiving dinner.”

 “Food insecurity is a real and growing problem, particularly in these tough economic times," said Carol Riccio, Elderly Services Outreach Coordinator and Local 2863's President. "It’s important for us as town employees to do whatever we can, on the job and off, to give people a reason to celebrate the holidays.”

AFSCME Local 2863 represents 75 Hamden town employees and school crossing guards and is affiliated with the 35,000-member Council 4 AFSCME union.