OFD to serve free turkey dinners

By Chris Sykes, Staff Writer

This year, members of the Orange Fire Department once again served up Thanksgiving dinner to anyone in the city who wanted to enjoy a nice, traditional meal with all the fixings. But this time the event was a little different.

 That difference came from the fact that the firefighters decided to feed the public for free from two separate locations instead of at just one site.

Normally, the members simply open up the bay doors at the Chief Martin DeMarzo Fire Headquarters and station located at the corner of Central and Lincoln avenues and allow hungry people to come in and partake of the holiday bounty that has been prepared by the firefighters and their families. 

But this year, even though the Fire Department planned to hold its annual community dinner event at their main facility across the street from the old Orange Middle School building on Central Avenue, they also set up a second site at Park Avenue School.

That meant that they had the chance to feed twice as many people as they usually do, and that was just fine as far as they were concerned. “We’re serving dinner to the public for free from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thanksgiving day like we always do,” said Firefighter Derrick “Dee” Brown.

“We have two locations this year, with one also at Park Avenue School. We do this every year as a service to the public because we believe that to whom much is given, much is also required in turn.” Brown said that bit of old school biblical knowledge and wisdom fits right in with the firemen’s creed about service above self to the people and members of the public that they are sworn to protect and serve.

He said that even though he and his fellow firefighters are technically part of the fire service, working in the field of fire science and prevention, that does not mean that there is not a philosophical aspect to what they do. 

And that, Brown said, is why he is a firefighter and why he and his fellow firefighters don’t have any problems or hesitation about feeding the public for free during the holidays, in addition to serving them on the job every other day of the year too. 

“In life, we search for that something that will bring fulfillment to our lives,” Brown said. “In essence, we are looking for that something that we are called to do. I’ve been called to serve my community and those who are in greatest need. To serve is my greatest reward.” 

Anyone interested in finding our more about the Fire Department’s Thanksgiving Day Community Dinner at both locations this year can call 973- 266-4229.