The Westport Fire Department responded to five calls on Saturday morning. Four were routine fire responses and one came from Governor M. Jodi Rell to serve as a food collection center for the region's most needy.

The governor declared the "Day of Caring" to be an occasion for fire stations around the state to fill the shelves of the Connecticut Food Bank and continue a tradition begun last year.

As cars drove into Westport's Fire Headquarters at 515 Post Road East, firefighters headed out to greet and assist happy donors with their bags of non-perishable items.

"As public servants, this is what we do," said Lieutenant Kenneth Lombardi.

Many neighbors responded to the Fire Department call not just to help the needy but to show support for the lifesaving work the firefighters dedicate themselves to, mindful of the recent deaths of two firefighters called to a house  fire in Bridgeport a week ago.

That was the case for Marilee Rerilly, an abstract artist, and her husband Dick, a former board member of Westport's Project Return group home. They drove from Norwalk to donate food.

One donor slipped an anonymous  thank-you note into her bag destined for the department's bulletin board. It read: "Thank you for doing this collection and thank you for putting your life on the line for us." A heart shape appeared on the signature line.

That sentiment was shared by Barbara Stalling, a 56-year Westport resident, as she dropped off her donation.

"We love you!" she said to firefighter Kevin Dumas. "You're always there for us!"

"I've done without and I know what's it's like," Stalling said. "I'm especially concerned for the children. We're supposed to take care of each other and I'm doing my best."

Others had their own reasons for participating.

"I'm doing this because people are hungry and I'm not," said Jan Turiel, who was busy collecting items since she first heard about the food drive two weeks ago.

"I'm here because my wife told me to drop this by," said a dutiful Roger Curtis.

Logan Stollenwerck, 4, joined his dad, Jeff, in sharing a dozen jars of organic baby food.

"Our baby's [Walker] 1 and now he eats big boy food," said the younger Stollenwerck.

As the morning wore on, papers and cloth bags filled with canned goods, cereals and pasta — and a few unusual items such as jalapeno jam, organic chocolate syrup, a bag full of spices and smoked oysters — began to fill several tables set up for the collection.

Muriel Durner, who worked at the fire headquarters for 28 years as an administrator, shared an easy comeraderie with the firefighters as she dropped off several bags of items.

"Did you bring me some cookies?" firefighter Jeff Thompson asked playfully as he helped unload the back seat of her car.