Crime & Safety

Westport FD Remembers Troops Overseas During The Holidays

Many folks have generously donated items to 'Give to the Troops,' which will go to soldiers overseas during the holidays, but now shipping costs must be covered.

For the past several years, has been a drop off sight for ‘Give to the Troops,’ a charitable organization that sends care packages, put together with your generous donations, to our troops in combat zones.

Firefighter Pete Nichio explained that numerous Westport Firefighters have been overseas in the past. Firefighter Justin Harelick is currently in Afghanistan, while Lieutenant Tom Richmond, who was in Iraq, and Firefighter Nick Marsan, who was in Afghanistan, have returned home safely. Nichio is scheduled for his fourth deployment in September.

Both Nichio and Firefighter Earl Hall, who also helps get donations together and shipped overseas, sympathized with the troops who cannot be with their families during the holidays and explained how that time of the year can be emotionally difficult for them. Nichio said the care packages and gifts that they receive are great morale boosters.

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Westport Fire Chief Andrew Kingsbury said, “It truly is a big deal for us because we have had these guys over there.”

Kingsbury rememberd a time in September 2010 when both Nichio and Marsan were overseas simultaneously.

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“We were worrying about both of them over there. It kind of hit home for us,” Kingsbury recalled.

“We want to support the troops, not only because we have had firefighters deployed, but because they are defending our country and we appreciate their duty,” Kingsbury added.

Material donations have been coming in from as far as Long Island and New Jersey, and Nichio hopes they will have the same success in receiving monetary donations.

“We are asking everybody who made those donations to write a check for $15 or $20 dollars instead of (donating) other items,” Nichio said.

In order for donations to make it to the troops in time for the holidays they need to be in by November 30, but at this point ‘Give to the Troops’ is seeking donations to pay for the shipping costs for items that have already been donated, according to Nichio.

For a list of needed items you can visit www.Give2TheTroops.org.  All donations can be dropped off at Westport Fire Headquarters or mailed to 515 Post Road East.


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