“This was an awesome year for our Thanksgiving baskets,” said Cherra Wheeler, rescue captain of the Johnston Fire Department, as she stood amid a huge collection of frozen turkeys inside the department’s kitchen. “We were able to feed 40 families this time.”
Wheeler said that’s a new record since the effort began nine years ago.
Representatives from Johnston Public Schools showed up at Johnston Fire headquarters on Atwood Avenue on Monday to pick up what Johnston High School Assistant Principal Michael Mancieri called “a great act of giving” that will provide a Thanksgiving dinner – with all the trimmings – for 40 families who otherwise might not have enjoyed such a feast.
“Our donation was up from the 36 baskets we did last year,” Wheeler said.