Here is a great example how career members of the  Stamford Fire Department worked hand-in-hand with the volunteers of the Glenbrook Fire Department to make a difference for the citizens of Stamford.  It can work and it does work!

My Dear Friends,

As I write this I am not even sure why it happened, but Monday (the first day of summer) around 6:30 pm we were plunged into darkness and oppressive, breezeless heat. The power went out. I and my dogs and cats were fine, but many of the residents of Bishop Curtis Homes behind the rectory here at St. Maurice Parish were not. They were scared. They were forced out of their apartments by curiosity and the heat and many residents with varying physical conditions quickly experienced distress.

Within minutes, like knights in shining armor, members of the Glenbrook and Stamford Fire Depts. Along with rescue workers were charging up the hill with great concern and needed assistance. They checked each apartment, set up generators and provided essential portable oxygen to numerous residents alleviating their panic until the power returned around 8:30 pm: and that’s not all! The City of Stamford Public Safety Mobile Command Vehicle arrived to provide a comfortable air conditioned resting place until the crisis abated.

THEN IT ALL HAPPENED AGAIN! Just when we all thought we were safe and secure for the night the electric-less dark overtook us for a second time in four hours! This time the response was even faster and broader. The Fire and Rescue vehicles and personnel along with the Mobile Command Center returned. Neighbors came around asking if they could be of any help. Jerry Pia, neighbor, parishioner and director of the Glenbrook Community Center ran over to let the residents know that there was a comfortable air conditioned (and electrified!) respite available to them at the Center until the problem was fixed. Power did return around 11:30 pm, yet the Mobile Command Center remained all night!

What a wonderful community Glenbrook is! What professionalism and devotion to their passion and job the Fire and Health officials demonstrated! What compassion neighbors like Jerry and so many others exhibited! THANK YOU. You make us all realize how safe we are. You also make us secure and proud to call Glenbrook our home!.

Father Bert, Pastor
St. Maurice Church