• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

West Haven Voice

West Haven’s only independent news source - By and For West Haven

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Archive
  • Advertise With Us!
  • Classified
  • Announcements
  • Contact Us
  • Web Exclusive
    • Kids Activity Pages

60 WHHS kids had their own ‘Squanto’

December 11, 2024 By whvoice

Some of the students who took part in the special Thanksgiving feast organized through WHHS Asst. Principal Stacy Sutton, Vertical Church’s Outreach Program, and Deacon Dean Macchio (right) of St. John XXIII Parish.

By Stacy Sutton

Asst. Principal, WHHS

As a student, I remember learning about the story of the first Thanksgiving. It was a story I enjoyed, but I never truly connected with it the way I did today at West Haven High School. History tells us the first Thanksgiving emerged from the Pilgrims’ hardships as they struggled to survive in a cold, unfamiliar land. Today, in my own way, I felt like a Pilgrim.

A few weeks ago, I reached out to Deacon Dean Macchio of St. John XXIII Parish, hoping he could help provide a Thanksgiving feast for 60 of our incredible students. The task felt overwhelming-much like the Pilgrims must have felt when faced with the unknown. In this situation, Deacon Dean became our Squanto.

Deacon Dean has been a tremendous supporter of our school, generously stocking our pantry through the Town Fair Tire Foundation. When I asked for help, he stepped in once again, rallying the community in an extraordinary way. Thanks to his efforts, and the generosity of Vertical Church Outreach-which had already donated hundreds of turkeys to West Haven Public Schools and an incredible 1,709 to the greater New Haven area-we received six beautifully cooked, golden-brown turkeys, all the fixings, and more. But the kindness didn’t stop there. Members of the community joined us to serve the meal and even stayed afterward to share in the feast.

The students were incredibly thankful and gracious. Their smiles and words of gratitude filled the room, and it was clear how much they appreciated not just the meal but the care behind it. Seeing their joy and sense of belonging made the day unforgettable.

Words can hardly express the deep respect, admiration, and gratitude I felt today. Reflecting on this experience, I felt a profound connection to the gratitude the Pilgrims must have felt for their newfound friends. Today reminded me of the power of shared humanity-the simple but profound act of coming together to support one another. Just as the Pilgrims found hope through the kindness of their friends, we found hope in the generosity of our community and our Squanto-Deacon Dean.

Filed Under: 121224, Featured

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Phil Liscio says

    December 15, 2024 at 11:12 am

    DEACON Dean, The MAN, The MYTH, The LEGEND, Blessed to know him. Fittingly, Dean and I met over an exchange of Turkeys for an outreach program some years ago🇺🇸. PRICELESS.

Primary Sidebar

Seach our site

Follow us on Facebook

Comments Box SVG iconsUsed for the like, share, comment, and reaction icons

Historian's Corner ... See MoreSee Less

Link thumbnail

Historian’s Corner

westhavenvoice.com

Historian’s Corner June 18, 2025 By whvoice Leave a Comment The Barnacle Restaurant as its stood prior to its closing in 1954, becoming a private home. A menu from the restaurant. By Dan Shine Voice...
3 hours ago
View Comments
  • likes Like 0
  • Comments: 0
  • Shares: 0
Share
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

0 CommentsComment on Facebook

Editorial ... See MoreSee Less

Link thumbnail

Editorial

westhavenvoice.com

Editorial June 18, 2025 By whvoice Leave a Comment Congratulations, Grads! Congratulations Class of 2025! For those of you who are ending your collegiate careers, we hope you find a life’s work that...
22 hours ago
View Comments
  • likes Like 0
  • Comments: 0
  • Shares: 0
Share
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

0 CommentsComment on Facebook

Letters ... See MoreSee Less

Link thumbnail

Letters

westhavenvoice.com

Letters June 18, 2025 By whvoice Leave a Comment Pride — One woman’s reflection As a proud 75-year-old LGBTQ+ woman in a loving relationship of 42 years — and legally married since 2008, when Co...
23 hours ago
View Comments
  • likes Like 0
  • Comments: 0
  • Shares: 0
Share
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

0 CommentsComment on Facebook

Dear Felicia ... See MoreSee Less

Link thumbnail

Dear Felicia

westhavenvoice.com

Dear Felicia June 18, 2025 By whvoice Leave a Comment It’s the middle o’ the month of June, and with it, the kiddies are outta school for the next 8-10 weeks. It’s a lesson in how fast life can ...
24 hours ago
View Comments
  • likes Like 0
  • Comments: 0
  • Shares: 0
Share
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

0 CommentsComment on Facebook

Load more

 

 

West Haven’s Calendar

Comments Box SVG iconsUsed for the like, share, comment, and reaction icons
West Haven Calendar
2 years ago
West Haven Calendar

Thursday Night Live (This one's on Friday!!!)

... See MoreSee Less

Link thumbnail

Thursday Night Live (This one's on Friday!!!)

tockify.com

Fri 23 Jun, 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM [EDT]: Event by Milford Regional Chamber of Commerce, CT Old Grove Park Public · Anyone on or off Facebook West Haven summer concerts are back! Join us in West Haven thi...
View Comments
  • likes Like 0
  • Comments: 1
  • Shares: 0
Share
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

1 CommentsComment on Facebook

West Haven Calendar
2 years ago
West Haven Calendar

Mark Your West Haven Calendar

tockify.com/west.haven.calendar/detail/442/1686776400000

Business After Hours West Haven Veterans Museum
... See MoreSee Less

Link thumbnail

Business After Hours West Haven Veterans Museum

tockify.com

Wed 14 Jun, 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM [EDT]: Business After Hours West Haven Veterans Museum West Haven Veterans Museum & Learning Center Event by Milford Regional Chamber of Commerce, CT West Haven Veterans ...
View Comments
  • likes Like 0
  • Comments: 0
  • Shares: 0
Share
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

0 CommentsComment on Facebook

West Haven Calendar
2 years ago
West Haven Calendar

Added for June 10th & 11th

tockify.com/west.haven.calendar/detail/443/1686405600000

West Haven Historical Society Open House
... See MoreSee Less

Link thumbnail

West Haven Historical Society Open House

tockify.com

Sat 10 Jun, 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM [EDT]:
View Comments
  • likes Like 2
  • Comments: 1
  • Shares: 0
Share
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

1 CommentsComment on Facebook

Load more

Footer

Address

West Haven Voice
840 Boston Post Road
West Haven, CT

 

Contact us

Call (203) 934-6397

Contact form

SITE NAVIGATION

HOME
ABOUT US
ARCHIVE
ADVERTISE!
CLASSIFIED
ANNOUNCEMENTS
CONTACT US
WEB EXCLUSIVE

FIND US IN PRINT

Our print edition is available each Thursday. Here is a list of locations!

Letters Policy

Information on submitting letters to us.

Our submission deadlines.

Copyright © 2025 West Haven Voice, LLC