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.
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.