MERIDEN, Conn. — Hartford Healthcare and its licensed commercial ambulance company, Hunter’s Ambulance, held their annual “The Spirit of Giving” event in Meriden, where they went out into the community to spread holiday cheer.
“Times can be hard throughout the year, but at Christmas and during the holiday season, it could be especially hard. So, anything we can do for these families to bring them some good really makes us feel great,” Charles Johndro, EMS medical director for the Hartford Healthcare EMS Network, said.
Johndro says they chose to give joy and gifts to four families.
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“So, it could be children's clothes, it could be bicycles, other things that they need for the family, housewares and other appliances, things that just make their lives any any bit easier,” Johndro said.
Johndro says they teamed up the city’s police and fire department. Around 120 people came to help out.
“And they're singing Christmas carols, bringing joy to the community. It's just an awesome event to see lights and sirens in our emergency vehicles, Santa on a sleigh going through town,” Johndro said.
The organizers have made it their mission to stop by the houses of the chosen families. Their first stop was the home of Michelle Raszcewski.
“I’m just so happy for my kids, they deserve this more than anything,” Raszcewski said.
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She says her kids’ school and the city’s police department nominated them after hearing about their situation.
“I'm going through breast cancer, and my husband is currently deployed overseas, and he left pretty shortly after I was diagnosed,” Raszcewski said.
The doctors found a lump in her breast and told her the news in April.
Raszcewski says she started chemotherapy, ending in 16 rounds in October.
She’s now recovering from a double mastectomy.
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“After the holidays, I'll be able to start radiation, and then it's kind of like the next phase of it. And so it’s just a journey,” Raszcewski said.
Despise the challenges, her family has been pushing through.
“It's a lot for little kids, and they've been resilient, and they have bounced back when we have hard days, and they're always there to, you know, give me a hug and celebrate all of the you know, the little milestones on on my journey,” Raszcewski said.
She says the support she’s been receiving has been incredible.
After seeing this event on Saturday evening, Raszcewski called it one of the most moving gestures she’s ever witnessed.
“It's just something I think you have to experience, especially in a town like Meriden. It's a big town, you know, and kind of feel invisible sometimes. But tonight, that was definitely not the case,” Raszcewski said.
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Cayla Cade is a reporter at FOX61 News. She can be reached at ccade@fox61.com. Follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.
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