On Christmas Day, William Fenimore’s family was gathered at his grandmother’s house.
But while his relatives were all gathering to enjoy a meal and time together, Fenimore was where he has been for the holiday for the past three years – on duty at Fire Station One.
“I’m on for next Christmas as well,” he said. “I’m from Colorado originally, and my family drives down to my grandma’s house about half a mile away. I’d be over at her house with them if I wasn’t here tonight.”
Fenimore is one of many first responders who were on duty throughout Starkville this Christmas. But even though Fenimore and the firefighters on duty with him were missing time with their families, they didn’t miss a Christmas meal.
Almost Like Home, a group that’s been bringing homecooked meals to essential workers on Christmas for the past 15 years, once again made its deliveries Wednesday to MSU Police Department, Oktibbeha County Sheriff’s Office, Starkville E-911 operators, Starkville Fire Department and OCH Regional Medical Center.
Dozens of volunteers assembled in the Courtyard Marriott Starkville parking garage Wednesday, holding signs with their car’s destination and unloading trunk after trunk of donated food. At least 14 separate cars were loaded up to deliver their homemade meals to Starkville’s first responders.
Organizer Angel Baker, who joined veteran organizer Laura Dunn for the first time this year, said she joined the effort after seeing its impact on social media.
“I saw it on social media during the pandemic and just thought it was a really really good thing,” Baker said. “I wanted to be a part of it. … I’ve been volunteering since 2020, but this is my first year being one of the organizers.”
She said the group’s dozens of volunteers bring meals made by “countless” donors to first responders. Almost Like Home also gets help from local businesses, which this year included Brian Michaels Catering, Walk-Ons and Modern Woodmen of America.
Baker wasn’t bothered at all taking time out of her holiday to pitch in, helping both as an organizer for the first time this year and by loading cars up herself.
“I’m going to go home to my family after we finish doing this, but these people can’t spend Christmas with their own,” she said. “They’re giving back to us by taking care of us, protecting us. So we can take care of them and provide them a Christmas meal in the process.”
The appreciation was certainly felt by the crew manning Fire Station One off South Montgomery Street. After four cars of food were unloaded in less than five minutes, the station’s dining table was completely covered in foil-wrapped platters of home cooking.
Fenimore said it helps to know that Starkville residents are thinking of him and the members of his crew while they’re with their families, especially given how busy the fire department has been this year.
On Christmas Eve, SFD responded to a four-unit apartment complex fire on Central Avenue, which displaced four families. All of the residents evacuated safely, including a pet dog firefighters saved from the flames, but Fenimore said it was nice to be appreciated after facing such a “big worker.”
“We sure do appreciate folks noticing that while they may be at home, we’re still out here,” he said. “All of us were at a structure fire just last night, two duplexes right next to each other. … It was pretty large when we pulled up, we could see the flames from all the way down the street…”
“It really encourages the guys,” Interim Fire Chief Dewayne Davis told The Dispatch Wednesday. “It lets them know the community cares for them, when somebody brings a meal in for them on Christmas day or any other holiday. … [This many housefires] isn’t normal for our department. I really appreciate the work they do, it means a lot.”
Beyond being a kind gesture, the home cooking also serves a practical purpose Fenimore said, given most of their usual food options are closed on Christmas.
“It is phenomenal,” Fenimore said. “You can drive down Highway 12, Kroger’s closed, Walmart’s closed, everywhere’s closed. Unless we brought stuff and had it sitting here for a couple days, we don’t have many options as far as anything we can eat. Folks bringing us a home-cooked meal means a whole lot, and really makes us appreciate the community we serve.”
While Fenimore and the firefighters were grateful for the meal, Baker also gave the impression that organizing the drive is its own reward.
“I just love doing it,” she said. “It’s a wonderful endeavor, and I’m really grateful for all of the residents that came forward to donate their time and their food to help feed our first responders on Christmas.”
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You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 35 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
