Harmony Fire collaborates with The Hype to deliver food to those in need – in grand style

GLOCESTER – The Harmony Fire Department collaborated with The Hype Nutrition to collect food to stock the town’s food pantry this holiday season, and transported the items in their antique fire engine on Wednesday.

“We thought we’d load up the antique fire truck and head up to The Hype, a local protein shake facility that the members here frequent, you know, to try to keep the ‘lbs’ off,” said Fire Chief Steven Quattrini. “The fire department collected four boxes by members and [The Hype] customers probably brought in ten boxes of food, so it’s a good donation.”

Quattrini said the idea to partner on a joint donation with The Hype’s owner Deirdra Nicholas was a true collaboration.

“This is the first year doing this for us at Harmony, but Deirdra’s been doing it for the last six years, but kind of flying under the radar,” Quattrini said. “She does all kinds of fundraising and it’s time for her to get some recognition. She doesn’t like it, but the amount of contributions she makes, she should be recognized.”

Nicholas said she often partners with local fire departments for charity efforts.

“The Harmony Fire Department from day one has been a huge, huge supporter. We are right down the street for them, and we just thought partnering like this would be fun,” she said.

Quattrini said his department, comprised of 60 part-time employees and seven volunteers, was enthusiastic about the idea.

“The members here jumped all over it,” he said. “This fire department is always trying to give back to the community.”

Nicholas said giving back to the community was also an important part of her business plan for The Hype, which she opened in September of 2020.

“I live in this town. Both of my kids go to the high school. I love being a part of the community and I’m just trying to make an impact,” she said. “We have the greatest customers. I put a bucket on the counter for people to donate if they preferred to do it that way and I had $100 in it to go shopping for food with.”

The department decided to use the 1952 antique fire truck, which is no longer in service and only brought out for community events such as parades, to transport the donations to bring a little attention to the food drive efforts and spread some holiday cheer, Quattrini said.