Tonight, cooking means a little more. I’m preparing dinner for a group of Rocky Hill firefighters as a small way to say thank you to people who are always there when their community needs them. Good food, good people and a reminder of why giving back matters.

Sometimes giving back doesn’t mean writing a check. Sometimes it means showing up with a car full of food, hotel pans and a lot of prep. This private fundraising dinner was a chance to use my love of cooking to support a nonprofit that has been part of my life for more than 20 years. Bringing people together, one bite at a time.