A Fairfield community spent the Fourth of July afternoon cooking up free food for the public while collecting it for those in need.

Although the pandemic cancelled some of the normal annual Independence Day celebrations, residents still gathered downtown at Saugatuck Sweets for the ALS Angels' COVID Recovery Food Drive.

Organizers collected canned goods while attendees ate barbecued delicacies and celebrated the nation's independence.

Officials said the celebration was an opportunity to show that being an American means being charitable to the community.

"I think it's important for us on America's birthday, to take restock in saying, 'do we have work to do?' Absolutely. But as a country, have we accomplished great things and brought values and shared them throughout the world? Absolutely," said Sen. Tony Hwang.

"We have a high responsibility to one another, as a society, to treat each other with respect, love, work together, unify all those things. That's what true freedom is," said Richard Kendall, of the CT Sons of American Revolution.

The President of Al's Angels, Al DiGuido, said the goal of the event was to bring small town America back into small towns.

"My whole mission was to give young kids memories that they would carry with them, of coming down to the local ice cream store, of coming down doing a watermelon eating contest," DiGuido emphazided.

Residents who would like to donate can do so by visiting the ALS Angels website.