Simply insuring a package with your carrier isn’t always enough because carriers like UPS have specific rules on how to pack properly.

First thing you need to check is the weight of the package because if you’re shipping something heavy, make sure you have the right type of box.

Internal packaging is also important because bulky items typically need some type of foam or airbags as a buffer.

When you pack items yourself, understand you’re taking over the liability for meeting packaging standards. UPS offers a Pack and Ship Guarantee, where an employee will pack your box for you with the shipping items you buy in store.

Those three points could have helped John in West Hartford, who owns a local power equipment company and needed to send an engine back to the manufacturer.

First issue—UPS lost his package and didn’t find it until three months later. When it arrived, he says it was severely damaged.

He thought he was covered because he insured it for $1,000, but UPS denied his claim, citing insufficient packaging.

As a small business owner, John felt he couldn’t afford to lose out on that much money. He went back and forth with UPS for another month before asking NBC Connecticut Responds to step in.

A UPS spokesperson said his UPS Store should have provided more guidance for the customer on how to ship the engine. The company then offered to honor John’s additional insurance, refunding him $1,000.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions has ordered a review of how well the national gun background check system is working, a response to the deadly shooting in Sutherland Springs, Texas, NBC News reported.

Sessions said the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, better known as NICS, "is only as reliable and robust as the information that federal, state, local, and tribal government entities make available to it."

The Defense Department is conducting a review of its own practices after the Air Force discovered that it did not report the court-martial conviction of Devin Kelley, the church gunman. That failure allowed Kelley to buy the rifle he used in the Texas shooting.

Dozens of volunteers came out to feed hundreds of people who otherwise wouldn’t get a Thanksgiving meal at Eastern Connecticut State University (ECSU) in Willimantic Wednesday.

The school hosted its 11th annual Day of Giving. About 50 volunteers served up 400 pounds of turkey, 150 pounds of potatoes and several other trimmings.

More than 500 people walked through the doors of Hurley Hall, including Greg Spinnato.

"It’s so pleasant. You get a free meal and it’s hot and it’s warm," Spinnato said.

The Willimantic resident has been attending the Day of Giving for four or five years now. He said if it wasn’t for this event, his family wouldn’t have a Thanksgiving dinner.

"My son’s a special needs child. I’m disabled myself. There’s been some rough times and this is really helpful for all of us," Spinnato said.

Angelica Otero’s sister is part of Early Head Start, a home-based program that helps prepare young children for school. Families often have lower incomes.

"It’s an extra day we get to say thanks to God and enjoy everybody for everything they do," Otero, of Willimantic, said.

Thea Oaks was in the food line, enjoying a Thanksgiving meal before she has to cook on Thursday.

"To be honest? I don’t have to work! I don’t have to cook! I can eat and enjoy myself," Oaks, of Willimantic, said.

The community event is a collaboration between Eastern’s Center for Community Engagement, the Office of Institutional Advancement and Chartwells, Eastern’s food service provider.

Food was donated by the ECSU Foundation and Chartwells. Chartwells staff also donated time to prepare the meal and decorate the dining hall.

The event also received 1,868 items from food drives at local grocery stores, raised $683 in cash donations and gathered even more supplies through collection boxes around campus.

The outpouring of community generosity was something special for students who helped make the day possible. Like Amber Schlemmer, an Eastern sophomore and student leader for the Day of Giving.

"People tell me, 'Otherwise, I wouldn’t have had a Thanksgiving meal,' and it really has a special place in my heart," Schlemmer said.

The day was also special for Eastern alumnus Jason Kyle, who started the Day of Giving back in 2007. He was in visiting from Oakland, California and said he’s glad the event has morphed into something bigger over the years.

"Now that I think about it, it’s not about your background or your socioeconomic status, it’s about an inclusive community event," Kyle, formerly known as Jason Budahazy.

All leftovers will be brought to Covenant Soup Kitchen in Willimantic.

The team at Christopher Martins restaurant in downtown New Haven is continuing its decadeslong tradition of opening its doors to the less fortunate on Thanksgiving.

On Thursday, hundreds of people will be welcomed into the restaurant for a full holiday feast, free of charge.

"There’s other people who don’t have what we have. So we always need to be reminded of that and give back to those who are less fortunate," longtime Christopher Martins bartender, Maria Porto, said. "Anyone who comes here is served a hot meal on china. It’s not a buffet. They’re served by waiters."

Pinto said of the meal that’s been an annual tradition at the State Street restaurant for around three decades.

Thanksgiving diners will also receive coats and other donated clothing. Volunteers were at the restaurant Wednesday night to sort through donated items to be given away. Among them were lots of children who are excited to be giving back.

"It gives a good feeling because you know you’re helping somebody,” Sal DeMaio, one of the children on hand to help with sorting donations, said.

"We’re going to help the people who need it, said 8-year-old volunteer Tessa Grillo. 

Those who have watched this annual tradition of giving said this is what Thanksgiving is all about.

"It touches me in many, many ways. As a family member of someone in need, as a parent for them to be able to see what it’s like to give back, it’s just an overall wonderful feeling," North Have resident and volunteer Kelly Grillo said.

Christopher Martins on 860 State Street in New Haven will serve Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday, November 23 beginning at 11 a.m. To contact the restaurant, call (203) 776-8835.

Hamden police and fire officials are investigating a suspicious fire at an apartment complex.

Police and firefighters responded to Hamden Village at 188 Treadwell Street around midnight on Thursday morning for a reported structure fire.

Officers determined the fire was burning on the exterior wall of one apartment, according to police.

A good Samaritan used a fire extinguisher and a bucket of water to douse the flames, police said.

One person was treated for possible smoke inhalation.

A car was flipped upside-down in West Hartford on Wednesday night. 

The crash happened after a car hit a pole at the intersection of South Main Street and New Britain Avenue by the Dunkin' Donuts. Police said the pole was laying on South Main Street and it will need to be replaced. 

Police said when they arrived there was a small car fire happening and firefighters worked to get the driver out of the car safely. He was the only one inside the vehicle and sustained what appears to be minor injuries, police said. 

Traffic lights and homes in the area are without power. Eversource said there were more than 1,200 customers in West Hartford without power at one point. 

Emergency crews were working to make sure none of the wires are live. It was not clear when the power would be restored. 

A home on Carpenter Ave. in Meriden collapsed after a fire ripped through it Thanksgiving morning.

According to the fire department, the fire broke out around 3 a.m. in a single family home at 161 Carpenter Ave.

The home is a total loss.

Fire officials initially said no one was home at the time of the fire, but they searched through the rubble after being unable to make contact with the homeowner.

People were camped out at Best Buy in the Corbins Corner shopping center in West Hartford on Thanksgiving, hours before the store was set to open.

Shoppers were hoping to get some Black Friday deals when the store opens at 5 p.m.

Frankie Bones, of New Britain was the first in line and said he was there to get a 50-inch TV that Best Buy was advertising for $179.

America's top commander in Afghanistan, Gen. John Nicholson, told NBC News Thursday that the war here remains in a "stalemate," but that President Donald Trump's new strategy has reversed a decline in the U.S. position.

"We are still in a stalemate," Nicholson, a four-star Army general said in an exclusive interview with NBC News. "We are only 90 days into this new policy, but with the U.S. forces that will be arriving, with the new authority that we have been given, put the pressure on external enablers, with the fact that we are condition based and not time based, we've set all the conditions to win."

His comments largely tracked with a more upbeat-sounding assessment Trump gave in a video conference Thursday morning with members of the Army's 82nd Airborne First Brigade Combat Team here.

"I have to say just directly to the folks in Afghanistan: Everybody’s talking about the progress you’ve made in the last few months since I opened it up," Trump said. "We opened it up, we said go ahead, we’re going to fight to win. We’re not fighting anymore to just walk around; we’re fighting to win, and you people are really — you’ve turned it around over the last three to four months like nobody’s seen."

A Vernon woman drove drunk to the police station in East Hartford with her 2-year-old son in the car, according to police.

Bridget Montgomery showed up at the police department around 8 p.m. on Tuesday to make a complaint.

While in the lobby, officers noticed she appeared intoxicated and realized she had driven to the station with her child, according to police.

Montgomery failed a field sobriety test and a breathalyzer test, police said.

She was charged with DUI, risk of injury and operating without a license and held on a $25,000 bond.

A man was seriously injured after being thrown off a bridge in Shelton early Thursday morning.

According to police, an altercation took place on the Derby Shelton Bridge around 1 a.m. and led to a 30-year-old man from Monroe being thrown from the bridge and into the Housatonic River.

Shelton officer David Eldridge jumped into the river, swam to the victim and pulled him to shore.

The man was rushed to Yale-New Haven Hospital with serious injuries.

Police said they know there were witnesses to the altercation and are asking anyone with information to call them at (203) 924-1544.

North Korea's latest defector, a young soldier known only by his family name Oh, is a quiet, pleasant man who has nightmares about being returned to the North, his surgeon said on Thursday, Reuters reported.

"He's a pretty nice guy," said lead surgeon John Cook-Jong Lee, who has been operating and caring for the 24-year-old. Oh has become a focus of worldwide attention after he was badly wounded by fellow North Korean soldiers as he scrambled across the border in the Demilitarized Zone that separates North and South on Nov. 13.

Video of Oh's escape released on Wednesday showed him stumbling over the border and being dragged unconscious through the undergrowth by South Korean troops.

Lee has been almost the only person to speak with Oh since he arrived at the hospital, he told Reuters in an interview at his office at Ajou University Hospital, just a few floors away from where the defector lies guarded by South Korean special forces and intelligence officers.

Emergency crews responded to a house fire on Shepard Street in Hamden Thursday night.

The fire broke out around 5 p.m., according to officials.

Arriving crews found heavy flames on the third floor of the multi-family home.

Firefighters from Hamden and New Haven responded to the scene.

No one was home during the time of the fire, according to fire officials.

A New Haven firefighter was taken the hospital for a minor injury.

There were no other injuries reported and the cause of the fire is still under investigation.

The U.S. Navy has called off search and rescue operations for three sailors not immediately recovered after a C2-A Greyhound plane crashed into the Philipine Sea, the 7th fleet said in a statement. 

Search and rescue efforts from the crash of the transport aircraft on Wednesday afternoon Japan time were suspended at 10:00 a.m. local time Friday (8 p.m. Thursday ET). 

Eleven people were on board the plane. Eight sailors were rescued within 45 minutes of the crash and transferred to Ronald Reagan for medical evaluation. All are in good condition at this time.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with our lost shipmates and their families,” Rear Adm. Marc Dalton, Commander, Task Force 70, said in a statement. “As difficult as this is, we are thankful for the rapid and effective response that led to the rescue of eight of our shipmates, and I appreciate the professionalism and dedication shown by all who participated in the search efforts.”

The Navy has said that the families of the missing sailors have been notified that they were unaccounted for after the crash. The names of the sailors have not been released. The crash remains under investigation.

Thanksgiving can be especially difficult for those who don’t know where their next hot meal will come from.

"If I wasn’t here eating today, I wouldn’t be eating, and that’s hard," Steven Zakiewski teared up as he shared his plans to be home alone this Thanksgiving. "I’d a been sitting home. I didn’t have any food in the fridge. I’d have had a peanut butter sandwich. That’d been my lunch."

His Thanksgiving Day changed thanks to Pasquale’s Deli, which opened its doors to veterans, emergency crews, and anyone in need of a hot meal for the second year in a row.

"This is a really nice tight-knit community because everybody here will help everybody," said Chris Tompkins, a member of Terryville’s Volunteer Fire Department.

Pasquale’s Deli opened its doors and turned on its ovens to cook food donated by the community, including four large turkeys, hundreds of pounds of vegetables, and a dozen pies.

"It feels good to give back on Thanksgiving when so many people don’t have much," explained the deli’s owner Pasquale Martino.

"I think it’s just great, especially for someone like me that’s living on a budget and really couldn’t afford a big thing to share with my mom and my sister," said Janet Piccirillo.

Janet Piccirillo picked up plates for her 90-year-old wheelchair-bound mother, her mentally challenged sister, and herself, so they could celebrate Thanksgiving together.

"It means a lot this year, because we really weren’t able to do it last year," said Piccirillo, wiping tears from her eyes.

"It’s a feeling. It’s that feeling of somebody coming in to bring us five-dollars with that story that that woman had saying, 'I don’t have much but here’s $5,'" said volunteer Nicole McWilliams.

McWilliams dished out plenty of hugs with her holiday handouts, thankful to help others who’ve fallen on tough times.

"It’s a beautiful, beautiful warm feeling," said McWilliams.

Pasquale’s Deli planned to donated any leftover food to the local food bank.

As sure as you can be that the Lions and Cowboys will take the football field each Thanksgiving, you can be confident so will the kids of Kensington and Berlin.

"For a backyard sport it gets pretty competitive," said Noah Mihalko, Kensington.

For six years, football has brought this community closer with the Mihalko family turning their yard into a football field and inviting not only neighbors, but families across Berlin to participate.

"This day is part of getting people together my friends and family," said Mihalko.

Thursday, his backyard on Devonshire Way was transformed into Devonshire Stadium, complete with the national anthem, an announcer, and the coin toss.

"Every year I look forward to this," said Max Rosinski, Berlin.

"I’ve known the Mihalkos since kindergarten and they’ve also provided for me and been like family for me," added Sebby Scott of Berlin.

Parents cheered from the sideline and the stands, made up of rows of lawn chairs in the driveway.

"It seems to get bigger and bigger every year which is very nice," said John Carlone, whose son has played in the game every year.

Three years ago the Mihalko Family decided they wanted to do more than just play football. They also wanted to tackle hunger.

"We donate to different churches or shelters. We try to mix it up every year," explained Noah’s mother Barbara Mihalko.

The players brought non-perishable food items to enter the game. Over the years, the Mihalkos say they’ve filled 50 bags with food.

"It’s just about giving others things that help them that we have that they don’t," said Karolina Carlone, the Mihalkos ten-year-old next door neighbor who designed the signs for the food drive.

The inaugural game was filled with peewee players and dads filling in as quarterback. One mom couldn’t help but notice how much has changed. Not only are the donations growing, but so are the guys on the field.

"What really took to me today was that I saw all the cars lined up and it was all the kids driving themselves over for the game," said Dorothy Carlone.

While they hope the custom continues, their parents say, it’s the lessons that come with this Thanksgiving tradition, they hope last a lifetime.

"Friendship and helping out and thinking about others on Thanksgiving day," said Barbara Mihalko.

The Mihalkos plan to drop off this year’s donations to Plantsville’s Faith Living Church.

Dozens of police officers and volunteers in New Britain came together to dish up a Thanksgiving meal for the community.

Iliana Colon says she’s fallen on hard times recently and this meal means so much to her.

"I’m thankful for New Britain," she said. "I’m always thankful for new Britain, if it weren’t for new Britain these last 18 months, I wouldn’t be alive."

With help from several local organizations, New Britain police and PAL volunteers served turkey, mashed potatoes and stuffing to dozens of people.

The volunteers say they get as much out of it, as the people they serve.

"I see happy reactions they are very excited walking in that door, grabbing a plate, and coming to us to get food,” said Volunteer Marsha Michaud. “I love this. I wanted to give back. This is my first year and I think this is going to be a yearly thing."

"It’s our hope that they see us as true partners in the community,” said James Wardwell, New Britain Police Chief. “We are here to serve and nothing more. A lot of people I know. I can call them by name because I see them all the time, and we truly are grateful for them."

Nearly 1,000 residents in the Greater Hartford area enjoyed a hot Thanksgiving meal delivered to their home thanks to the Salvation Army.

Sara Shaw and her family are planning to visit a handful of homes in East Hartford to bring Thanksgiving meals to people who are elderly or disabled.

"This has been a family tradition to come together and deliver meals," said Shaw.

"They’re alone most likely for the day, and if we're the only people they get to spend Thanksgiving with even just for a little bit,” said Chris Bassil. “What’s better than that?"

"It makes me feel really good because I know that I’m doing something nice for someone," Emma Carletti said.

A lot of preparation went into this Thanksgiving meal.

"There are about 200 volunteers here; we’re delivering 844 meals in the Hartford area," said Lisa Cretella, Director of Development, Salvation Army.

"We made the food yesterday. It took us about 14 hours and we had about nine people in our kitchen," said Michael Bova, the owner of Farmhouse Catering.

Volunteers come back year after year.

"The Salvation Army is about helping people but without volunteers and people willing to help," said Major Roger Duperee from the Salvation Army. "We can’t do it so we’re so grateful."

"It’s awesome, said Gary Lotreck of Tolland. “The connection with people here makes my thanksgiving and the families’ Thanksgiving."

No one was hurt when fire broke out at a house in Thompson Friday.

Flames broke out at 131 Quaddick Town Farm Road Friday morning. Crews from East Thompson fire, Putnam fire and the Webster, Mass. fire department all responded.

No injuries were reported, but the structure suffered damage. 

Four adults and two children were displaced. The American Red Cross responded to assist.

No other details were immediately available.

One person is dead and three others had to be rescued by firefighters after a fire at a home in Enfield Friday morning.

Officials said just before 2 a.m. flames broke out at 11 Alden Avenue on the second floor back porch of the two-family home.

"I saw the flames going off, and I went to the neighbor’s house," said neighbor Doug Worthington. "I ran back in the house to get the phone, and I called 911."

Fire officials said five people were inside the home at the time. Firefighters rescued three people, who were rushed to the hospital. A fourth person was found dead inside the home. A fifth was able to self-evacuate from the first floor.

None of the victims have been identified at this time. The conditions of the rescued victims were not immediately clear.

Crews remain on scene. The state fire marshal's office and the Connecticut State Police Fire Explosion Unit are assisting with the investigation into the cause.

No other details were immediately available.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

Editor's Note: Firefighters initially identified the home as being 11 Windsor Street. It is actually 11 Alden Avenue. The story above has been updated to reflect this information.