Breakfast is served to those usually found serving, and protecting, others

First responders never know when they may be needed; a crisis can happen at any time of day — or night. Fortunately for those in Holyoke last Wednesday, the hour from 7-8 a.m. was uninterrupted, and they had the chance to sit down for breakfast in the old gym at Holyoke High School.

FCCLA members served pancakes and bacon, along with coffee and orange juice, to firefighters, EMTs and law enforcement officers to show their appreciation for local first responders.

The appreciation breakfast is Holyoke FCCLA’s chapter service project this year, and it is led by senior Lauren Bergner and juniors Rylee Oakley and Shyanne Conde.

The three noticed a lack of appreciation for the first responders in Phillips County and wanted to do something about it.

“We’re thankful for having them and all that they do for our communities,” Bergner said.

Whether they’re employed to do so or work in a volunteer capacity, the first responders throughout the county are committed to the safety of its residents and often have to put others before themselves. During this particular breakfast, though, they were the ones being put first.

“We just appreciate what they do,” Conde summarized, and that makes it easy to serve the first responders.

In preparation for the Feb. 12 breakfast, FCCLA members recruited their peers and children in the community to help express their thanks. Classes at HHS wrote notes and kids at Gloria’s Country Child Care made cards that were featured on the tables during breakfast. Saying “thank you” extended beyond the chapter, throughout the school and into the greater community, reminding people to stop and be thankful for the sheriff’s office, police and fire departments, and EMS.

On their way out to face their inevitably busy days, first responders were encouraged to take a “survival kit” as one last thank-you. The goodie bags were filled with themed candy: gum to help everyone “stick together,” Paydays because they’re “not doing it for the money,” Tootsie Rolls since they have to “roll with the punches” and the like.

Last Wednesday’s breakfast was made possible by Seaboard Foods donating bacon, Village Inn donating pancake batter and Holyoke General Store donating bags for the survival kits. Behind the scenes, parents and grandparents helped FCCLA members with the cooking.