Where will Earle’s 2016 season go?

Feeding our first responders a free lunch

Community shows appreciation to local fire, police

news@theeveningtimes.com Doors opened early and the uniforms kept marching into the Eugene Woods Center in West Memphis. Beginning at 11 a.m. Tuesday police, firefighters, sheriff’s deputies, and state troopers took a lunch break around some Corky’s BBQ with all the fixings. In all, 150 first responders bellied up to the buffet put together by some concerned citizens expressing appreciation for the hard and dangerous work done by the folks that come whenever 911 is dialed.

Local Businessman Jack Avery said more appreciation for first responders was needed after the hot summer tension reported in the local and national news.

“They need to know the community is in favor of them and are supporting them,” said Avery. “These guys risk their lives everyday. Sometimes we forget to be appreciative.

When you see it in the news all the time, we just wanted to say thank you. It’s a community thanks, that is what it is all about.”

Avery talked about how the big thank you party came about.

“A group of us were talking one day at lunch about doing something for first responders,” said Jack Avery. “Next thing I know everybody was like yes, we’d like to do that.” Many rallied around the idea to make the luncheon possible. Sponsors for the event included Jack and Lynda Avery, Fenter Physical Therapy, Glen and Jody Fenter, State Representative Deborah Ferguson, Dr. Scott Ferguson, Fidelity Bank, Mid-South Health Systems, Marvin Steele and Steele-Guiltner Tire Pros.

Many handshakes and pats on the back were passed out along with the lunches, smiles seen and words of appreciation heard all around the noontime tables at the civic center. Mission accomplished.

By John Rech