Appreciation dinner for first responders

A community dinner to thank local fire department, search and rescue, police, sheriff, highway patrol and dispatch members will be held Sunday, Nov. 1.

Stefanie Gilbert said the idea for the picnic originated from a discussion with community members on Facebook. “With everything going on in our country, we needed to remember to thank first responders,” she said, noting that first responders have a job that is often both thankless and dangerous.

A dinner will be held in the evening for first responders and their families, with the public invited afterwards to show their support and appreciation for Thermopolis and Hot Springs County first responders. Gilbert also hopes that students from Thermopolis schools will get involved in the event.

Gilbert is collecting cash donations at Bank of Thermopolis to pay for meat and some of the more expensive items needed for the picnic, and encourages those who wish to give to the event to stop by. Although Gilbert is collecting donations, she said the event was organized by grateful community members and is not affiliated with local organizations.

The dinner is planned for 5 p.m. for first responders, law enforcement and their spouses. Community members are invited to join the festivities at 6 p.m. The event will be held at the VFW on Broadway Street.

If you would like to donate money or bring a dish to the public potluck portion of the dinner, please call Stefanie at 689-9234. Community members who have had first hand experiences or would like to share stories about Thermopolis first responders, please call Jessica Slagle at 921-9765.