The Breaking Bread with Heroes event uplifts the first responders in Ocean City

OCEAN CITY, Md. – Spain Wine Bar hosted the Breaking Bread with Heroes event on Sunday to celebrate the first responders in Ocean City and all their hard work.

The Robert Irvine Foundation is behind the event, and Chef Robert Irvine wants community members to know how important it is to honor the first responders in the area.

“We want to make sure we take care of our first responders that nobody else remembers right, they are here, they are working 13, 14, 18-hour days, and we want to give them something to thank them for their hard work.”

Irvine invited EMS personnel, firefighters, and police officers to the event, and Ocean City Police Department Private First Class Benjamin Panitch was extremely happy with the turnout.

“A breakfast like this is tremendous, it’s such a morale boost, we’re working long hours, it’s a tiring and manpower-intensive event, but to have chef Robert Irvine come out and support us, it makes a huge difference.”

Comradery was a theme for the event, and many responders have been busy with The Ocean’s Callin Festival. Panitch said this gives them a chance to wind down.

“We all sit together, intermix at the tables, we all get along and we’re all on the same page, and for all of us to have time away from the radios and away from the streets to just talk and be normal humans.”

Over 50 active first responders attended, and Irvine wanted to show gratitude. He believes food is one of the best ways to do that, saying, “food is the international language of love. No matter what uniform you wear, whether you are a first responder or man or woman who wears the cloth for our nation in our military. They need sustenance, we need to tell them more we love them.”