Blessings for Badges to feed first responders on Thanksgiving in Southern Delaware

SUSSEX COUNTY, Del. – Every first responder working on Thanksgiving Day in Kent and Sussex County will get a home-made hot meal delivered to each of them this holiday, thanks to the volunteers behind the non-profit Blessings for Badges.

Blessings for Badges was founded in Sussex County back in 2018 to provide meals for police officers, paramedics, firefighters dispatchers, EMTs and correctional officers who have to work on the holiday.

When it comes to the great work they do, they don’t just stop at the holiday, the organizations co-chair Deb Lawhead tells us they’re there all year round to support first responders when their families need it most.

“We don’t just do it on Thanksgiving, but we also do it throughout the year,” Lawhead told our Rob Petree. “When there’s a loss of an officer, or an EMT, we also take pride in supporting them.”

A group of volunteers will gather Wednesday at the Leipsic Fire Company, which was gracious enough to donate their kitchen and facilities to the non-profit, where organizers will begin preparations to provide meals to all first responders working in both Kent and Sussex Counties.

“It’s a full Thanksgiving meal,” Lawhead emphasized. “We have turkey, mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, green beans, corn bread, biscuits, and we also have pie.”

“We are just so thankful for what these heroes do for us every day, but especially on holidays when we all are enjoying our families and sometimes forgetting about the people who keep us safe,” said Cindi Susi, of Harbeson, President of Blessings for Badges. Cindi’s late father was a retired Wilmington Police Officer, who missed many Thanksgiving meals due to work.

In Sussex County, meals will be assembled at Millsboro Fire Company and delivered to each first responder’s station.

Harrington Raceway and Casino is providing all the turkeys, Mission BBQ is providing green beans and corn bread and several Ladies Auxiliaries are pitching in with trays of mashed potato, stuffing, and macaroni and cheese. Other groups helping include Main Street Market, Town of Clayton, and Crossroad Church.

The group is also accepting financial donations to help offset costs associated with the project. Checks can be made payable to Blessings for Badges and mailed to PO Box 1041, Millsboro, DE 19966.

For more information or to learn how to volunteer, contact blessingsforbadges@gmail.com