MILLSBORO, Del. – November 22, 2019 – For the second year in a row, a group of volunteers is making sure that every first responder who must work on Thanksgiving Day has a hot delicious meal to know that they are appreciated.

Blessings for Badges was founded last year to provide meals for police officers, paramedics, firefighters, dispatchers, and correctional officers who can’t enjoy a meal at home with their families. Meals will be assembled at Millsboro Fire Company and delivered to each first responder’s station.

“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 the new organization.

The group has been seeking donations of food and money to support the effort, and the outpouring of support has been gratifying.

Mountaire Farms is donating eight cases of whole chickens and the Good Ole Boys Foundation is supplying several turkeys. Several restaurants are pitching in with trays of donated food including J.D. Shucker’s, SoDel Concepts, Brickworks, Mulligan’s Pointe, Pizza Palace, Lashers BBQ, and Harpoon Hanna’s. Crooked Hammock and Crossroads Community Church are donating a total of 60 pies between them for the effort.

The Ladies Auxiliary of the Georgetown Fire Company is pitching in with trays of mashed potatoes and the Millsboro Fire Company Ladies Auxiliary has generously agreed to cook all the turkeys, chickens and prepare the meals. Sysco has donated supplies.

Cindi’s late father was a retired Wilmington Police Officer, who missed many Thanksgiving meals due to work. As the father of 11 children, his fellow officers called him “The Deacon”, and Cindi has created The Deacon’s Pantry in his honor. Anyone wishing to donate canned goods can drop them off at the Delaware State Police Federal Credit Union, 700 N. Bedford Street, Georgetown, Del.

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.