Leesburg Church Plans Picnic To Say 'Thanks'
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
A thank-you picnic Saturday at Center Lake appears to be a first for area emergency personnel.
Leesburg Grace Brethren Church has planned the picnic to show appreciation to those who helped fight the fire that destroyed the church July 22.
Jeff Hoffard, pastor of LGBC, said he had the idea for a thank-you picnic the first Sunday after the fire. "We thought it would be a nice gesture to let everyone know we appreciate their hard work," he said. "It's just a way of getting everyone together to tell them thanks."
The congregation has been working this week to prepare for the picnic. The menu will include hot dogs and hamburgers, baked beans, potato salad, cookies, chips and drinks - all either prepared or donated by people from the church.
Youth from the church are doing their part by planning games for children who come.
The event, which begins at 5 p.m., will include a short public thank-you from Hoffard.
Though firefighters and other emergency personnel are often thanked, apparently no one has gone to such lengths to show their appreciation.
"We've been thanked in various ways throughout the years, but this is a different approach," said Sheriff Al Rovenstine.
"It's extremely unusual - it's a first for me," said Leesburg Town Council president Bob Cleveland, who has been a volunteer fireman for about 12 years.
"We get letters and thank-you cards and donations after a fire ... but I've never heard of anybody giving a picnic," said Todd Sautter, who has been with the Milford Fire Department five years.
Rovenstine said he was "very appreciative" of the church's invitation, while Cleveland called the effort "exceptional." Indeed, with RSVPs nearing 100, it seems almost all emergency personnel have been touched by the church's gratitude.
"It was such a tremendous loss ... and there were so many fire departments there, I think they were just overwhelmed by all the support they received," Sautter said. "(The picnic) is a terrific thing."
"It's an extremely nice thing for them to do," said Deputy Tony Ciriello. "It's not a necessity; we were all just doing what our job entails." [[In-content Ad]]
A thank-you picnic Saturday at Center Lake appears to be a first for area emergency personnel.
Leesburg Grace Brethren Church has planned the picnic to show appreciation to those who helped fight the fire that destroyed the church July 22.
Jeff Hoffard, pastor of LGBC, said he had the idea for a thank-you picnic the first Sunday after the fire. "We thought it would be a nice gesture to let everyone know we appreciate their hard work," he said. "It's just a way of getting everyone together to tell them thanks."
The congregation has been working this week to prepare for the picnic. The menu will include hot dogs and hamburgers, baked beans, potato salad, cookies, chips and drinks - all either prepared or donated by people from the church.
Youth from the church are doing their part by planning games for children who come.
The event, which begins at 5 p.m., will include a short public thank-you from Hoffard.
Though firefighters and other emergency personnel are often thanked, apparently no one has gone to such lengths to show their appreciation.
"We've been thanked in various ways throughout the years, but this is a different approach," said Sheriff Al Rovenstine.
"It's extremely unusual - it's a first for me," said Leesburg Town Council president Bob Cleveland, who has been a volunteer fireman for about 12 years.
"We get letters and thank-you cards and donations after a fire ... but I've never heard of anybody giving a picnic," said Todd Sautter, who has been with the Milford Fire Department five years.
Rovenstine said he was "very appreciative" of the church's invitation, while Cleveland called the effort "exceptional." Indeed, with RSVPs nearing 100, it seems almost all emergency personnel have been touched by the church's gratitude.
"It was such a tremendous loss ... and there were so many fire departments there, I think they were just overwhelmed by all the support they received," Sautter said. "(The picnic) is a terrific thing."
"It's an extremely nice thing for them to do," said Deputy Tony Ciriello. "It's not a necessity; we were all just doing what our job entails." [[In-content Ad]]