WoodmenLife representatives Amanda Nelson and Lynn Hill and Food Farm representative Tommy Pittman join area first responders for a photo at a luncheon Thursday. Photo by Amanda Nelson / WoodmenLife

Lenoir County first responders enjoyed a luncheon in their honor at the Kinston Community Center on Thursday. It was hosted by WoodmenLife.

The more than 75 attendees included officers from the Kinston Police Department, the Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office, Kinston Fire and Rescue, Lenoir County EMS and volunteer fire departments from across the county. The first responders enjoyed a lunch of sandwiches, hot dogs, sausages, hot wings and various sides, as well as cold drinks.

The event was organized by WoodmenLife representatives Lynn Hill and Amanda Nelson. Food for the event was donated by Food Farm (Piggly Wiggly), with items provided by Star Foods, Stevens Sausage, Sunset Farms, Bright Leaf, Springer Mountain Chicken, Hostess and General Mills. Got to be NC and the Kinston Community Center also contributed to the event.

Thursday’s luncheon was the fourth annual event hosted by WoodmenLife for area first responders. Hill said honoring first responders is a part of WoodmenLife’s commitment to serving the community. Tommy Pittman, who represented Food Farm at the event, said it was a way of telling first responders thank you for their service to the community.

Maj. Jenee Spencer of the Kinston Police Department said she appreciated the recognition from the community.

“The community often reaches out to show their appreciation, and that’s why we do the job,” she said.

Those who attended the lunch also received gifts that had been donated by local businesses, including Neuse Sport Shop, Auto Brite Car Wash, Jo’s Cafe, Fat Baby’s, Peach House, Just Add Salt Boutique, Vance’s Kitchen, Big Blue Store, Sugar Hill Pizzeria, Mad Hatter Restaurant, The Market, Tands, Inc., WoodmenLife State Office, Woodmen Chapter 1353 Ft. Barnwell and Woodmen Chapter 46 Kinston. According to Hill, enough gifts were donated that each attendee was able to leave with something from a local business.

Hill and Nelson said they were already thinking about plans for next year, and hoped to continue hosting the event in honor of local heroes.