Texas County Planning First Responder Appreciation Event

July 12--Wichita County and the city of Wichita Falls are teaming up to show appreciation for local first responders.

Monday morning the commissioners began their meeting with a moment of silence for the Dallas police officers who died last week in a shooting. Commissioner Barry Mahler said county, city staff and many area groups will be serving a lunch and dinner Friday at the Elks Lodge in Wichita Falls.

"We want to give thanks to those who serve in Wichita County. We want to say, 'We support you and we stand behind you," Mahler said Monday.

Commissioner Lee Harvey said the Wichita Falls Police Department has been inundated with phone calls of support. "This is another avenue for the public to say 'thank you,'" he said.

Organizers hope to give a $100 gift card to each first responder that comes to the event. "If we can give away 100 $100 gift cards, then that would be great," Harvey said.

Anyone would you like to donate a gift card or funds toward purchase of gift cards or food for the event can drop it off at the WFPD station, 610 Holliday St., Wichita County Courthouse, 900 7th St., or the WFFD Central Station, 1005 Bluff. For more information contact the WFFD Central Station at (940) 761-7901

The event Friday will be split into two shifts to accommodate the schedules of as many first responders as possible. Lunch will 11-2 p.m. at the Elks Lodge and the dinner will comments from WFPD Chief Manuel Borrego will begin at 6 p.m.

County and city staff are also hoping to plan a larger first responder appreciation event possibly at the Multi-Purpose Events Center in October or November.

Copyright 2016 - Times Record News, Wichita Falls, Texas