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By NATHAN HOWELL | staff Writer

HELENA – First responders are a vital part of any community, and Helena will celebrate its own during the “Putting First Responders First Dinner” on Aug. 5 at the Helena Sports Complex.

The dinner was designed by the newly-created nonprofit Putting First Responders First to celebrate the hard work of police and firefighters in the city of Helena by treating them and their families with dinner and gifts.

Leigh Hulsey helped to create the organization to highlight the services the city’s first responders provide.

“We will be hosting an appreciation dinner for our first responders free to them and  their families,” Councilmember Leigh Hulsey said. “In addition, the event will provide an evening of entertainment and prizes for our Officers and Firemen. To make this a huge success sought donations from the community. And boy did they respond!”

“These men and women put others first every day. That’s the job of a police  officer. Tonight, thanks to some wonderful people, the spotlight will be on them for a change,” HPD Chief Brad Flynn said. “Tonight is  all about thanking and celebrating those that selflessly dedicate themselves to our community. I hope they not only enjoy themselves but see how much they are appreciated.” 

The event will begin at 5:30 p.m., and the community is encouraged to come out and celebrate them outside of the complex.

“This is an event for us to serve our police and firemen in the city of Helena,” Hulsey said. “It is also a community event that will have food trucks for you to buy dinner, free inflatables and music for the community to enjoy. Please plan to join us and bring a chair.”

Even though the event was just announced, the organization has already received a ton of feedback and help for the event.

“It has been really great to see our community of restaurants step up and sign up to help out in some way,” Hulsey explained. “We have had 100 percent of the dinner already donated from Home Plate Cooking, Chick-fil-A and Golden Rule. The response has been incredible.”

Donations have been received from Helena Hardware, high school student Brooks Bedsole, Helena Council President Alice Lobell, Helena Health Club, Helena Nutrition, Publix, WalMart, Primrose School of Riverwoods, CrossFit Alabaster,  Golden Rule BBQ of Helena, Helena Nutrition. Jay Modi with Chevron, Chick-fil-A Helena, Big Time  Bounce, Shelby County Sheriff’s Office and Sheriff Samaneigo, Councilman Hewy Woodman, former  Mayor Mark Hall, Cam Ward, State Senator April Weaver, Leigh Hulsey for State House and many others.

The event is open to the public to come and honor Helena’s First Responders. There will be food trucks, free inflatables for children, and music for everyone to have fun, so bring a chair and plan to have a great time. 

The event begins at 5:30 PM on Thursday, August 5th at Helena Sports Complex 110 Sports Complex Dr, Helena,  AL 35080. More information is available on the Putting First Responders First Facebook page.