By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

ALABASTER – After holding a pair of successful dinners to honor Alabaster’s police officers over the past two years, Alabaster residents will have a chance to do the same for the city’s firefighters in mid-October.

On Oct. 17, Buck Creek Pizza and Wings will host the first Alabaster Fire Department appreciation night at the restaurant from 6-8 p.m.

Buck Creek Pizza and Wings owner Hunter Spradlin will close the restaurant to everyone except Alabaster firefighters and their families, and their meals will be paid for by donations. During the event, volunteers will be accepting gifts and gift cards to give away to the firefighters, and will be accepting donations to help cover the cost of the firefighters’ meals.

While the firefighters and their families are enjoying their meals, members of the Alabaster community will surround the restaurant to show their appreciation to the public servants.

The event is being organized by the Alabaster Public Servants Foundation, and will be the first such night centered on the city’s firefighters.

For the past two years, volunteers have held similar events at the restaurant to show appreciation to the city’s police officers.

“They are so helpful in the community, and I thought we needed to do something for them too,” said Alabaster Public Servants Foundation founder John Ellison. “We love our police and firefighters, and we appreciate all of their efforts.”

Along with Ellison, Shelby County Circuit Clerk Mary Harris and Dena Bedsole, who worked to organize the previous police appreciation dinners, are also working to organize the event.

Buck Creek Pizza and Wings is located at 251 Buck Creek Plaza off Alabama 119.