LIMA — Officers on hand at the Lima Police Department may have been stuck working a holiday Monday, but at least they didn’t go home with an empty stomach.
The Olive Garden in Lima was one of more than 800 Olive Garden restaurants to participate in its Labor Day Lunch Delivery program. Workers from the restaurant dropped off spaghetti, lasagna and other pastas along with salad and bread sticks for all officers on duty. It is the 15th year the restaurant has had the program.
“It gets us out in the community and we can show the first responders that they are appreciated,” said Olive Garden Culinary Manager Aaron Lafayette. “We are at work today, but we are preparing food. Because of first responders, we are free to do what we do.”
Olive Garden has served more than 10,000 meals on Labor Day nationwide through the program. The coordinated effort is meant to simply say “thank you” to first responders, which can include law enforcement, firefighters and other emergency personnel.
Lafayette delivered the food with two associates from the restaurant, Jessica Hylton and Kate D’Amico.
LPD Sgt. Nick Hart offered thanks for the delivery of the meal. Already with plenty to eat, an associate from Panera Bread also popped in to delivery more goodies for the officers.
“We are always appreciative of the support we get from the community,” Hart said.
“A lot of people get Labor Day off,” Lafayette said. “Unfortunately there are some professions were someone needs to be at work, even on holidays. We like to express our appreciation for them on a holiday while they are out doing what they do.”
Restaurants participating are open to select whatever first responder location each year for the food delivery.
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