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SALEM -- Blossom Nursing & Rehabilitation Center will host a lunch to honor Salem's first responders Wednesday.
"We need to recognize our first responders. They do so many things and often put themselves in harm's way, and a lot of people take that for granted," said Blossom Clinical and Community Liaison Kathy McCoy.
Blossom Nursing & Rehabilitation is inviting all Salem's police, fire and EMS personnel to join them for an appreciation luncheon at 11 a.m. Wednesday for National First Responders Day on Wednesday. The luncheon will be held in city council chambers at city hall. Attendees will be served lasagna, salad, Italian bread and butter, and marble cheesecake for dessert.
McCoy said that in addition to a free meal, attending first responders will be presented with a commemorative challenge coin in a black velvet box as a token of Blossom's appreciation for everything they do.
"Behind every uniform is a person who gives their time, energy, and sometimes their own safety to help others. This is our opportunity to take care of them for a change," said Nursing Home Administrator Jack Nordquist.
McCoy said that a core part of Blossom and their parent company Atrium Living Centers's philosophy is to give back wherever possible, and with National First Responder Day coming the luncheon was a natural fit. She also said that as a skilled nursing facility Blossom collaborates with Salem's first responders frequently and for a wide range of purposes, and that they "want to give back to [first responders] because they give so much to the community."
"We are all about giving back to the community. We're always doing community events and we're always trying to find ways to give back," McCoy said.
McCoy said that the luncheon has been in the works internally for the last two months as the company knew it wanted to do something special to show its appreciation. She said she has been collaborating with Mayor Cyndi Baronzzi Dickey throughout the week. She said that Dickey has been very supportive of the luncheon and that it was her idea to host it at city hall.
"We had never done anything like this. We take food to the emergency room in Salem and do things like that often, but this is our first time doing something like this," McCoy said.
In addition to the formal luncheon, McCoy said that Blossom would also be delivering a meal for Perry Township's first responders Wednesday.