Brunswick County first responders honored with two days of free meals

BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — Two community service clubs are teaming up in Brunswick County to celebrate first responders by providing them with hot meals.

The second annual event was put on by the South Brunswick Island Rotary Club and the Shallotte Rotary Club. On Tuesday, first responders could go pull up to the Emergency Services Center in Bolivia and get a hamburger or hot dog right off the grill, as well as snacks.

“This one here, we have a drive-thru service,” said organizer Ed O’Neill. “This is like a fast food restaurant where you drive through and get all your food.”

A sheriff’s deputy holds a meal he picked up at the event.
(Photo: Matt Bennett/WWAY)

A second event will be held Wednesday in Ocean Isle Beach, picnic-style. That will be held at the park complex on Georgetown Road from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Club members say they feel its important to honor those who serve the community.

“We did this one year ago, maybe about 18 months ago because so much was going on in our community, and in other parts of our country where people were just trashing those people who put their life on the line every day,” said Rotary Club member Frances Wylie.

“The Rotary has a series of community service events and this is one that is particularly important to all of us,” O’Neill said. “We really feel that the law enforcement community, the firefighters, the emergency responders, really need a vote of confidence and a lot of respect because of all the great work they do.”

The rotary club is already looking forward to its next big charitable event next month, the Three Bridge Bicycle Tour. It takes place in Sunset Beach, Ocean Isle Beach, and Holden Beach and benefits children in the county.

“It’s a fundraiser for local Brunswick community projects as well as some international projects,” said club president Kathleen MacDonald. “Our club is focused on children of Brunswick County and literacy.”

You can learn more about the bicycle tour here.