Porters Neck community launches ‘Harvest for Heroes’ to serve Thanksgiving meals to local firefighters

NEW HANOVER COUNTY (WWAY) — Lots of people in the Porters Neck community are coming together this Thanksgiving to honor local firefighters with a county-wide — “Harvest for Heroes” — feast. 

The initiative will provide full holiday meals to all eight New Hanover County firehouses, ensuring first responders on-duty can still share in the tradition of the day. 

Porters Neck Country Club created the initiative in partnership with New Hanover County Fire Rescue with one mission in mind — making sure every firefighter spending Thanksgiving on duty still gets to experience the warmth of the holiday. 

Meals were prepared for all eight firehouses across the county and delivered to each station. 

From turkey and traditional sides to desserts, the effort relied on the community of Porters Neck to ensure the on-duty first responders receive a proper Thanksgiving meal. 

Mandy Shuffler is the Director of Membership and Communications for Porters Neck Country Club. 

She says this initiative is their way of saying ‘thank you’ to these first responders. 

“They’re the first ones on any scene, so they take a lot home with them every day, and there’s not much we can do about that, but we can say thank you, and I hope that this warms their stomach as well as their heart,” said Shuffler. 

Organizers say this is the first year they have hosted — “Harvest for Heroes” — and they hope to continue doing it in the future.