KANAWHA COUNTY, WV (WOWK) – A Kanawha County church spent the weekend giving thanks to those who risk their lives every day serving their community.

The Loudendale Freewill Baptist Church held a First Responders Celebration Day where they celebrated first responders with a cookout following their service. Members of the Loudendale Volunteer Fire Department, West Virginia State Police, and Kanawha County EMS all came out for the event.

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“From a law enforcement perspective, so often we deal with people that are doing bad things, not good people. We have to deal with a bad element of society. So, whenever someone reaches out like Pastor Mark has done, and this community and this church has done to us, it helps us remember that there are a lot of good people here in West Virginia,” said WVSP Major Jim Mitchell. “This state is wonderful to support first responders, wonderful to support law enforcement.”

Loudendale Freewill Baptist Church Senior Reverend Mark Hess said the event had been in the works for months, and that he wanted to thank first responders who don’t always get the thanks they deserve.

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