For first responders, helping people is a passion. "It's more than just a job for them," said Brent Fortney, a member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Manheim. "It's in their heart."

Fortney and his committee want to recognize and thank first responders for their service with a First Responders Breakfast. The event will be held on Saturday, Oct. 29, from 7 to 10 a.m. at the church, 90 S. Charlotte St.

The meal will include a variety of breakfast items, including eggs, bacon, sausage, potatoes, fruit, juice and coffee. "This is our way of saying thank you for everything you do," Fortney stated.

The church began offering a meal to first responders about five or six years ago, when church member John Michael and his late wife, Lillian, spearheaded the effort. The church members put the event on pause during the pandemic but started it up again last year.

In the past, the event was catered, but this year, church members will be preparing the feast. "We want to cook this time, and we think it will be a lot of fun," said Barbara Seras, priest-in-charge at the church.

The meal is open to any first responders in Manheim and their families. "Last year, we realized that people who work at the 911 call center can't come to the breakfast, so we packaged up about 15 meals and took them to them," Seras recalled. "We plan to do that again this year."

The breakfast is just one way the church works to connect with the community, Seras stated. "It's an outreach for us," she shared. "It's a way to say we appreciate what the first responders do."

She noted that the breakfast not only offers an opportunity to show appreciation for the first responders, but also provides a chance to hear their stories. "I learned a lot about what they do when I talked to them last year," Seras said. "I got a lot of insight into the hours they spend on the job and how they spend them. It was an opportunity for not just learning with our head but also learning with our heart what our first responders do day in and day out."

The breakfast is free for first responders and their families, but reservations are suggested by calling the church office at 717-665-6584 with the number attending.