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On June 14th, we hosted our electrifying "Blue Karaoke" fundraiser at the Governor's Gun Club in Kennesaw. The night was bursting with incredible talent, mouthwatering food, refreshing adult beverages, a wine pull, raffle drawing, and more. Contestants battled it out in an epic karaoke sing-off, and we awarded trophies for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place, plus a "Fan's Favorite" trophy. The event was a blast and helped raise crucial funds to drive our mission forward and power our upcoming events. Thank you to everyone who joined us! If you missed it, mark your calendars for 2025. Check out all the photos in our Gallery! Next up, is our 2nd annual "Let Them Eat Turkey" Golf Tournament! For information on this event, you can visit www.flipcause.com/secure/cause_pdetails/MjA0Mjk0"
Yesterday was a heartwarming day as Blue Thanksgiving, Inc. hosted a delightful grill-out for officers at precinct one in Kennesaw. Picture this: officers from various precincts, sharing smiles, swapping stories, and savoring delicious burgers and hotdogs. It was a true celebration of community and camaraderie.
Our heartfelt thanks go out to ServeComm.org for their invaluable support, providing their mobile kitchen and ensuring the event ran smoothly. But here's the thing: events like these are just a glimpse of what we do. Throughout the year, we're on a mission to show our law enforcement heroes how much we appreciate them. From random meals to on-duty officers all over Cobb County to our flagship Thanksgiving Day meal deliveries, we're there, making a difference. Yet, none of this would be possible without your support. Your donation fuels our efforts, allowing us to keep providing these essential services. Together, let's continue showing gratitude to those who protect and serve our community. Join us in making a meaningful difference! To donate, click HERE! When navigating the challenging waters of work-related stress, first responders and their families need to know they're not alone. At Blue Thanksgiving, Inc., we believe it is important to have this crucial support available to our heroes. This month, we were honored to join Cobb County in hosting an impactful event where attendees not only enjoyed a comforting dinner but also gained invaluable insights into managing job-related stress.
This event offered comprehensive education on recognizing the signs of stress and effective coping mechanisms tailored to both first responders and their families. With a licensed counselor on-site leading educational sessions and peer support readily available, attendees found a supportive community of understanding peers. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Cobb County for spearheading this essential initiative and for graciously inviting us to play a part. Events like these epitomize the essence of our "Balancing the Blue Line" campaign, which strives to prioritize the mental well-being of our first responders. Your support is vital in ensuring the success of future events aimed at bolstering the mental health of our brave first responders here in Cobb. Please consider making a donation to our campaign at https://www.flipcause.com/secure/cause_pdetails/MjAzMDMy or visit our Donate page to help fund these critical initiatives. Together, we can make a meaningful difference in the lives of those who selflessly serve our community. Last week, we sadly bid farewell to a hero, Mike Nolin, Sr. After serving in law enforcement for 41 years, and with the Cobb County Police Department for 26 of those years, Sergeant Nolan leaves behind a legacy of dedication, compassion, and service. Throughout his career, Sgt. Nolin touched the lives of many with his kindness, professionalism, and unwavering commitment to public safety. His impact on our community will always be remembered and cherished. To Sgt. Nolin's family and loved ones, we extend our heartfelt sympathies and support during this difficult time. Please know that you are in our thoughts and prayers, and we stand with you in solidarity as we remember and celebrate the remarkable life of this hero. To make a tax deductible donation in memory of Sgt Mike Nolin, please visit our campaign page here.
On June 14, we will host our first ever karaoke fundraiser at the Governor's Gun Club in Kennesaw! The evening will include a competition, followed by a host of singers, who are supporting a great cause while showing us their musical talents on stage. Reservations are highly recommended to secure your seat HERE! Proceeds will help fund our ongoing work to provide support and advocacy to the men and women who serve as law enforcement here in Cobb, and sometimes beyond the county borders. Get your tickets early and come enjoy an evening of fun. Heavy hors d'oeuvres from the Copper Jacket Restaurant will be there, along with a cash bar, a reverse raffle for cash, a wine pull and more, including some great entertainment! Once the competition is over and the sponsoring singers have shown us their talents, opportunities for getting up on that stage will be available! So get those seats reserved, or sponsor someone to compete in the competition. Grab your friends and book your seats! BOOK NOW!
On April 12th Cobb County 911 held their 1st Cobb County DEC Awards Ceremony following a revamp of the awards & recognition program. In a packed training room, more than a dozen of their team members were recognized for their years of service and exceptional work. We were proud to provide a reception for those in attendance including 911 dispatchers and staff, friends and family, county official and other public safety partners.
The awards ceremony was the perfect kick-off to National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, which commences April 14th. We would like to congratulate all those who received awards and recognition and say "Thank you!" to all our 911 dispatchers here in Cobb County and across this great nation. Blue Thanksgiving was proud to once again be a part of the Cobb Public Safety Forum on March 16 at the Cobb County Department of Public Safety Training Center. Everyone in attendance including the public safety officers and representatives were treated to a cookout of hamburgers and hotdogs, bringing the total number of meals we provided with the active shooter training event to approximately 1400! Multiple public safety agencies came together for this day of community education and relationship building. Topics covered included community trust, active shooter response, emerging technology, gun safety, community engagement and teen talk. To view photos of this event, please be sure to visit our Gallery page!
According to FEMA, An "active shooter" is an individual actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in a confined and other populated area. In most cases, active shooters use firearms and there is no pattern or method to their selection of victims. Active shooter situations are unpredictable and evolve quickly.
While first responders are regularly placed in situations where there is fear, tension and vulnerability, recent active shooter incidents have underscored the need for a coordinated response by law enforcement and others for additional training. Cobb County has met that challenge by providing the training needed to ensure that people survive and get the best medical care on the scene and in transit, during an active shooter event. Every year first responders in Cobb County come together for Active Shooter Training and once again, Blue Thanksgiving Inc. was involved in providing meals for everyone involved including Fire, EMTs, Law Enforcement, Role-players/Actors, Command Staff, Training personnel and others. Over the course of six days, we were proud to provide lunch to approximately 1200 people involved in this training. Hamburgers and hotdogs were grilled and provided along with chips, cookies and bottled water to all present. We would like to thank Publix in Kennesaw for their support, those who donated to help cover costs for this event, and the folks at ServeComm for the use of their catering trailer where we prepared, grilled and were able to produce these meals. For additional photos of this event, please visit our Gallery page! Every year across our country, law enforcement officers who can no longer bear the incredible weight of the badge, choose to take their own lives. Families feel the pressure as well, and last year the divorce rate among law enforcement officers was at a staggering 65%. Walking the "blue line" is a balancing act and while we cannot help these officer un-see the horrible things they all too often face, we can let them know that we care and offer support. With the "Balancing the Blue Line" campaign, we hope to provide resources in the form of assistance with funding for professional counseling to officers who are struggling, seminars where officers and their spouses can receive counseling on relationships and marriage, financial and legal advise from professionals, and spiritual guidance from chaplains or clergy and more. Events focusing on the family and building strong support systems among fellow officers will also be an important part of this program.
While this program will start small, we hope to expand to reach and level of support as we continue to grow. Please consider donating to help grow this program and watch our "What's Happening" page at www.bluethanksgiving.com for updates on this program as well as other campaign, projects and outreach events taking place. For information on this campaign and to donate, visit https://www.flipcause.com/secure/cause_pdetails/MjAzMDMy |