Cookies to First Responders on 9/11 by New Bern Breakfast Rotary

The Annual Cookie Delivery to First Responders by the New Bern Breakfast Rotary took place on Thursday, September 10, following their regular morning meeting.

“This recognition and appreciation to our local First Responders began in 2020 as a community service project initiated by our club president that year, the late Donald Masch,” explained this year’s club president Ann Super. “It is our way to Never Forget the events of 9/11 each year and to express our thanks to the local fire and police departments, EMS stations, and other public safety officials for all they do, every day, to keep our community safe,” she added.

Each year, members bring homemade cookies (no store bought or cookies with nuts allowed) to their meeting closest to the 9/11 anniversary. Instead of a speaker that morning, members pack cookies into dozens of containers with a label of appreciation and then deliver them to designated locations in Craven County.

Gretchen Derda, Community Services Chair, organized the special program and had members sign up to bring cookies this year to 17 sites, including New Bern’s Fire & Rescue Department Headquarters, Station 2 and 3, Townships 7 and 9 Fire & Rescue, West New Bern Volunteer Fire Department, Craven County Rescue Squad, and Havelock Fire & Rescue. Also receiving cookies were the Police Departments in New Bern, Trent Woods, River Bend, Havelock, Craven County Sheriff’s Office, and the NC State Highway Patrol. EMS stations included Craven Emergency Services Administration, CarolinaEast, and Township 7. “This is always a special project for our club, and we try to make sure that some obvious as well as different places are selected each year for this token of recognition for the services provided,” said Derda.

The New Bern Breakfast Rotary Club meets every Thursday morning, 7:30 to 8:30 am, and on the 2nd and 4th Thursday evenings, 5:30 to 6:30 pm, at the Ghent Event Center on Dr. MLK Jr., Blvd. Visitors are always welcome. For more information, go to www.newbernrotary.org.