10-28-2021 9:08pm

First responders honored with gift baskets, especially coffee

Michael McGinnis Editor

Harlem-Roscoe Fire Chief Don Shoevlin (left) sees the gift basket brought by elev815's Keith Wicklund (front) and Bob Nowicki (back)

Members of the local business group elev815 spent the morning of October 28 taking gift baskets to police and fire stations in Roscoe, Rockton, South Beloit, and Machesney Park in observance of National First Responders Day.

October 28 has been designated by the federal and state governments as National First Responders Day, to recognize firefighters, police officers, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, and 911 dispatchers for their commitment to public safety. In honor of the day, Rockton-Roscoe News featured a story on the Roscoe Police Department.

None of the local firefighters or police officers had known the gift baskets were coming, or even that a special day had been established to honor them. But they were grateful to be remembered.

Two groups of elev815 members delivered eight gift baskets: to the three Harlem-Roscoe Fire Stations, the Roscoe Police Department, the Rockton Police Department, the Rockton Fire Station, the South Beloit Fire Station, and the South Beloit Police Station. Gift baskets contained coffee, creamers, Belgian chocolate, trail mix, and specialties from local businesses, including DeeDee's Main Street Coffee & Decor in Rockton.

Click on the photo below to view an image gallery of all the first responders and their gift baskets.

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Four gift baskets waiting at First National Bank and Trust to be delivered later

At Harlem-Roscoe Fire Station #2 on Ralston in Machesney Park

Roscoe firefighter Alissa Neubauer shows off the basket given to Station One.

At Harlem-Roscoe Fire Station #1 on Main Street in Roscoe

Outside the Roscoe Police Department. L-R: Bob Nowicki, Keith Wicklund, Roscoe Police Chief Jamie Evans, Marge Bauch, Michael McGinnis

The gift baskets for the first responders included chocolate and other delicacies, but especially they included coffee.

Veteran firefighter Butch Taylor took a few minutes away from testing equipment at the Harlem-Roscoe Station #2 on Willowbrook. Left to right: Chuck Gilbert, Bob Nowicki, Butch Taylor, Marge Bauch, Keith Wicklund

elev815 president Toni Brown shows Rockton Deputy Fire Chief Ewers the gift basket she brought for his department.

L-R: Jean Seegers (Rockton-Roscoe News), Rockton Deputy Fire Chief Dan Ewers, Lieutenant Michael Jones, Toni Brown (elev815 president), Chuck Gilbert (elev815 board member)

Rockton police and elev815 members, in the Rockton Village Hall. L-R: Officer Jason Newell, Deputy Chief Matthew Hollinger, Jean Seegers, Officer Michael Johnson, Detective Sergeant Kiza Davies, Chuck Gilbert, Toni Brown. Photo: Michael McGinnis

At the South Beloit Fire Station

At the South Beloit Police Station. Toni Brown (Stepping Stones Child Center), president of elev815, along with Michael McGinnis (Rockton-Roscoe News),presented a gift basket to administrator Cindy King.