Longboat Key first responders treated to pizza

The Longboat Key police and fire departments received calls from their community on Thursday, and on Friday, a dozen pizzas, patriotic decorations and three different desserts showed up at their stations. 

On the 19th anniversary of 9/11, a group of Country Club Shores neighbors organized a pizza party drop-off for their first responders as a gesture of thanks. Joanne Forch made brownies and brought red, white and blue decorations, while Gary Coffin handled the massive pizza delivery. 

"It was something [they] were doing just to say, 'thank you,'" fire and EMS liaison Tina Adams said. 

At the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, various support systems around the island popped up to make sure Longboat Key's first responders were well-fed. The practice has slowed lately, but Adams said the department is, of course, happy to receive anything from the community they serve anytime, for any reason. 

"The community just showing us that support, we're so appreciative," Adams said. 

Coffin helped organize the drop-off along with neighbor Carl Horsley Forch. It started with Horsley's post on the Country Club Shores NextDoor app group and grew from there. Coffin was a fire chief in Virginia Beach for 14 years and said it was important to support first responders. 

"It's moving to see the new generation," Coffin said.