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Hickory church shows appreciation by planning meal for hundreds in law enforcement

By Dave Faherty, wsoctv.com
By Dave Faherty, wsoctv.com

HICKORY, N.C. — A church in Hickory plans to feed hundreds of law enforcement officers Friday evening.

Members at Winklers Grove Baptist Church are showing their appreciation for police across the area.

With just a couple of hours to go, we saw the last-minute scramble to get the free barbecue meal ready for the officers.

Church member Dale Hunsucker said he invited members of 40 police agencies in Alexander, Caldwell, Burke and Catawba counties.

"How could we best tell our local law enforcement they're the good guys and we love them and that their families would know they are respected?" Hunsucker asked.

Church members worked the kitchen most of Friday to prepare the barbecue for more than 700 officers and their families.

"It's awesome. It’s a wonderful feeling,” Judy Setzer said. “Just trying to do what Jesus would have us to do."

Granite Falls Police Chief Chris Jenkins, who plans to attend the gathering, said he will never forget when a church member walked into his office with the invitation.

"He told us what he wanted to do,” Jenkins said. “I was kind of speechless and really just kind of overwhelmed with emotion about it."

The church invited not only police and sheriff deputies, but also correctional officers at four state prisons and wildlife officers from across the foothills.

"They are appreciated,” said Randy Mull, who works in law enforcement and also attends the church. “Everything they hear is not negative and they do a fantastic job. They need to hear it more and more."

There are 150 volunteers from the church helping out.

The church will also have a gospel music concert afterward.

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