On Labor Day, when most people are off work, the nation's first responders report for duty like always. It is a busy day for police officers, firefighters and emergency service crews. While they are busy making sure their communities are safe and healthy during the holiday, they often miss out on celebrating with their own families. One chain restaurant has a Labor Day tradition of gratitude. As part of this tradition, the Italian eatery Olive Garden delivered baskets of its food to first responders across the country for the 14th year in a row.
"This is our way of giving back to the people who go out and protect and serve us each and every day," Adam Zimmer of Olive Garden told ABC 22.
Many first responders are used to missing meals with their families because they are busy serving. The first responders interviewed by ABC 22 said that holidays were especially difficult occasions to miss. Olive Garden wanted the first responders to have a chance at a relaxing family meal, even if the men and women could not actually be with their families.
Olive Garden served food to first responders in over 800 cities nationwide and hopes to continue the tradition next year.