Picnics, door prizes, chit-chat, cornhole and BBQ—these things aren’t normally associated with the critical, often lifesaving work emergency responders do. But such were the sights, sounds, smells and flavors of two recent BBQ events the Cooperative hosted in celebration of these frontline workers.
Between both events—one held in New Berlin on the eastern side of our service territory, the other in Gonzales, on the western side—GVEC welcomed 230 first responders. Attendees took a breather from their high-alert jobs to enjoy the camaraderie of others who regularly face emergencies, accidents and crises most people never encounter. Personnel from local police, sheriff’s and fire departments joined EMTs and other first responders, rubbing elbows and trading stories over catered BBQ brisket, chicken and sausage. Four-legged K9 first responder Rimon from the Guadalupe Sheriff’s Dept. made an appearance in New Berlin.
Members of GVEC’s Board of Directors also attended, as did Chief Operating Officer Sean Alvarez and General Manager and CEO Darren Schauer. Several GVEC employees also volunteered, spending time serving those whose lives are defined by service. The resulting scene offered a stark contrast to the life-or-death situations and decisions sometimes involved in these jobs: In place of blaring sirens and flashing lights, there were smiles, laughter, and a sense of community and shared purpose. These were people with families, varying personalities and lives beyond the work.
GVEC Community Relations Representative Kasie Tankersley helped coordinate and stage the BBQs. She was pleased to offer first responders from across GVEC’s service area a chance to relax, feel appreciated and to be the ones being served. “I’m proud to be part of an organization that recognizes the important role emergency responders play across local communities,” she said.
“GVEC considers emergency responders our partners in the Cooperative’s mission of service,” Schauer said. “That’s why we do electrical safety training with them too. Plus, we make regular donations to first responder organizations across our service territory and have distributed several related Power Up grants.” So far in 2023, said donations have included a total of $15,000 distributed among 30 VFDs and $20,000 in grants.
Both events and the donations, Schauer added, help show how much GVEC appreciates and values first responders and the vital work they do. “The last couple years have been particularly trying for our first responders. We couldn’t be more pleased to show them how important they are through both financial support and face-to-face celebration of all they do for local communities.”
