As A Squad of the Roanoke Rapids Police Department made their deliveries earlier today, Citizens on Patrol made them late this afternoon, both groups giving the ingredients, including turkeys, for the holiday feast.

Roanoke Rapids Administrative Lieutenant Andy Bryant said members of COP were looking for a project to do for the holidays. They decided to follow the lead of A Squad, which has been giving Thanksgiving dinners over the past three years.

“All are elderly and low-income,” he said. “They have no idea we're coming.”

COP has been instrumental in the Christmas for Kids program, as well as other department activities, he said. With A Squad setting the bar, members of COP followed suit.

Wage, foreground, and Harrell deliver the meal.

“They let us know they were thankful and grateful,” said Sergeant Terrence Tyler of the early A Squad effort. “One said it made their day.”

Tyler said it gives the officers on the shift a good feeling. “It makes us grateful and appreciative that we are in a position we cane help someone in need.”

At a stop on Hamilton Street, the COP group visited William Conwell, whose wife, Leslie, had recently got out of the hospital. “We didn't have anything for Thanksgiving,” he said. “It means a lot. We hadn't bought a turkey or anything.”

Mabel Harrell, a COP member, said she wanted to join the effort, “Because I like helping people that don't have anything.”

Westry Thorpe, in T-shirt, a former Roanoke Rapids officer, was visited by, from left, Joey Spragins, Chris Biggerstaff and Mark Peck of A Squad. Other members of A Squad not pictured Jonathan Benthall, Jason and Lieutenant Charles Vaught.

COP member Sue Wage said Bryant suggested the effort after the success of the A Squad program, not only as a way to help people, but to help them understand what the COP does. “We felt it would be a good way to get our name out there.”

Linda Denton said the food gift was, “A blessing in disguise. The Lord answered my prayers.”

Bernice Harris said it would have been a lonely Thanksgiving without the help. “I'm overwhelmed. It's awesome. No one has ever done anything like this for me before.”

Harris said the gift of the food will make an otherwise bleak holiday tolerable. “I would be sitting here by myself watching TV. I would be thinking about people who have others with them and thinking how blessed they are.”