Merci. Danke. Takk. Arigato. Gracias. Asante. Grazie.
In any language and at any time, it’s a good day to share a thank you to your community’s protectors. From the urban metropolis to the sprawling suburbs, college towns, destination locations, and rural communities, now is the perfect time to show your gratitude to the professionals who serve and protect our homes, families, and businesses.
Create Signage for Your Yard
Yard signs allow for a wide array of creative expressions, from holiday celebrations to birthday fun and more. Yard signs are also a great way to express gratitude to your local community protectors – to your police officers, fire department, and EMTs.
Custom yard signs can be ordered from a variety of online vendors or signs can be handmade. Gratitude signs can also be displayed from your home’s windows as well. Another inexpensive and fun option is to get the kids involved and have them draw thank you messages and pictures with sidewalk chalk on the driveway or walk. Take pics of your gratitude signs and post them to your social media, tagging your community protector’s social media accounts.
Write Thank You Cards to Local Police, EMTs, and Fire Department
Handwritten thank you notes and cards are never out-of-style. While the December holidays are a perfect opportunity to take the time and express gratitude to our community protectors, a heartfelt thank you card is something that will be appreciated any time throughout the year.
Quick tips:
- Make it a family project and get the kids to draw pictures that can be included.
- Partner with your local library. You supply the cards and the library makes them available for patrons, the kids’ after-school groups, and others to fill out during “Appreciation Week” and then pick up the cards to deliver to the various police and other community departments.
- Get an oversized thank you card and take it around to your neighbors to sign. It’s a fun way for a neighborhood to express gratitude.
Call Directly or Create a Public Post
Did you know that you can simply call your local police or fire department via the non-emergency number to let them know you appreciate all their hard work? It can seem like an old-fashioned method of communication, but a phone call with a few kind words can mean the world to your local police and fire departments. However, we get that for many of us, picking up the phone to place a call can be anxiety producing.
Got social media? Many local police, fire, and EMT departments have Facebook, Instagram, and other accounts. Pop over there and drop them a positive post or thank you comment.
Donate Directly to Local Police and Fire Departments
Budget cutbacks to local police and fire departments are a reality. Consider making a donation directly to these community protectors as a way to show your gratitude for their service and dedication. Contributions in the form of donations typically go towards things like community relation projects, continuing education/training for officers, and even equipment.
You may opt to send a donation in the name of your local police department to a national charity that supports the families of fallen officers, helps with rehabilitation for injured officers, and supports the mental well-being of the men and women who put their lives on the line daily for our communities.
ImpactfulNinja has a solid list of organizations to consider.
Donate Directly to Local Police and Fire Departments
You can offer to volunteer at their local police department. It’s a great way to give back to the officers and staff who work hard to keep our communities safe. According to the National Police Association, citizen volunteers may help out by helping with the neighborhood watch, assisting with fingerprinting, performing bike patrols in local parks, helping with special events, and much more. Volunteering at the police department is a great way to say thanks and get more involved in your community.
The holiday season is truly the perfect time to show your gratitude to the police, fire departments, EMTs, and other service professionals who keep our communities safe, secure, and a good place to live.