Lighthouse Christian Academy Students Celebrate National First Responders Day

More than 100 students braved the cold conditions to hand out hot drinks and snacks to first responders Thursday.

The first year there were snowflakes and this year gusty winds blew signs and donut boxes around. 

“I wasn’t outside the whole time, but the time we were outside it was freezing cold," said Cheyenne Stephenson. 

Stephenson is a Lighthouse Christian Academy 11th grader and said showing her appreciation is important because her uncle is an Oklahoma City police officer. She said even though she can't bring him some hot coffee and donuts, she can show her appreciation to local first responders. 

“I think it’s important because today cops and first responders are not getting enough attention that they deserve and a lot of it is in a negative way instead of a positive way. So they need that attention and they deserve a thank you and all that," said Stephenson.

QuikTrip provided the donuts and Starbucks donated the coffee. The students made sure there was plenty of handwritten thank you cards. 

“Some of them do it specifically for an officer or maybe a firefighter. Some for any first responder and really let them know how much they appreciate them and they thank the sacrifice that they do for them," said Justin Johnson.

Johnson is the school's principal and started the drive-thru event in 2019. He said even though the weather may have kept some first responders from coming out, he knows it's worth it. “I had a firefighter send me an email two weeks after the event that said I still have the card your kids gave me on my mirror in my room and I look at it every morning when I get ready," said