Every Nashville police officer and firefighter will soon receive a care package stuffed with energy bars, packs of candy and lip balm.
Volunteers worked for hours Saturday to fill 10,000 red pouches to the brim. They'll also go to first responders here and around the region and to military members across the nation.
Nashville police Capt. Daniel Newbern said the gifts were worth more than the sum of their parts.
"The items in the bag don't mean nearly as much as the effort put into the bag," Newbern said. "It touches every single officer."
Newbern said the pouches of goodies would send a message to officers-in-training at the police academy and to those who are already working across the city.
"This lets them know his community supports them and welcomes them," he said.