LOUISA COUNTY, Va. (CBS19 NEWS) -- Louisa County Public Schools partnered with Food Lion to recognize the first responders in the community.

Several elementary schools made cards thanking the firefighters and deputies for the sacrifices they make every day. 

Food Lion invited the first responders to shop around for what they needed at the station, and all costs were covered.

Jeff Salmon, the manager of Food Lion in  Mineral, shares that it was important to him to get the schools involved to help educate the students about the importance of this day so it’s never forgotten.

“I hire people every day that weren’t even alive and I think it’s very critical that we start to never forget for the youth to understand what these guys do for us every day and what could put them in jeopardy and what they’ve experienced. Not living through it the way we did I think some of them really need to be hearing that at a young age to understand what these guys and girls go through every day,” he said.

“I think it’s important for people to remember this so people can help out with the world and make sure it doesn’t happen with anything else,” said Jojanna Floyd, a fourth-grade student.

Food Lion and LCPS hope to continue this partnership with local first responders for years to come.