Pictured: Sarasota County Fire Chief Michael Regnier accepts a turkey feast from The Oaks Club executive chef James Pampinella.

In just seven days, members of The Oaks Club community in Osprey raised $13,000 to fund meals for Sarasota County firefighters and first responders. The “Gifts of Gratitude” project was recently inspired by The Oaks Club general manager and COO, Jeff Hartigan. Hartigan has been known to often cover the grocery bill for firefighters when he sees them shopping in Publix. The new program culminated on June 10 with a turkey and all the trimmings at nearby Station 14. The full feast was prepared by The Oaks Club executive chef, James Pampinella, with additional meals to be sent to 19 other stations.

Each station will receive a 10 lb honey-baked half ham, 4 lbs of BBQ pulled pork from The Rendezvous barbecue restaurant in Memphis, cookies from Fireman Derek's Bake Shop, Country Ham Biscuits from Callies of Charleston, meatballs from Bartolini’s Restaurant in Chicago, coffee from The Fire Department Coffee Company, and popcorn from Garret’s Popcorn Shop of Chicago.  In addition, Station 14 will get a whole bone-in ham, four slabs of ribs and blueberry biscuits. 

Nearly 200 members of The Oaks Club contributed to the Gifts of Gratitude fund. Some members even recounted first-hand encounters with Station 14’s paramedics, whose emergency response area includes The Oaks Club. “These firefighters and paramedics are looking out for us 24/7, every day of the year,” said Anne Lockie-Meehan, President of The Oaks Club. “This is really the least we can do to show our gratitude for their diligence and to celebrate the life-saving work they do.”

Sarasota County employs more than 500 professional firefighters, many of whom are also certified paramedics. Firefighters work 24-hour shifts followed by 48 hours off, cooking meals for themselves and their shift-mates while they are on the job.

“Sarasota is such an incredible community, and we’re honored that we get to serve here,” said Sarasota Fire Chief Michael Regnier. “We couldn’t be more grateful for this show of support from The Oaks Club."

Pictured: Sarasota County Fire Chief Michael Regnier accepts a turkey feast from The Oaks Club executive chef James Pampinella.