Girl Guide Lily Clark gives RCMP and Military officers cookies.
Image Credit: SUMBITTED / Darlene Clark
May 20, 2020 - 12:50 PM
In the wake of tragedy, Kamloops residents have pulled together to spread some positivity.
Following the crash of a Snowbirds plane in a Brocklehurst neighbourhood Sunday, the community is showing their gratitude for the officers that have been on sentry duty at either end of Glenview Avenue since May 17.
Yesterday, Co-chair of the Brocklehurst Community Association Darlene Clark and her daughter brought Girl Guide cookies to the Military Police and RCMP.
“My daughter handed the case of cookies over and they were kind of taken aback,” Clark said. “You could tell that something like that had made them feel better.”
She acknowledged that the job they are doing is difficult, and the community understands that.
“Anything that I can do as a resident to just make something a little easier. A cookie to go with your dinner, or a cookie for your afternoon snack,” she said.
It’s the best they can do in light of the tragic circumstances, she said. The wife of the Kamloops RCMP officer reached out to Clark to thank her personally for her generosity.
"It's probably the most heartwarming thing I've ever received," Clark said. The message brought her to tears.
Brocklehurst residents are still shaken from the incident, when a Snowbirds plane crashed into a residence shortly after taking off from the Kamloops Airport, Sunday, May 17.
Capt. Jenn Casey was killed in the crash, and Capt. Richard MacDougall is recovering in hospital.
Neighbours in the area have now stepped up to show their appreciation for officers on duty by bringing them food and drinks, both day and night.
"It’s been wonderful,” said Lieutenant Alexandra Hejduk, Public Affairs Officer for the Canadian Armed Forces. “For the last two nights, our members received a dinner from the neighbours.”
A couple across the street made officers lasagna on Monday, and residents have been bringing them water, coffee and snacks.
"Somebody just came and brought us freshly baked cookies,” Hejduk said.
Military officers and RCMP on site shared in a communal barbecue hosted by neighbours in the Brock community.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED / Alexandra Hejduk
“Yesterday one of the homes down the way organized a communal barbecue. And they were awesome about keeping the social distance as well."
Chris Martz and Cheryl Bell organized and hosted the barbecue in their front yard.
"It was just something nice to do, not just for them, but for us,” he said. “To get your mind off everything that’s happened."
Some neighbours pitched in to help and prepare food. Martz said that the Brocklehurst Save on Foods donated $100 for the barbecue as well.
Officers enjoyed a communal barbecue in the Brocklehurst neighbourhood Tuesday night.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED / Alexandra Hejduk
Through both the tragedy that rocked the neighbourhood and their collective efforts to come together as a community, Bell said neighbours have gotten to know each a little bit more over the past few days.
Residents continue to make plans to bring food and drinks to the officers on duty.
Jen Mohring brought the officers Starbucks, and she plans on bringing more treats in the future.
"I had a cousin that flew with the Snowbirds, I know the bond and pride they feel for what they do,” she said. "They are incredibly brave to be up there performing for us and to lose a member is tragic. The least I can do is to take them something to say thanks for all you do.”
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