By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

ALABASTER – For the third-straight year, Alabaster’s citizens and volunteers will stand watch at a local restaurant in mid-June as the city’s police officers and their families enjoy a free dinner as a token of gratitude from the community.

The third-annual Alabaster police appreciation dinner will be held on Tuesday, June 12, from 6-8 p.m. at Champy’s restaurant off Alabama 119 in Alabaster, which marks a new venue for the appreciation dinner after it was held at Buck Creek Pizza and Wings the past two years.

Just like the first two events, local residents will circle the restaurant while Alabaster officers and their families enjoy a free meal, paid for by the community’s donations. Local musicians will perform while the officers dine, and event organizers are planning to have high school choral students sing the national anthem and a group of local pastors to pray over the officers.

Before and during the event, volunteers will be accepting gifts and gift cards to give away to the officers, and will be accepting donations to help cover the cost of the officers’ meals.

Dena Bedsole, who has worked to organize the event the past few years, said the event is in need of help to ensure the meals for the police officers and their families are covered.

Locals can help in multiple ways. To make a monetary donation to cover the cost of the meals, call Bedsole at 369-3939 or simply make a donation at Champy’s between now and June 12.

“They are creating a special account to help cover the bill for the officers that night,” Bedsole said. “So if anyone is having lunch or dinner there, they can just make a donation to the police appreciation dinner, and it will be placed in that account.”

The event organizers also are seeking donated items to give away to the officers and their families during the event. To donate giveaway items, call Bedsole at 369-3939.