"Feed the Cops" packs hundreds of meals for Mobile first responders during long parade days

MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG) -- First responders are racking up overtime and putting in long hours as the carnival season draws to a close. A local non-profit group continues its mission to make sure these city workers at least have a meal to get them through the day.

When you have crowds of more than $100,000 people a night it takes long days to make sure everyone stays safe. That’s where "Feed the Cops" comes in. It’s a volunteer effort organized by Tony Sawyer, the owner of Bob’s Downtown Restaurant.

For the last eight years, he’s been able to rally donations and volunteers to put together meals for hundreds of police officers and MFRD personnel. Moving in assembly-line-like precision, they packed 560 smoked turkey meals to distribute to hundreds of police officers around the downtown area Sunday. It’s a needed break for men and women working 12+ hours a day.

"And it's something that we've been doing in a lot of bars and restaurants and downtown Mobile is, you know, pitch in and help. So thank you guys very much. A lot of different people down there. So, you know, it's important that we make sure they get fed," said the owner of Bob's Downtown Restaurant Tony Sawyer. Volunteers say it's a vital bit of assistance to the MPD and others.

"For them to be able to have a lunch that they can just go to quickly, grab some snack, eat whatever the case may be throughout the day is vitally important," said Brad Cooper with the Mobile Citizens Police...