Patty Valentine (Lady on the Lake in Fredonia), along with volunteers, helped spread the love to local police officers in the community. “Operation: Back the Blue,” the campaign sought to deliver gift bags to the men and women that serve each day helping people. These bags were a token to show that people cared for what they do each day. Patty completed her rounds in Chautauqua County and has now moved on to Erie County with a stop here in the Village.

“There are many ways to describe the job of a police officer, some would say thankless, but as a child I watched my father work and retire from the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Department and as an adult my brother,” Valentine said. “I would say now, thankful, prideful, one whom would put their lives on the line for a complete stranger, justice, humanity, service, and on and on. Given the times today I felt the need to let these men, women, and K9 officers know ‘We care,’ they are needed, they are loved and appreciated.”

“I wanted to do a gift bag for each and every single officer in the county — we did our best,” Valentine said. “We had people donate items to fill the bags from Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Illinois and of course our local community members.”