A school in Jessamine County hosted a First Responders Appreciation Day on Friday to show support, respect and appreciation for all first responders. 

Many representatives from the Nicholasville Police Department, Jessamine County Sheriff’s Office, city and county fire departments and Jessamine County Emergency Medical Services came to Heartland Academy in Nicholasville to enjoy musical performances and prayers recited by students of the academy. 

“They were very grateful and very humbled by the program the children put on,” said Tammy Smithers, office manager at Heartland Academy. 

Smithers along with Director of Heartland Academy Tonia Barnes, assistant director and head pre-kindergarden teacher Stephanie Jacobs, and Pamela Hudson, owner of Heartland Academy put the program together. 

Each first responder received a different gift. 

The Nicholasville Police Department received a unity flag, Nicholasville firefighters received a ladder that symbolizes courage and bravery and a banner was presented to EMS that represented all the obstacles that can be thrown at them. 

“Heartland is a Christian-based center,” Smithers said. “It has a good heart.” 

The academy has worked with organizations such as Red Cross, Salvation Army and Angel Tree in the past. 

Smithers said having First Responder Appreciation Day this year is very personal for her because of the help her and her family have received from them since her husband began having medical issues. 

She has worked with many businesses in and out of Jessamine County to gather donations for a First Responders Charity Raffle that will be hosted by Heartland Academy on Nov. 18. 

All proceeds from the raffle will be given to the Nicholasville’s Firefighter Toy Drive and the Shop with a Cop charities. 

“We decided that we wanted to go that step beyond,” Smithers said. “And participate and try to be able to give back to those programs as well.”