A special service is set for Sunday at First Methodist Church to specifically highlight law enforcement officer appreciation.

The service will start at 10 a.m. and Youngsville Police Chief Todd Mineweaser will be the speaker.

Molly Loughlin said that the program stems from a Prison Support Group ministry that was started in 2021.

“We’re trying to be mentors to the prisoners,” she said. “We work closely with the warden. That has evolved. This will be our third year for recognizing Warren County law enforcement.”

That recognition starts on Wednesday when parishioners will take lunch to the various law enforcement agencies in the county.

After the surface Sunday, a reception will be held at the church, as well.

Initially, the Sunday service wasn’t open to the general public.

“We decided it was time for the people of Warren to recognize that these people do for us on a daily basis,” Loughlin said.

So far, the feedback from the law enforcement community has been “great.”

“No one has really been doing a lot for them,” Loughlin said. “The feedback from the congregation has been great.”

Providing lunch on Wednesday puts a personal touch to it.

“When we take the lunches, they are so appreciative,” Heidi Ketzko, director of christian nurture, added. “Especially down (in the basement of the courthouse) in probation, nobody has ever done that for them, showed them any appreciation.”

“The fact that we’re even doing it makes them realize we support them,” Loughlin said. “Somebody is doing something. We do this to support them.”