A local church showed support for law enforcement by hosting an appreciation breakfast.

Cedar Baptist Church, in Dillwyn, arranged the event as a part of Operation Inasmuch, a national movement by churches across America to spread compassion. At the Saturday morning’s breakfast, church members served law enforcement officers and their families a meal and professed their appreciation.

Each attendee received a small handmade cross with thanks carved across it.

About 30 law enforcement members attended along with their families.

Lee Davis and his mother, Sandra Poe, arranged the event. This is the first year Cedar Baptist Church has hosted a law enforcement appreciation event, but the third year the church has participated in Operation Inasmuch, Davis said. He said he was inspired to say a good word.

“We want the officers and their families and anyone in law enforcement to know that we support them and we pray for them,” Davis said.

Buckingham County Sheriff W.G. “Billy” Kidd attended the event.

“It’s greatly appreciated,” Kidd said, noting the importance of community support.

He said people showing appreciation recently such as this breakfast, or showing support in other ways such as sending cards has helped to lift spirits.

“Makes you feel like you put your head down and keep swinging and do what you need to do,” Kidd said.

Charles Allen, who helped with the event, said law enforcement gets a bad reputation and he and other organizers just wanted show they appreciate officers.

Davis said they would absolutely do an event like this one again.

“It’s just a blessing to be able to do this for the community. Just to let people know we care.

The greatest need we have today is that people know somebody loves them,” he said.

In addition to the breakfast, Cedar Baptist Church also handed out gift cards to people at Dillwyn Pharmacy, just as they did last year, Poe said.

Operation Inasmuch stems from Matthew 25:40, which reads, “And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”

The project began in Fayetteville, N.C., in 1995, and has grown into an event that many in the community look forward to each year. According to the Operation Inasmuch website, more than 1,500 churches in 21 states have participated in the day of service.

Cedar Baptist Church is a member of the James River Baptist Association, of which 18 other churches in Buckingham, Cumberland and Nelson Counties are members.

Churches across the region and the nation helped give back to their community on Saturday. Participants undertook projects such as construction projects on homes, free car washes, distributing food, visiting nursing homes and more.