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HUGULEY — Approximately 100 first responders from throughout Chambers County were treated to lunch on Thursday by the Greater Valley Area Chamber of Commerce. By 11:30 a.m. EDT, police officers, firefighters and paramedics from Lanett, Valley and LaFayette, Chambers County deputies and 9-1-1 dispatchers had picked up boxed lunches outside the Chambers County EMA office.

Joseph and Tracy McElvy of BoJox had their food truck set up in the parking lot and were fast giving out boxes of leg quarters, baked beans, chips and a cold drink.

“We are honoring our dispatchers and first responders today in observance of National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week,” said GVACC Executive Director Carrie Royster. “This is a way we can give back to the men and women who risk their lives every day to protect the community. In the midst of the COVID-19 crisis, this is more true today than it has ever been.”

Among those present to pick up lunches were Valley Police Chief Tommy Weldon, Lanett Police Chief Johnny Wood and Lanett Fire & EMS Chief Johnny Allen.

Joseph McElvy said it was his privilege to feed such a fine group of people. He said that he loves to cook and has been in barbecue competitions for the past five years. He’s been in business with BoJox since last July.

He’s set up outside Mason’s Produce in Lanett on most days but can travel to other sites. When asked what people like about BoJox he said that it’s the Asian chicken burritos, fried rice, pork tacos, chili dogs and smash burgers.

“On Wednesday, the Chambers County Development Authority sponsored us as we fed the staff at Valley Medical Pavilion,” he said. “We also fed 25 first responders.”

Approximately 25 lunches were taken to LaFayette Thursday to treat the first responders there.

National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week is annually observed during the second full week in April and honors the telecommunications personnel in the public safety community.

Telecommunicators Week has long been promoted by the Association of Public Safety Officials International (APCO), which was founded in 1935 and supports the largest U.S. membership base of any public safety association. APCO’s mission is to be a leader in providing public safety communications expertise, professional development, technical assistance, advocacy and outreach to benefit its members and the public.