The smell of homemade cookies filled the air as members from the American Association of Retired People gathered to do “Day of Service,” which recognizes members around the community.

Between Sept. 9-Sept. 11, cookies will be brought to law enforcement, firemen, the sheriff’s office and nursing homes all over Butler County.

Gloria Hartley, president of AARP, said it’s an annual service that the group likes to do, and they prepare a year in advance to do the service.

“We do it to appreciate the law enforcement personnel, fireman and emergency personnel for the county,” Hartley said. “We do it for the nursing homes and retiring homes, because we appreciate their service to the community in past years.”

The group of about 20 members break into small groups and travel out to the different stations, offices and homes to bring cookies, chips and dip, and soda for the different personnel.

“It’s a service to get to the nursing homes to brighten their day,” Vonciel Bedgood, as AARP member, said. “I love helping people, and I think it brings sunshine to their life.”

The service is broken up into three days to ensure all shifts of each department gets to partake in the baked goods and chips.

“It means an awful lot to us,” Chief Mike Phillips, said. “These guys put a lot into their job and sometimes people don’t always get to see that and we’re very appreciative.”

Hartley said its just a special day that people need to recognize the enforcement around the county.

“It’s a special recognition to the tenth anniversary, because it’s just an important event.”